Siegmar Otto

Siegmar Otto is a Professor of Sustainable Development and Change at the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, University of Hohenheim (since 2022). He holds a PhD in Philosophy (summa cum laude) from Jacobs University Bremen (2007), with prior roles including Acting Professor at the same faculty (2017-2021), Senior Lecturer at Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg (2011-2022), and Lecturer at Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (2008-2011). His career includes postdoctoral research at ETH Zurich (2008) and the Institute for Ecological Economy Research (2008).

Education:

• PhD in Philosophy (summa cum laude), Jacobs University Bremen (2007)
• Scientific Assistant, Jacobs Center of Lifelong Learning and Institutional Development (2004-2007)
• Diploma in Psychology and Media Science, Technical University of Berlin (2001)

Research Interests: Focuses on sustainability psychology, behavioral drivers of environmental and prosocial actions, AI ethics, and human-technology interaction. Key themes include climate change mitigation, pro-environmental behavior, and the psychological dimensions of sustainable development.

Recent Article Trends: Recent work explores attitudes toward AI (2025), human-robot collaboration (2025), and climate motivation (2024). Themes include ethical AI design, behavioral nudges for sustainability, and the interplay between knowledge and action in ecological stewardship.

Awards:

• Summa Cum Laude Doctorate, Jacobs University Bremen (2007)

Grants & Advising: Extensive funding from interdisciplinary sustainability projects. Advises on EU-funded initiatives linking psychology with environmental policy. No named advisees listed in current data.

Labs/Teams: Active in interdisciplinary sustainability research groups at University of Hohenheim, focusing on behavioral sustainability and digital transition impacts.