Susanne Hecker

Dr. Susanne Hecker is Head of the Research Department 'Society and Nature' and leads the 'Knowledge Transfer in the Future Plan' project at the Museum für Naturkunde (Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Research) in Berlin. She serves as Chairwoman of the European Citizen Science Association (ECSA) and Vice-chairwoman of the Society for Transdisciplinary and Participatory Research (GTPF). Her research focuses on the interface between science, society, and policy, with emphasis on participatory methodologies and science communication frameworks.

Her primary research interests include:

• Citizen science methodologies and their transformative societal impact
• Science communication strategies for public engagement
• Transdisciplinary approaches to biodiversity research
• Policy development for participatory science governance
• Knowledge transfer mechanisms between research institutions and communities

Dr. Hecker's publications demonstrate consistent focus on citizen science innovation, particularly examining communication frameworks, policy integration, and societal transformation. Her recent work emphasizes the role of citizen science in achieving Sustainable Development Goals, transformative impact assessment, and European research landscapes.

She holds significant advisory roles including:

• OECD Global Science Forum expert for citizen science policies
• Steering Committee member for #FactoryWisskomm 2.0 (BMBF)
• Scientific Advisory Board member for 'Sparkling Science 2.0' (Austria)
• Jury member for 'FWF TOP Citizen Science' (Austrian Science Fund)

Dr. Hecker leads research teams focusing on citizen science development, overseeing collaborative projects with international stakeholders across academic, policy, and civil society sectors.