Research Cluster Sustainability

Psychology

• Markus Wrbouschek (scientific staff)
• Katharina Hametner (Head of the Institute for Qualitative Social Research)
• Ivo Ponocny (Professor at the Faculty of Psychology. Research in the field of psychology of sustainable development)
• Marion Garaus ((Vice-Rector Research, University Professor of Business Psychology)
• Franziska von Zieglauer
• Jana Brandl (scientific staff)
• Felicitas Auersperg-Pieber (scientific staff)
• Laura Bomm (scientific staff)

Law

• Konrad Lachmayer (Vice Dean of the Faculty of Law, University Professor of Public Law, European Law and Fundamentals of Law)
• Tina Rametsteiner
• Teresa Weber (University Professor of Public Law)

Psychotherapy Science

• Paolo Raile (scientific staff)
• Anna Jank-Humann (scientific staff)

Medicine

• Erich Eder (Assistant Professor of Biology, Science Lab, Journal Club, Study Counsel)

Wegenberger, O., & Ponocny, I. (2025). Green skills are not enough: Three levels of competences from an applied perspective. Sustainability, 17(1), 327.

Hametner, K., Wrbouschek, M., & von Zieglauer, F. (in progress, 2025). On the interplay of mobility orientations and (non-)sustainable norm-setting. Mobility practice between automobile arrangement and sustainability appeal. Sustainable conditions and norms, special issue of Psychology & Social Criticism.

Raile, P. (2024a). Eco-anxiety in psychotherapy science and practice. Münster, New York: Waxmann.

Jank-Humann, A. (2024). The lost archipelago. Climate change on the Magdalen Islands. A contribution to psychoanalytical-ethnological disaster and island research. In A. Jank-Humann & R. Popp (Eds.), Culture, Psyche and Disaster. Contributions from European Ethnology, Psychotherapy Science, Disaster Research and Frisian Studies. Festschrift for Bernd Rieken (pp. 507-526). Münster: Waxmann.

Jank-Humann, A. (2024). The (In)vulnerable: The futures of the Halligen in the North Sea in the face of climate change. European Journal of Futures Research, 2024 (Special Issue “Futures of Global Risks”), 1-11. https://eujournalfuturesresearch.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40309-024-00234-4

Lachmayer, K. (2024). The constitutional context of climate change litigation: A comparative analysis of Germany and Austria. In I. Alogna, C. Billiet, M. Fermeglia, & A. Holzhausen (Eds.), Climate change litigation in Europe: Comparative & sectoral perspectives and the way forward (pp. 59-78). Cambridge: Intersentia Publishing.

Raile, P. (2024c). Eco-anxiety and Morita therapy-A review and illustrative case report. Challenges, 15(3), 34. https://doi.org/10.3390/challe15030034

Raile, P. (2024d, n.d.). Psychodynamic interpretations of eco-anxiety: Comparison of individual psychology, analytical psychology, and object-relations theory. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

Raile, P. (2024e). The psychotherapeutic treatment of eco-anxiety. In A. Jank-Humann & R. Popp (Eds.), Culture, Psyche and Disaster. Contributions from European ethnology, psychotherapy science, disaster research and frisics. Festschrift for Bernd Rieken (pp. 431-441). Münster, New York: Waxmann.

Weber, T. (2024). New Environmental Protests: New Challenges for Public Law? In IUR (ed.), Proceedings of the Environmental Law Days 2023 (together with Birgit Hollaus).

Weber, T. (2024). Climate Seniors: Changing legal opportunity structures in the face of the climate crisis. Austrian Law Journal, 9(1), 100-116.

Weber, T., & Chourabi, S. M. (2024). The Vienna Climate Teams and Democratic Innovation from a Constitutional Perspective. Law and Finance of Municipalities, 2024, 153-160.

Eder, E., Schernhammer, T., Hölzler, G., & Zulka, K. P. (2024). Beyond Baba Dioum’s words: Unpacking the relationship between biodiversity knowledge and conservation attitudes. In ECCB 2024, 7th European Congress of Conservation Biology “Biodiversity positive by 2030”, 68. Bologna: Society for Conservation Biology.

Raile, P. (2023b). Psychotherapeutic multi-approach perspectives on eco-anxiety. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1162616. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1162616

Raile, P. (2023d). Poetry therapy and eco-anxiety – A case study. Journal of Poetry Therapy, 36, 2203833. https://doi.org/10.1080/08893675.2023.2203833

Raile, P. (2023f). The importance of teaching climate-health literacy in psychotherapeutic training and continuing education. F1000Research, 12, 982. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.139879.1

Raile, P. (2023g). Psychodrama and eco-anxiety – A case study. Environment and Social Psychology, 8(3), 1910. https://doi.org/10.54517/esp.v9i1.1910

Raile, P. (2023i). The significance of eco-emotions for psychotherapeutic education and training. SFU Research Bulletin, 11(1), 49-66. https://doi.org/10.15135/2023.11.2.49-66

Raile, P. (2023k). Climate change and mental health. Eco-emotions from fear to confidence. In I. Dullinger (Ed.), Green Nursing. Fields of action for health promotion and prevention in the context of climate change (pp. 67-82). Vienna: Facultas.

Weber, T. (2023). From superglue to concrete: Fundamental rights considerations on protest actions in the climate crisis. Newsletter Menschenrechte, 2023, 517-527 (together with Birgit Hollaus).

Weber, T. (2023). Are climate activists protected by the Aarhus Convention? A note on Article 3 (8) Aarhus Convention and the new rapid response mechanism for environmental defenders. Review of European, Comparative and International Environmental Law, 30(1), 67-76. https://doi.org/10.1111/reel.12465

Lachmayer, K., & Müller, C. (2023). Socio-ecological transformation law: Public law considerations on an eco-social transformation in Austria. Juridikum – Journal for Critique | Law | Society, 34(3), 316-325.

Hametner, K., & Wrbouschek, M. (Eds.). (2023). Appropriating space. Psychology & Social Critique, 47(3), 187-ISSN 0170-0537.

Ahn, B., Friesenecker, M., Kazepov, Y. A. K., & Brandl, J. (2023). How context matters: Challenges of localising participatory budgeting for climate change adaptation in Vienna. Urban Planning, 8(1), 399-413. https://doi.org/10.17645/up.v8i1.6067

Eder, E. (2023). Prehistoric crabs and the meaning of life. Biodiversity and conservation measures in Austria. Museum of Natural History Magdeburg, Aug. 24, 2023.

Raile, P. (2022e). Eco-trauma from the perspective of a psychotherapy science that expands the possibilities of action. Journal for Free Psychoanalytic Research and Individual Psychology, 9(2), 109-124. https://doi.org/10.15136/2022.9.2.109-124

Raile, P. (2021a). Eco-Anxiety – the fear of climate change: Psychotherapeutic and ethnological approaches. Münster, New York: Waxmann.

Raile, P. (2021b). Eco-anxiety as a motivator of environmental movements – 1970-2021. Environmental anxiety and eco-anxiety. In B. Rieken, R. Popp, & P. Raile (Eds.), Eco-Anxiety – Future anxiety and climate change. Interdisciplinary approaches (pp. 123-142). Münster, New York: Waxmann.

Raile, P. (2021c). Eco-anxiety. Anxiety management and activism in everyday social media. Cuckoo – Notes on Everyday Culture, 35(2), 84-87.

Raile, P. (2021f). Climate change and fear – then and now. Case vignettes of the last 4500 years interpreted from today’s perspective. SFU Research Bulletin, 9(2), 39-56. https://doi.org/10.15135/2021.9.2.39-56

Rieken, B., Popp, R., & Raile, P. (Eds.). (2021). Eco-Anxiety – Fear of the future and climate change. Interdisciplinary approaches. Münster, New York: Waxmann.

Lachmayer, K., & Hahnenkamp, P. (2022). Climate and Environmental European Law – Does the EU have the competences it needs? A&W Blog, 9, 1-4. https://awblog.at/klima-und-umwelteuroparecht/

Lachmayer, K., & Müller, C. (2022). Austria’s struggle to respond to climate change. Verfassungsblog on Matters Constitutional, 13(1), 1-4. https://doi.org/10.17176/20220129-060335-0

Eder, E., & Hölzler, G. (2020). Will bees save the world? Critical consideration of a hype. Sol Magazine, 181, nachhaltig.at.

Eder, E. (2017). We are pulling the ground from under our feet. In Science. Where researchers should be heard. Profile, 33, 66.

2024/2025

• UE Qualitative methods I & II on the topic “Subjective experience of sustainable urban development – social psychological studies on the neighbourhood”; SFU Vienna, Katharina Hametner
• 230148 SE M5 Research on Sustainability – Research Seminar Sociological Specialisation, Jana Brandl
• UE Social Psychology I: Social Psychology of Sustainability; SFU Vienna, Valentina Wegener, Markus Wrbouschek

2024 & 2024/25

• Psychology of sustainability; SFU Vienna, Ivo Ponocny

2023/2024

• IC Qualitative Research Techniques I & II: Framework topic – Global mobilities in times of eco-crises in the international programme; SFU Vienna, Markus Wrbouschek
• UE Social Psychology I: Environmental Psychology and Sustainability); SFU Vienna, Pia Guggenberger, Katharina Hametner, Markus Wrbouschek
• Climate change denial; SFU Vienna, Ivo Ponocny

until 2023

• Master’s course: Different Dimensions of Sustainable Development; Modul University Vienna, Ivo Ponocny
• PhD seminars: Environmental Psychology, Social welfare, Well-being, Resilience, Transition; Modul University Vienna, Ivo Ponocny

2015 – now

• Biology for medical students. Lecture; Sigmund Freud Private University Vienna, Erich Eder

2003 – 2015

• Biology and ecology of native animals. Seminar; University of Vienna, Erich Eder

2001 – 2016

• Outdoor didactics in teaching biology and environmental studies. Seminar and field trip; University of Vienna, Erich Eder

2025

Rametsteiner, T., & Weber, T. (2025, May 9). International Conference “Rights of Nature: A Utopia in the Present?”. Sigmund Freud Private University, Austria.

Ponocny, I. (2025, January 24). What is science? Lecture at the MS Neuhaus am Klausenbach. Lecture at the MS Neuhaus am Klausenbach, Klausenbach, Austria.

Raile, P. (2025, January 23). Eco-Emotions – Climate protection. Lecture as part of the SFU-VHS cooperation, Vienna Planetarium.

Ponocny, I., Hametner, K., & Wrbouschek, M. (2025, January 14). SFU Research Cluster Sustainability: Projects. SFU Research Days Psychology, SFU Vienna.

2024

Hametner, K., & von Zieglauer, F. (2024, December 12). Keynote lecture on the project “Vienna Mobility Climate” as part of the course “Theory and Empiricism of Scientific Work 1: Qualitative-Cultural-Psychological Approaches to Questions of Sustainability Transformation”. Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna.

Weber, T. (2024, November 15). Protecting climate activists: The role of the law. Presentation at the conference “Climate Crisis and the Question of Justice”, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic.

Ponocny, I. (2024, November 22). The Psychology of Sustainability and Climate Crisis. Lecture.

Hametner, K., & Ponocny, I. (2024, November 5). “There have always been hot summers!” How climate change is trivialised. Lecture as part of the BMS Science Week 2024.

Weber, T. (2024, September 30). Locus standi of climate NGOs – The ECHR doctrine in climate seniors. Presentation at the conference “Klimaklagen” im Konzept des EGMR, Vienna University of Economics and Business, Vienna, Austria.

Hametner, K., Wrbouschek, M., & von Zieglauer, F. (2024, September). On Sustainability in Everyday Life – Mobility Practices of Young People in Vienna between efficiency, affordability and morality. Presentation at the Public Law and Cities – First ICON.S Austrian Chapter Conference, Vienna, Austria.

Weber, T. (2024, July 10). Connecting knowledge and law-making through impact assessments: A comparative perspective. Presentation at the ICON-S Annual Conference 2024 “The Future of Public Law: Resilience, Sustainability, and Artificial Intelligence”, Madrid, Spain.

Hametner, K., Wrbouschek, M., & von Zieglauer, F. (2024, June). Why Care for Climate Change under Conditions of Inequality? A Qualitative Analysis of Everyday Mobility Practices in Times of Uncertainty. Presentation at the 2nd Conference of the Association of European Qualitative Researchers in Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy.

Hametner, K., & Wrbouschek, M. (2024, June). Becoming Oriented: Tentativeness and Affective Intuition as Methodical Challenges in Praxeological Reconstruction of Transitional Experiences. Paper presented at the 2nd Conference of the Association of European Qualitative Researchers in Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy.

Wrbouschek, M., & Hametner, K. (2024, May). Simondonian reflections on contemporary ecological crises and their moral psychological implications. Paper presented at the 20th Conference of the International Society for Theoretical Psychology (ISTP), University of Belgrade, Serbia.

Ponocny, I. (2024, May 8). Sustainability and biodiversity. Scientists for Future lecture at the primary schools Lohnsburg.

Ponocny, I. (2024, June 6). WBA I Work, happiness and sustainability. SFU Continuing Education Academy Vienna.

Ponocny, I. (2024, June 17). Sustainability. Presentation at the SFU Interdisciplinary Workshop on Sustainability in the City of Vienna.

Hametner, K., Wrbouschek, M., Hampl/Rechbach, Ponocny, I., Lachmayer, K., Brandl, J., & students, v. (2024, June 17). Conversations about Sustainability – Psychological, Social & Legal Science Contributions to Understanding the Climate Crisis.

2023

Raile, P. (2023, November 9). The psychological impact of the climate crisis. Presentation at the symposium “Green Nursing”.

Ponocny, I. (2023, September 18-20). Climate change denial. Lecture at the PhD Summer School (SFU, UMIT, Private University Schloss Seeburg, Modul University).

Ponocny, I. (2023, August 22-25). Human needs and transition. Presentation at the ISQOLS Conference, Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Raile, P. (2023, May 20). Loneliness and community as influencing factors in dealing with Eco-Anxiety. Presentation at the symposium “Loneliness and Relationship”.

Ponocny, I. (2023, July 12). Scientists for Future lecture at mediadrei.

Ponocny, I. (2023, June 15). Climate crisis. Climate catastrophe. Scientists for Future lecture at the vocational school for administrative professions.

2022

Raile, P. (2022, October 19). The contribution of psychotherapy science to the climate crisis. Lecture as part of the event “SFU goes Climate”.

2021

Raile, P. (2021, April 27). Eco Anxiety. Presentation at an event of the Climate Change Study Group of the SFU.

2019

Ponocny, I. (2019, November 21-24). Psychological barriers against pro-environmental behaviour. Presentation at the EFPSA Conference 2019, Environmental Psychology. Humans in their Surrounding World, Prague, Czech Republic. [European Federation of Psychology Students’ Associations]

Ponocny, I. (2019, November 21-24). Well-being and pro-environmental behaviour. Presentation at the EFPSA Conference 2019, Environmental Psychology. Humans in their Surrounding World, Prague, Czech Republic. [European Federation of Psychology Students’ Associations]

Ponocny, I. (2019, September 4-7). Well-being and environmental behaviour: The marginal role of sustainability. Presentation at the XVII ISQOLS Conference, Granada, Spain.

Paolo Raile is the Austrian representative on the Management Committee of the COST Action CliMent (Climate Change and Mental Health)

Students are an important part of our sustainability cluster. They are actively involved in our research work and studies and write their Bachelor’s and Master’s theses on sustainability-related topics. Through this close collaboration, they make a valuable contribution to our research and at the same time gain practical experience in an interdisciplinary environment.

Psychology

Students who would like to write a Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis at the interface between psychology and sustainability are cordially invited to contact us. We also welcome enquiries from students who are interested in occasionally assisting us with ongoing research projects. If you are interested, please send an e-mail to markus.wrbouschek@sfu.ac.at, katharina.hametner@sfu.ac.at, or ivo.ponocny@sfu.ac.at

Vienna mobility climate: Moidl, L. and Güler, B. (participating students)

Güler, B. (in progress). On the entanglement of mobility, sustainability and social situation using the example of the everyday experiences of young Viennese women (Bachelor thesis, SFU Vienna, supervised by K. Hametner).

Forghani, R. (2024). The relationships between macroeconomic, socio-demographic and psychological factors with regard to fertility rates – a study at country level (Master thesis, SFU Vienna, supervised by I. Ponocny).

Psychotherapy Science

Matousek, A. (2024). Psychotherapeutic forms of intervention in the context of social sustainability (Bachelor thesis, SFU Vienna, supervised by I. Ponocny).

Medicine

Bischof, F. (2023). Correlations of xenophobia with paranormal belief and creationism in Austrian secondary schools (Bachelor thesis, University of Vienna, 24 pp.; supervised by E. Eder).

Tinkhauser, T. (2023). Species knowledge and consent to conservation in biology students (Bachelor thesis, University of Vienna, 32 pp.; supervised by E. Eder).

Gruber, T. (2023). Paranormal belief and belief in CAM in medical students: A longitudinal comparison between freshmen and bachelors (Master thesis, Sigmund Freud University, Medical School, Vienna, 60 pp.; co-supervised by M. C. Sora, & E. Eder).

Frey, N. (2022). Development of a didactic concept for teaching basic ecological topics in the style of an easy-to-understand textbook for medical students (Bachelor thesis, University of Vienna, 30 pp.; supervised by E. Eder).

Angelmayr, J. C. S. A. (2020). Plant-animal interactions as a key to understanding evolutionary processes (Master thesis, University of Vienna, 613 pp.; co-supervised with M. Kiehn, & E. Eder).

Trappl, M. (2020). How young people deal with information on environmental policy issues on social media and the importance of formal education in this informal learning space (Master thesis, University of Vienna, 91 pp.; co-supervised with M. Kiehn, & E. Eder).

Eisenecker, F. (2018). Didactically constructed approaches to teaching climate change based on a textbook analysis (Master thesis, University of Vienna, Austria, 137 pp.; co-supervised with M. Kiehn, & E. Eder).

Gespräche über Nachhaltigkeit
10 June 2025, 14:30 – 17:30 | Freudplatz 1, 1020 Vienna, 2nd floor, lecture hall 2002

Tagung – Rechte der Natur: Eine Utopie in der Gegenwart?
09 May 2025, 13:00 / Festsaal at the SFU Vienna (HS 1002), Freudplatz 1, 1020 Vienna