Richard Beecroft

Dr. Richard Beecroft is a Research Associate at the Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS) at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), working within the Research group 'Karlsruhe Transformation Center for Sustainability and Cultural Change' since 2024. He earned his Doctorate in Sustainability Sciences (Dr. phil.) from Leuphana University of Lüneburg in 2019 and previously served as Deputy Professor for Technology, Philosophy and Sustainability at Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences (2022-2023).

Dr. Beecroft's research centers on sustainability transformations through Real-World Laboratories as transdisciplinary research and learning environments. His work bridges theoretical frameworks with practical applications for societal transformation, focusing particularly on methodological development for transdisciplinary research. He has been instrumental in establishing the Karlsruhe School of Sustainability and developing the Transformative Project Seminar methodology, which has been implemented across multiple courses.

His recent publications demonstrate a strategic shift toward self-experimentation methodologies for sustainable lifestyle changes, with significant contributions on understanding the impacts of Real-World Laboratories and developing practical tools like the Self-Experiment Generator. His research spans sustainability science, technology assessment, education, and urban studies, reflecting the inherently transdisciplinary nature of his approach.

As an educator, Dr. Beecroft has developed innovative teaching methods that connect academic learning with real-world sustainability challenges. He managed the KIT Center for Humans and Technology from 2018-2025 and has made substantial contributions to embedding higher education within Real-World Laboratories through transdisciplinary project courses.

His current work explores how self-experiments can serve as tools for both personal and societal transformation toward sustainability, with practical applications designed to empower individuals to engage in sustainability transformations through structured personal experimentation.