Prof. Dr. Daniel J. Lang is a leading academic at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), where he serves as Professor for Designing Real-World Laboratory Research and Head of the Research Group "Designing Real-World Laboratory Research" at ITAS. He also holds the UNESCO Chair in Higher Education for Sustainable Development at Leuphana University of Lüneburg. His career spans key roles including Dean of the Faculty of Sustainability at Leuphana University (2012-2016) and leadership positions in multiple research projects. Current affiliations: KIT (2022-present), Leuphana University (2010-2022) Research focus: Real-world laboratories, transdisciplinary research, sustainability transformations, knowledge integration, and urban mobility systems His work connects academic research with practical sustainability challenges, particularly in mobility (TRAMIGO, ADMoS-Future), digitalization (LinkLab), and societal transformation. He has developed frameworks for evaluating socio-technical experiments and co-designed tools for policy implementation. Scientific contributions include establishing transdisciplinary methodologies and contextual analysis frameworks. Recent projects examine equity in automated mobility (CulturalRoad), knowledge transfer in real-world labs, and sustainability transitions in SMEs (TRANSFORM). His 15 most recent publications address topics like socio-technical experiments, equity metrics, and cross-case learning. Key awards: UNESCO Chair in Higher Education for Sustainable Development Advising: Supervised Beecroft, R.'s 2020 dissertation on real-world labs
Julia Kurz is a Researcher at TU Dortmund University's Department of Sociology of Science and Technology, Faculty of Social Sciences. She leads the 'Visually Integrated Clinical Collaboration' project within the Collaborative Research Center (SFB) Media of Cooperation. Her work spans healthcare informatics, educational research, and disability studies. Education: M.A. in Sociology from the University of Siegen (2011), with prior studies at Philipps-University Marburg. Professional experience includes research roles at the University of Siegen (2012–2023) and support work with disabled populations (since 2001). Research focuses on information workflows in hospitals, collaborative data practices, and participatory technology design. Recent talks address topics like disempowerment in participation frameworks and challenges in transdisciplinary research. Her publications explore medical visualization tools, mentoring impacts, and role-playing pedagogy. Award recognition details are not explicitly listed, but her grants include SFB funding for the Media of Cooperation project. Advising activity is not documented here. She contributes to seminars on competence, knowledge theory, and educational innovation.
Berit Greinke is an Assistant Professor of Wearable Computing at the Berlin University of the Arts (UdK) and the Einstein Center Digital Future (ECDF) since 2018, previously serving as a researcher at UdK's Design Research Lab and DFKI (2016-2018). Her academic foundation includes a PhD from Queen Mary University of London (2017), an MA from Central St Martins (2009), and a Diploma from Weissensee Academy of Art Berlin (2007). Her educational trajectory: PhD in Media and Arts Technology, Queen Mary University of London (2017) MA in Design for Textile Futures, Central St Martins College of Art and Design (2009) Diploma in Textile and Surface Design, Berlin Weissensee School of Art (2007) Greinke's research pioneers the convergence of craft, textile design, and digital technology, with core expertise in electronic textiles and smart materials. She investigates metamaterial-based 'metatextiles' for electromagnetic applications and explores transdisciplinary collaboration between designers and scientists, particularly regarding 'negative data' in creative and scientific workflows. Her current UdK work focuses on four interconnected domains: performing materials for expressive textile/fashion design; multi-modal sensing converting visual processes into haptic/audible experiences; micro-to-macro material design spanning nanostructures to final products; and transdisciplinary processes for technology-art-science collaboration. Analysis of her 2020-2025 publications reveals dominant trends in sustainable textile electronics, with emphasis on knitted/folded sensor structures, origami-inspired capacitive shape estimation, and social sustainability in e-textile communities. Her work uniquely bridges fundamental material science (e.g., textile metamaterials) with artistic applications (e.g., interactive orchestra garments) and industrial production challenges. Berit Greinke supervises PhD students including Giorgia Petri. Her junior professorship is co-financed by SAP under a public-private partnership model, supporting projects like WEAR (Wearable technologists engage with artists for responsible innovation) and STELEC (Sustainable Textile Electronics), which emphasize ethical co-design and industry-academia collaboration. She leads research within UdK's Institute for Product and Process Design and collaborates with the Design Research Lab (formerly part of Connected Textiles group), focusing on sustainable industrial production of electronic clothing and transdisciplinary innovation frameworks.
Prof. Dr. Marco Rieckmann is a Professor of Higher Education Didactics with a focus on key competencies at the Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Education and Social Sciences, University of Vechta, Germany. He is also the Co-Chair of the UNESCO Chair ‘Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy for Sustainable Development’ at the University of Limerick since 2024. His work centers on education for sustainable development (ESD), transformative learning, and sustainable university development. His research interests include: Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and Teacher Education Service Learning and Civic Engagement Curriculum Development for Sustainability Higher Education Governance and Institutional Transformation Digitalization and Serious Games in Sustainability Education Global Learning and Intercultural Education His recent publications and projects reflect a strong trend toward assessing the impact of sustainability education, developing innovative teaching formats (e.g., Minecraft-based learning), and fostering whole-institution approaches in schools and universities. He emphasizes participatory, transdisciplinary, and transformative methods to empower learners and institutions. Scientific awards and recognitions include: Best Doctoral Researcher of the Year 2008 (2nd place, Leuphana University) Innovative Teaching Award (2010) Multiple DAAD and ERASMUS guest lectureships UNESCO recognition for HOCH-N and LeNa projects (2018) Prof. Rieckmann actively advises and collaborates with students and researchers, leads major funded projects (e.g., IMP>ACT, Senatra, HOCH-N), and contributes to national and international policy development. He is a key figure in advancing sustainability in higher education through research, teaching, and institutional leadership. He leads and participates in various research labs and networks, including the UNESCO Chair, the LeNa network, the HOCH-N consortium, and multiple EU-funded projects focusing on co-learning labs, digital tools, and service learning for sustainability.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jörg Rainer Noennig is Professor of Digital City Science at HafenCity University Hamburg (HCU) and Head of the WISSENSARCHITEKTUR Laboratory of Knowledge Architecture at TU Dresden. With a background in architecture (Bauhaus Universität Weimar, Waseda University Tokyo), he practiced in Tokyo before transitioning to academia. He has held visiting professorships in Italy, France, Russia, and Japan. His research focuses on digital urban systems , including smart cities, participatory planning, and knowledge architecture. He explores AI applications in urban design, agent-based simulations for mobility, and transdisciplinary frameworks for sustainability. Recent projects include TOSCA (open-source urban tools), SmartFly (eVTOL integration), and MICADO (migrant integration platforms). Publications emphasize data-driven urban methodologies , spanning synthetic data generation, pedestrian modeling, and sustainable infrastructure design. His work integrates materials science (e.g., auxetic structures) with digital twins for resilient cities. Awards include the Grand Prix of the European Association for Architectural Education (EAAE). He leads Hamburg’s Digital City Science team and coordinates international collaborations, including Indo-German urban development projects. He directs the WISSENSARCHITEKTUR Laboratory , focusing on knowledge synthesis for urban innovation. Courses taught at HCU include 'Knowledge Architecture', 'Digital City Science', and 'Smart City Technologies'.
Dr. Thea Wübbelmann is a Researcher at the Institute of Earth System Sciences, Leibniz University Hannover, affiliated with the Physical Geography and Landscape Ecology Section and the Digital Landscape Ecology Group. She holds roles as Deputy Representative for Research Staff and serves on the Admissions Board for the MSc Landscape Sciences program. Education: PhD in Geography (2023), Leibniz University Hannover MSc in Landscape Sciences (2019), Leibniz University Hannover BSc in Geography (2016), Leibniz University Hannover Research Focus: Her work centers on human-environment interactions in urban areas under climate change and urbanization. Key areas include: Modeling nature-based solutions for flood regulation Climate change impacts on biodiversity and urban health GIS-based landscape process analysis Environmental justice and resource distribution Projects: FGZ: Research on environmental justice and resource distribution (2025–2029) Go Green Next: Urban health and climate resilience (2024–2028) Awards: IALE-D Dissertation Award (2023) Lower Saxony Scholarship (2017) Labs/Teams: Active member of the Digital Landscape Ecology Group, focusing on integrating technology into ecological research.
Dr. Wolfgang Haupt is a researcher and Head of the Research Group 'Politics and Planning' at the Leibniz-Institut für Raumbezogene Sozialforschung (IRS) since December 2023. He holds a PhD in urban studies from the Gran Sasso Science Institute and Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies and has a background in geography from Technische Universität Dresden. He is currently completing his habilitation at the Chair of Regional Planning, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, where he also teaches. His research focuses on urban climate governance, resilience, policy learning between cities, and institutional change. His research expertise spans urban climate governance, climate change adaptation and mitigation, urban resilience, policy diffusion, transnational municipal networks, cultural heritage in urban development, and institutional change. He has led and contributed to numerous research projects on local climate policy, city-to-city learning, and transformation pathways in German and European cities. His work emphasizes the role of smaller and structurally disadvantaged municipalities in climate action, challenging dominant narratives focused on large, well-resourced cities. The most recent publications reflect a strong trend in analyzing climate governance in medium-sized and smaller cities, the impact of social movements like Fridays for Future, the role of disruptive events (e.g., Tesla Gigafactory) in institutional change, and comparative studies of climate policy in European forerunner cities. His research increasingly integrates interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches, examining the intersection of climate, migration, and infrastructure policies. Lead Project: Conflicts in Planning: Major Projects and their Potential for Institutional Change (2022–2025) Third-party funded project: Unlikely Climate Pioneers: Local Governments’ Net Zero Actions in Left Behind Places in the UK and Germany (2024–2026) Third-party funded project: Im Dialog mit Expert*innen aus der kommunalen Praxis: Was können wir aus der Migrations- und Klimakrise lernen? (2024–2025) Cross-departmental project: Disruption and Spatial Development (2022–2025) Habilitation project: Forerunner, Follower and Laggards: Governance of Climate Change in German Cities (2022–2025) Dr. Haupt regularly supervises and collaborates with early-career researchers and contributes to academic and public discourse through teaching, conference presentations, and expert policy dialogues. He is actively involved in transdisciplinary research, engaging with municipal practitioners and policymakers to bridge research and practice in urban planning and climate governance. He leads multiple research teams focusing on climate governance, institutional change, and urban resilience.
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.
Prof. Dr. Astrid Neumann is a Professor of German Language Didactics at Leuphana University Lüneburg, affiliated with the Institute for German Language and Literature and its Didactics (IDD) and the Center for Empirical Research on Language and Education (ERLE). Her work bridges language didactics, general pedagogy, and comparative school research. Education: Master's degree in Modern German Literature/Bohemian Studies/Russian Studies from Humboldt University of Berlin (1989-1997), with additional qualifications in German as a foreign language and teacher training (Studienrat). Research Focus: Her primary research explores text linguistics, writing didactics, and German as a second/educational language. She leads practical projects on refugee integration through language education and digital writing tools. Key areas include: Adaptive language support in heterogeneous classrooms AI applications in writing instruction Vocational education curriculum development Publication Trends: Recent works (2022-2025) emphasize digital pedagogy, linguistic diversity management, and AI integration in German language instruction, reflecting strong applied research focus in vocational and inclusive education contexts. Projects & Advising: Leads federally funded projects like BAKODE (language sensitivity) and CODIP (digital subject teaching). Supervises doctoral candidates and coordinates service-learning initiatives linking students with community language support programs. Teams: Directs research teams at ERLE and collaborates on cross-institutional projects like EvaFa (language support evaluation) involving partners from multiple German universities.
Laura State serves as a Research Fellow at the Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG) in Berlin, Germany, where she contributes to the AI & Society Lab's Impact AI project. This initiative develops transdisciplinary auditing methodologies to evaluate artificial intelligence systems' contributions to societal transformation and ecological sustainability through rigorous impact assessment frameworks. Her academic credentials include: PhD in Data Science from Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy (Advised by Salvatore Ruggieri and Franco Turini) MSc in Neural Information Processing from the University of Tübingen BSc in Physics from the University of Rostock State's research synthesizes hard sciences with social perspectives to investigate AI's societal and planetary implications. She specializes in transparency and accountability mechanisms for non-interpretable machine learning models, developing assessment methodologies to determine how AI can foster sustainable futures. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates technical AI development with regulatory frameworks and ecological impact analysis, emphasizing real-world applicability through industry-academia collaboration. Her 2023-2025 publications reveal a cohesive research trajectory centered on explainable AI and regulatory compliance, particularly regarding GDPR requirements. Key themes include legal-technical alignment for explanation systems, bias/fairness policy frameworks, and innovative evaluation tools like REASONX. The work consistently bridges machine learning theory with societal accountability, demonstrating methodological rigor in translating technical capabilities into public-interest applications. As a core member of HIIG's AI & Society Lab, State collaborates on transdisciplinary teams examining AI's role in sustainability transitions. The Impact AI project coordinates researchers from computer science, law, and social sciences to develop evaluation frameworks that measure AI's contribution to UN Sustainable Development Goals, with active engagement in policy dialogues and public science initiatives like Lange Nacht der Wissenschaften.
Prof. Raoul-Martin Memmesheimer is a Professor at the University of Bonn's Institute of Genetics , contributing to the Transdisciplinary Research Area (TRA) - Life and Health . His research focuses on understanding neural network dynamics across microscopic, mesoscopic, and large-scale phenomena, integrating mathematical approaches with neurophysiological insights. Key interests include the dynamics of precise spiking activity, collective network behavior, and computational principles underlying neural systems. Education & Background : While specific educational details are not listed, his position as a Professor indicates advanced academic qualifications in theoretical neuroscience or related fields. Research Interests : Memmesheimer's work bridges theoretical physics and computational neuroscience, addressing topics like spiking neuron models, learning in neural networks, and the emergence of complex behaviors. His group employs methods from computer science and applied mathematics to study how neural systems perform computations through their dynamic properties. Publications : Recent work explores topics such as gradient descent learning in spiking networks, STDP-based assembly dynamics, and oscillatory phenomena in hippocampal regions. These publications highlight his focus on both foundational theory and applications to biological systems. Awards & Collaborations : While no specific awards are listed, his participation in TRA Life and Health underscores collaborative efforts in transdisciplinary health-related research. His work is supported by the University of Bonn's strong focus on transdisciplinary innovation. Labs & Teams : His research group operates within the Institute of Genetics, leveraging interdisciplinary resources at the University of Bonn to advance theoretical neuroscience and computational biology.
Prof. Dr. Timo Ehmke is Full Professor and holder of the Professorship for Educational Research, in particular Empirical Educational Sciences at Leuphana University of Lüneburg . He leads an extensive research program centered on empirical educational science, teacher education, assessment, and mathematics education. Research Interests Design and evaluation of evidence-based teacher-training programs, especially in mathematics Adaptive learning support and competency-oriented instruction Impact of linguistic complexity on student performance in realistic mathematical tasks Assessment instruments for inclusive subject teaching and second-language learners Large-scale educational studies (TIMSS, NEPS) and comparative measurement of competencies Research Output & Impact Across 183 peer-reviewed publications, Prof. Ehmke’s work reveals a consistent focus on translating empirical findings into practical tools for teachers. His recent articles explore how linguistic demands affect mathematical problem-solving and how adaptive instructional strategies can close achievement gaps. The research integrates psychometrics, educational psychology, and subject-didactics to inform both policy and classroom practice. Awards & Distinctions Leuphana Transfer Award 2023 – Recognised for outstanding knowledge transfer from research to educational practice. Projects & Funding Prof. Ehmke has coordinated or co-coordinated 17 major projects since 2011, securing funding from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the German Research Foundation (DFG) . Flagship initiatives include: LERN-IF (2021-2026): Learning-process diagnostics and feedback in inclusive subject teaching (BMBF) Effects and Interaction of Linguistic and Subject-Specific Requirements (2019-2023, DFG) Boundary-Crossing II : Transdisciplinary evaluation framework for teacher-education collaborations (BMBF) Leuphana Teacher Training 2020 : Concept development for future-oriented teacher education (BMBF) DaZKom-Video : Performance-oriented assessment of German-as-a-second-language competency among pre-service teachers (BMBF) Laboratories & Teams He heads an active research team embedded within Leuphana’s research focus on education and participates in university-wide teacher-education networks, fostering collaboration between educational researchers, subject didacticians, and school practitioners.
Daniel J. Lang is a Professor at Leuphana University of Lüneburg specializing in sustainability sciences and sociology. His work focuses on transdisciplinary approaches to sustainability challenges, with particular emphasis on education and communication aspects across 147 publications and 41 research projects. Lang's research spans critical areas in sustainability transformation: Transdisciplinary research methodologies integrating diverse knowledge systems Sustainability education and competence-based curriculum development Communication strategies for sustainability transitions Social dimensions of urban sustainability transformations Transformative learning processes in higher education His recent publications show a clear trend toward developing practical frameworks for transdisciplinary sustainability research and education, with particular focus on inner work dimensions and competence development. Lang's work bridges theoretical sustainability science with practical urban applications, especially through his involvement in Lüneburg's sustainability transition initiatives. Lang received the Zukunftsstadt Lüneburg 2030+ award in 2016, a Leuphana internal prize recognizing his contributions to transfer activities with regional impact. This award highlighted his collaborative work on sustainable urban development in Lüneburg. Lang has been actively involved in 28 professional activities including conference presentations on transformative research formats and transdisciplinary experimentation for resilient urban development. His project "Politics4Future" focuses on youth teacher engagement with Sustainable Development Goal 4.7, building political agency for global citizenship learning. He also leads the "Hochschulen in Gesellschaft" project examining transformative learning and research processes for sustainability culture in higher education institutions.
Prof. Dr. Kathrin Hörschelmann is a Professor of Cultural Geography at the University of Bonn. Her research bridges space, politics, culture, and society , with a focus on entangled geographies of (in)security and diversity, migration, and belonging in Europe . She explores how young people navigate geopolitical insecurities, socio-spatial identities, and post-socialist transformations. Affiliations: University of Bonn (Geographical Institute), TRA6 (Transdisciplinary Research Area 6), HERA Project Partner Key Projects: Geo-Medial (digital learning spaces), Public Spaces, Culture and Integration in Europe (HERA), Evaluation of Bonn4Future (climate participation), Re-Collect/Re-Mind (Cold War youth memories) Her research interests span critical security studies , feminist geographies , geographies of childhood/youth , and post-socialist cultural change . Recent work analyzes urban climate governance, refugee youth in public spaces, and digital teaching innovations. She co-edited Research Ethics in Human Geography (Routledge, 2021) and contributes to debates on nature-based urban futures . Notable scientific contributions include the Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship (2024) and co-authored publications like Urban Nature: New Directions for City Futures (2024). She leads the Cultural Geography Working Group , which designs international lecture series and translocal learning formats. Teaching Areas: Cultural geography, migration, gender, urban transformation, and fieldwork (e.g., Translocal England Exkursion ). Collaborations: United Nations University (UNU-EHS), HERA, European Commission (NATURVATION), KONE Foundation
Prof. Dr. Michael Ahlers is Full Professor of Music Education with a focus on Popular Music at the Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Germany, and an associate member of the university’s Future Center for Teacher Education (ZZL). He also held visiting professorships at the University of Huddersfield (2020, 2025). Education and Career PhD in Philosophy (2008), University of Paderborn – dissertation on interface problems in music education and ergonomics of sequencer programs. Studied secondary-school teaching (music/German) and musicology. Previous roles: Professor of Music Education (digital media focus) at Leopold Mozart Center, University of Augsburg (2011); Temporary Academic Councillor, University of Paderborn (2009–2012); Research Assistant, University of Paderborn (2005–2009). Co-founder of a Hamburg-based music & media production company; editor-in-chief of the journal "Musikunterricht und Computer (MUC)". Research Interests Prof. Ahlers’ research integrates popular music studies, empirical music pedagogy, digital media, creativity and improvisation research, and cultural-economic analyses of music production . Current emphases include: Platformization of songwriting and the socio-economic structures of songwriting camps. Digital-material interfaces in music education and extra-institutional learning. Competency-oriented and adaptive classroom music-making. Dialogical arts education for cultural literacy and social inclusion. Music economics, rights education, and diversity-sensitive teacher training. Publications & Trends Across 112+ peer-reviewed articles, books, and chapters since 2020, a clear trajectory emerges: scrutinizing how technological change (AI, platforms, digitality) reshapes creative labor in popular music, and translating these insights into innovative, research-based pedagogies. His collaborative volumes and journal special issues have become key references for scholars in music education and popular music studies. Scientific Awards & Honors Visiting Professor, University of Huddersfield (2020, 2025). Research Prize of the University of Paderborn (2009). Virtual University of Bavaria grant (€40,000) for transdisciplinary project "Digital Media between Art, Music, and Education" (2012). Doctoral Supervision & Grants Prof. Ahlers currently supervises 17 doctoral researchers and has served as primary or secondary reviewer for numerous PhD defenses. He is Principal Investigator or Scientific Project Manager on 22 funded projects (totaling several million euros) from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), and Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture. Flagship initiatives include: dialoguing@rts (DFG, 2024–2027): advancing cultural literacy through dialogical arts education. COME-ARTS (BMBF, 2023–2026): diversity-sensitive digital continuing-education networks for arts and music teachers. MI-RAP Subproject 8 (BMBF): music-industry resilience acceleration. CODIP (BMBF, 2020–2023): digitally supported adaptive music teaching. Laboratories & Teams Research and teaching activities are anchored in the Institute for Art, Music and its Education (IKMV) at Leuphana, where Prof. Ahlers leads the Popular Music & Digital Media Lab. The lab collaborates closely with the interdisciplinary Future Center for Teacher Education (ZZL), fostering innovation in teacher-training curricula and hosting regular songwriting-camp ethnographies and digital-media workshops.
