Marina Fischer-Kowalski

Univ.-Prof. Dr. Marina Fischer-Kowalski, is the Founder of the Institute of Social Ecology, Vienna, and Professor at Alpen Adria University, Senior Lecturer at the University of Vienna. Guest professor at the universities of Yale, Roskilde, Griffith and Rio de Janeiro. She is member of UNEP’s International Resource Panel and lead author of several of its publications.

A social scientist by professional breeding, what fascinates Dr. Fischer-Kowalski about interdisciplinary cooperation "across the great divide" is to expose oneself to approaches from different scientific perspectives and attempt a radical re-framing of the structure of a problem. Driven by an obsession for theoretical clarity, and interested in quite fundamental questions: What is the nexus between social and natural systems? How do they co-evolve? How do they relate in the minds of people, in current biophysical reality, how did they relate in history and in current international relations? Curious to ever again take a fresh look, ask questions, and put ones prejudices at risk by thorough empirical investigation.

Research Interests include: Social Ecology; Sustainability transitions and dynamics of social change; Social metabolism and Societal resource use; linking Environmental and Socioeconomic Information Systems; Environmental Sociology.