Human and environment

Major earth systems and environmental problems are driven by human activities. Thus the interdepartmental Institute for Environmental Decisions (IED) focuses on the analysis of individual and collective decisions. IED strives to support decision makers by identifying barriers to sustainable decisions and designing strategies to reduce them. Therefore, interdisciplinary research and teaching is undertaken in partnership with stakeholders in the form of transdisciplinary processes and scientific advice.

The core expertise of IED members lies in psychology, economics, political and decision science, as well as in coupled human-environment systems. Topics addressed include decision making under risk and uncertainty, steering mechanisms for environmental challenges, economic policies and framework conditions for global sustainability, and the nexus between science and policy.

IED is responsible for the specialization in ‘Human-environment systems/Anthroposphere’ within both the Bachelor and Master of Environmental Sciences. This specialization aims at enabling students to work at the interface of human and environment by applying both social and natural science knowledge. IED also organizes the social science education within D-UWIS.

Research groups

• Prof. Stefanie Engel: Chair of Environmental Policy and Economics »»
• Prof. Gertrude Hirsch: Group Environmental Philosophy »»
• Prof. Roland Scholz: Chair of Natural and Social Science Interface »»
• Prof. Klaus Seeland: Society, Environment and Culture »»
• Prof. NN: Professur für Agrarwirtschaft »»