News archive

Job opening: Career position (tenure track)

The Department of Economics and Social Sciences, Institute of Social Ecology wishes to fill a career position in compliance with § 99 (5) UG (tenure-track) in the field of Environmental History with a focus on long-term socio-ecological research
Closing date for applications: 06.01.2026

Why history matters in ecology: traditional woodland management and its legacy in nature conservation

SEC Lecture, 16.12.2025

Presentation: Péter Szabó (Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno); Moderation: Simone Gingrich; Place: BOKU University, 1190 Wien, Peter-Jordan-Straße 82, Wilhelm-Exner-Haus, EXNH-HS 03

60 percent of the world's land area is in a precarious state

Press release

A new study (conducted by PIK in collaboration with BOKU/SEC) maps the planetary boundary limits of the “functional integrity of the biosphere” in spatial detail and over centuries. According to the study 60 percent of land areas are outside the locally defined safe zone, and 38 percent are already in the high-risk zone. The study has now been published in the renowned journal One Earth.

Reconceptualizing the role of socioeconomic material stocks in the leverage points framework to enable transformative change

New article by Haas, W., Abson, D.J., Haberl, H., Spittler, N., Wiedenhofer, D., and Dorninger, C.

Bina Agarwal Prize

Christian Dorninger was awarded the prestigious Bina Agarwal Prize for outstanding research achievements in the field of ecological economics.

Call for applications: Postdoctoral Research Associate

The Department of Economics and Social Sciences, Institute of Social Ecology, is currently seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate. Closing date for applications: 24.10.2025

PhD Workshop: Rethinking Social Metabolism in Times of Crisis

Call for applications

with Keynotes by Melanie Pichler & Helmut Haberl; Time: October 9 - 10, 2025; Place: Vienna; Closing date for submission of abstracts: August 18, 2025

Reflecting Oil

As a part of the artistic research project “Reflecting Oil” at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna, an anthology of the same name has now been produced and is also available as an open access e-book. Simone Gingrich (ISEC) and Johannes Schmidt (INWE) contributed to it.

Second Austrian Assessment Report on Climate Change

The report summarises the current state of research, analyses the consequences of climate change, and presents options for action in Austria. Eleven researchers from the Institute of Social Ecology contributed to the report, including Karlheinz Erb and Barbara Smetschka, who acted as coordinating lead authors.

Congratulations Sarah Matej

We warmly congratulate Sarah Matej on defending her doctoral thesis with distinction!

Rigorosum

Sarah Matej

Patterns, dynamics and interlinkages of biomass consumption, land use and biodiversity: an assessment across scales

Zeit / Ort: 13 June 2025, 16:15 / Institute of Social Ecology, Schottenfeldgasse 29/3, 1070 Vienna, SR 3a

Fitness for future

Veronika Gaube is co-author of a new paper by Ohnemus, T., et al., 2025. Fitness for future: eLTER RI's representation of climate and land use change. Ecological Indicators 171

Rethinking Growth: Green Growth

In an interview with Icarus Complex Magazine, Helmut Haberl explains the links between economic growth, the circular economy, and economic and societal well-being.

Congratulations Lisa Kaufmann

We warmly congratulate Lisa Kaufmann on defending her doctoral thesis with distinction!

Rigorosum

Lisa Kaufmann

Socio-Metabolic Insights into Sustainability: Exploring Socioeconomic Carbon Pools and Regional Food Systems

Time / Place: 21.03.2025, 15:00 / Institute of Social Ecology, Schottenfeldgasse 29/3, 1070 Vienna, SR 3a

Unmute biodiversity risks of free trade? The EFTA–Mercosur Agreement (Swiss) case study

New article by Willemin, Rémi, Cornelia B. Krug, Nicolas Roux, Elisabeth Bürgi Bonanomi, Marc Chesney, Benjamin Curnow, Sierra Deutsch et al.

New paper by Willi Haas, André Baumgart, Nina Eisenmenger, Doris Virág et al.

How decarbonization and the circular economy interact: Benefits and trade‐offs in the case of the buildings, transport, and electricity sectors in Austria.

Recent Advances in Social Metabolism Research: Sources and Methods

Special Issue in Historical Methods: guest edited by Andrew Watson, Simone Gingrich and Joshua MacFadyen

Unpacking the Path toward a Sustainable Circular Economy through Industrial Ecology

Magnus Fröhling, Chika Aoki-Suzuki, Bhavik Bakshi, Sina Leipold, Xin Tong, Hannah Su-Han Wang and Dominik Wiedenhofer published a special issue of "Journal of Industrial Ecology"

Habilitation Willi Haas

Congratulations to Willi Haas on the successful completion of his habilitation.

Postgraduate Research Associate

Vacancy

We are currently seeking a Postgraduate Research Associate on Political Dimensions of Social-Ecological Transformations. Deadline for applications: 06.01.2025

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Vacancy

We are currently seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the field of Political Ecology. Deadline for applications: 06.01.2025

Invitation: public habilitation colloquium Willi Haas

Social Ecology

5.12.2024

Highly Cited Researchers

Ranking

Karlheinz Erb and Helmut Haberl are among the most cited researches in the world. Category: Cross-Fields

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Vacancy

We are currently seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the fields of social ecology, ecological economics or similar. Deadline for applications: 06.01.2025

Congratulations Harald Grabher

We warmly congratulate Harald Grabher on defending his doctoral thesis with distinction!

Congratulations Kathrin Kaltenegger

We warmly congratulate Kathrin Kaltenegger on defending her doctoral thesis with distinction!

Congratulations Anna-Katharina Brenner

We warmly congratulate Anna-Katharina Brenner on defending her doctoral thesis with distinction!

Environmental History

Public Presentations Professorship

Simone Gingrich

Scientific presentation: Uncovering the history of current sustainability challenges: a long-term socio-ecological research agenda.

Lecture: „Was können wir aus der Umweltgeschichte für einen sozial-ökologischen Wandel hin zu einer nachhaltigen Zukunft lernen?“

Time/Place: 11.10.2024, 09:00 / hybrid event

Dissertation Defense

Anna-Katharina Brenner

Path dependencies and transformative actions towards sustainability. How actors, institutions and material dimensions shape urban built environments

Time / Place: 07.10.2024, 15:00 / Institute of Social Ecology, Schottenfeldgasse 29/3, 1070 Wien, SR 3a

Dissertation Defense

Harald Grabher

Household energy services from biomass and their interrelations with material stocks and flows: A socio-ecological case study in Ethiopia

Time / Place: 05.11.2024, 14:30 / Institute of Social Ecology, Schottenfeldgasse 29/3, 1070 Wien, SR 3a

Dissertation Defense

Katrin Kaltenegger

Analyzing flows of reactive nitrogen on different scales - global to urban perspectives

Time / Place: 07.10.2024, 13:00 / Institute of Social Ecology, Schottenfeldgasse 29/3, 1070 Wien, SR 3a

Sanitary Danube Capital: sewerage reform in late 19th century Budapest

105. ZUG-Minisymposium

Time: 21.11.2024, 18:15 Uhr, Ort: BOKU University | Standort Schottenfeldgasse 29, 1070 Wien, SR 3a oder online via Zoom

Transformative Research for a Just World and a Habitable Planet

Pathways Autumn School 2024

The 3rd edition of the Pathways Autumn School will take place from November 25-29, 2024 in Aussois, in the French Alps. Applications are now open until May 22nd, 2024.

UN Global Resources Outlook 2024

Bend the trend. Pathways to a liveable planet as resource use spikes

The newest report of the International Resource Panel - Marina Fischer-Kowalski was part of the process

Sustaining All Our Relations: Indigenous Environmental Justice and the Climate

ZUG-Minisymposium / Rachel Carson Center Lecture, 22.04.2024, 18:15 Uhr

Globally, Indigenous peoples bear significant burdens related to climate change, akin to the historical injustices of colonial processes. Focusing on the Canadian context, this talk will examine how climate change causes displacement from traditional territories, while also affecting Indigenous peoples’ health, sovereignty, and self-government.

Creating Circularity for Critical Raw Materials

SEC Lecture, 11.06.2024, 6 p.m.

Presentation: Christoph Helbig, University of Bayreuth, Germany; Moderation: Dominik Wiedenhofer, BOKU University; Place: Institute of Social Ecology, SR 3a, Schottenfeldgasse 29, 1070 Wien & Zoom: bokuvienna.zoom.us/j/61392424551

PhD Positions in Social Ecology and Environmental History of RIVERS

Closing date for applications: April 2, 2024.

APCC SR “Structures for a climate-friendly living"

Panel discussion. Open course of the Master’s programme Climate Change and Societal Transformation, March 19, 2024, 9:15 - 10.45 / Aula Schwackhöferhaus (Exhibition: March 11-19, 2024)

2 Open PhD Positions in Environmental History of Forests

Closing date for applications: January 31st, 2024

The Department of Economics and Social Sciences, Institute of Social Ecology at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna is offering 2 PhD positions to join the Project INFEST "Industrialization of Austrian Forests 1766 - 1914".

Harald Grabher

Awarded with a membership in the Empowered Futures Research School

Highly Cited Researchers 2023

Category: Cross-Field

Karl-Heinz Erb and Helmut Haberl once again among the world's most cited researchers. Congratulations to them!

Congratulations Sonja Bauernschuster

We warmly congratulate Sonja Bauernschuster on defending her doctoral thesis successfully!

Investigating the legal formalization and governance of social metabolism

# SEC Lecture / BOKU LAW, 28.11.2023, 06 p.m.

Presentation: Benoît Schmaltz, Jean Monnet University, Saint-Etienne, France, CERCRID (Centre for Critical Research on the Law); Commentary: Daniel Ennöckl, BOKU Wien; Moderation: Helmut Haberl, BOKU Wien; Place: Institute of Social Ecology, SR 3a, Schottenfeldgasse 29, 1070 Wien & Zoom: bokuvienna.zoom.us/j/94542630233, ID 9454 2630 233

Prof. Richard C. Hoffmann: Three European Fisheries. Evolutions of the Later Middle Ages

Institut für Österreichische Geschichtsforschung, Zentrum für Umweltgeschichte, Institut für Hydrobiologie und Gewässermanagement
Time: 30.11.2023. 17.00 c.t. / Place: Universität Wien, Elise-Richter-Saal

Dissertation Defense

Sonja Bauernschuster

The nexus between climate change mitigation and development in Laos

Time / Place: 24.10.2023, 10:00 / Institute of Social Ecology, Schottenfeldgasse 29, 1070 Wien, SR 4c