Bachelors and Masters
Since 2015, IRI THESys has been awarding prizes for excellent Bachelor and Master theses in the field of human-environmental research for students at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. The THESys Award Ceremony takes place every winter semester and sees the talented Bachelor and Masters students present their winning theses. Many of the past recipients have remained connected to IRI THESys throughout their academic careers—several even joining the THESys Graduate Program.
Application Process
The submitted theses may deal with topics in the fields of land, water, food, climate or
infrastructure & energy. Besides scientific excellence, the nominated theses are evaluated for their contribution to answering an interdisciplinary and/or transdisciplinary research question in the context of IRI THESys’ research areas. Furthermore, applications should state the potential societal impact of their work. Theses can be written in either English or German.
In each category a first prize of EUR 250 and a second prize of EUR 150 is awarded. Prizes may be used for academic books, scientific travel or the publication of the thesis. Cash payment is not possible.
The winners will receive a certificate and will be presented on the IRI THESys website. Additionally, they are given the opportunity to present their theses in a short lecture during the lecture series Der grüne Faden of the student-driven Sustainability Office at HU Berlin.
Call for Applications: THESys Award 2025
The next call for application is expected to take place in autumn 2025.
A complete application consists of:
Former winners
IRI THESys compliments all winners on their outstanding work!
Master
Marek Sierts, Urbane Geographien, M.A., 1st prize
„Gentrifizierung auf zwei Rädern“? Eine Analyse der Zusammenhänge zwischen Fahrradinfrastruktur und sozioökonomischen Bevölkerungsmerkmalen in Berlin
Ana Belén Palacios, Open Design, M.A., 2nd prize
The Mestiza Ways: Ontologically Oriented Speculative Design of Mestizo Women
Jonas Textor, Agricultural Economics, M.Sc., 3rd prize
Das Schwein als Produkt. Bilder von Körper und Geschlecht innerhalb der industriellen Schweinezucht
Bachelor
Paul Schulze, Geography, BA thesis, 1st prize
The ‘Hardest Working River in the West’ under a Changing Climate – Long-term Water Planning and Adaptation Strategies of Metro Phoenix Municipalities in the Light of an Uncertain Future for the Colorado River Water Supply
Camilla Geiger, Geography, BA thesis, other prize (shared)
Finding Common Ground: How community gardens contribute to a better human-nature relationship and offer a possible outline for a sustainable urban life
Karim Abou Ouf, Agricultural Sciences, BSc thesis, other prize (shared)
Investigating the Effects of Methylsalicylate on Salt Tolerance of two Birch Species, Betula grossa and Betula corylifolia, In Vitro
Master
Benjamin Färber, Agricultural Economics, MSc thesis, 1st prize
A sustainable business model approach to advance the adoption of agroforestry for the region of Lower Bavaria, Germany
Hannah Prawitz, Integrated Natural Resource Management, MSc thesis, other prize (shared)
Towards modeling the Anthropocene: Conception and analysis of planetary-scale social-ecological feedbacks
Nora Spirkl, Psychology, MSc thesis, other prize (shared)
Fighting For Future: Young People and the Climate Crisis – Agency, Coping, and Anxiety
Bachelor
Colin Lehmann, Business Administration, BA thesis, 1st Prize
Die Auswirkungen des Ukraine-Krieges auf den optimalen Strommix in Deutschland
Sophie Vermeulen, Geography, BA thesis, 2nd Prize
Nachhaltige orts-gebundene Gemeinschaftsinitiativen als Mensch-Natur-Beziehungen stärkende Räume. Eine qualitativ-empirische Untersuchung des Erlebens von Naturverbundenheit in einem GEN-Ökodorf
Master
Sarah Felix, European Ethnology, MA thesis, 1st Prize
Der beanspruchte See: Topologien der Koexistenz am Berliner Müggelsee
Eva-Maria Kachold, Philosophy, MA thesis, 1st Prize
Individuelles Handeln und Klimawandel: Eine tugendethische Perspektive
Alexander Meinert, European Ethnology, MA thesis, 1st Prize
(How) to grow a home for the many-legged. A university campus in Berlin as a project space for multispecies care and sustainable green areas in the city
1st Prize
Natalie Kiefer, Art and Visual History, BA thesis
(Re)Thinking the Ocean
Marie Pratzer, Global Change Geography, MA thesis
Understanding the Relationship of Agricultural Intensification and Deforestation in the World’s Tropical Dry Forests
2nd Prize
Robin Dach, Geography, BA thesis
The Political Ecology of Groundwater Mining in Yemen
Valentin Salein, Philosophy, BA thesis
Schulden wir es einander, unsere individuellen Emissionen zu reduzieren? Ein kontraktualistischer Ansatz für die Klimaethik
Nina Fintzen, Agricultural Economics, MA thesis
Self-concepts of Farmers in Brandenburg and Agricultural Discourses. An explorative Study based on Interviews
Julia Spahle, Integrated Natural Resource Management, MA thesis
An Evaluation of Formative Influences and Perspectives of Early-Career Transdisciplinary Researchers
Hannah-Lea Schmid, Urban Ecosystem Sciences (TU), MA thesis
Outlook and Insights – Perception of residential greenery in multi-storied housing estates of Berlin
1st Prize
Alea Grote, Agricultural Economics, MSc thesis
A systems perspective on insect feed as an alternative protein resource in German animal production
Jonas Jäger, Philosophy, BA thesis
Urbaner Naturschutz – Welche Gründe sprechen für Naturschutz in Städten?
2nd Prize
Mitja Seyffert, Integrated Natural Resource Management, MSc thesis
Exploring the Role of Local Administration in Agricultural Innovation Processes – The Case of Agroforestry in Brandenburg
Dzeneta Hodzic, MSc thesis
Tracing Renewable Energy in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Imaginaries of Europeanisation in Infrastructuring Processes of the Energy Sector
[To read Dzeneta’s work, please contact her directly]
1st Prize
Marie Neuwald, Integrated Natural Resource Management, MSc thesis
Entwicklung von Innovationen für die extensive Bewirtschaftung von Moorstandorten. Management-Herausforderungen für beteiligte Akteure
Rebecca Geyer, Geography, BSc thesis
Ermittlung von Potentialflächen für den Wiesenschutz im Biosphärenreservat Spreewald mithilfe der Methode der Partizipativen Kartierung
2nd Prize
Josef Kaiser, Geography, MSc thesis
Payments for Ecosystem Services as a Promising Approach for Successful Nature Conservation? Definitions, the Role of Spatial Scales and Critique: A Systematic Literature Review
Benedikt Walker, Sozialwissenschaften, MA thesis
URBANIZATION AND WIND ENERGY: The “Bernauer Erklärung” as a case study of interdependencies between urbanization and energy transition processes.
Sarah-Juliane Starre, Geography, BSc thesis
Ländliche Räume und Mobilität mit erneuerbaren Energien in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: Eine Bestands- und Potenzialanalyse zur Identifizierung von Gemeinden für Elektromobili-tät am Beispiel des Landkreises Vorpommern-Rügen
[To read Sarah-Juliane’s work, please contact her directly]
1st Prize
Lea Ottilie Fink, Integrated Natural Resource Management, MSc thesis
What drives firms to successfully cooperate on climate change? – an institutional analysis of the Science Based Targets initiative
Heindriken Margarete Dahlmann, Geography, BA thesis
Criticality of blue virtual water imports of agricultural products for cities. Analysis for Berlin and Amman from 1998-2002
2nd Prize
Anja Klein, European Ethnology, MSc thesis
Knowledge Practices in the Modelling of “Socio-Ecological Coevolutions“ – On Simplification, Experimentation, Visualization and Alignment
Mariana Cerca, Integrated Natural Resource Management, MSc thesis
Critical Discourse Analysis of Social Sustainability in Agriculture: The Political Discourses on Biofuels in Brazil and Germany
Thomas Betzold, Geography, BSc thesis
Biochar from water hyacinth – turning a plague into a resource
1st Prize
Joy Heitlinger, Agricultural Economics, MSc thesis
Spannungsfelder im Nachhaltigkeitsmarketing – Perspektiven zur Identifikation neuer Zielgruppen für das Zweinutzungshuhn
Dženeta Hodžić, European Ethnology, BA thesis
Knowing the Social in Global Change Research – Understanding the Role of Social Sciences in Future Earth
2nd Prize
Cordula Wittekind, Integrated Natural Resource Management, MSc thesis
Assessment of transgression of the planetary boundary of freshwater use, accounting for aquatic biodiversity
Katja Kowalski, Geography, BSc thesis
Analysis of forest disturbance dynamics in the Tatra Mountains using Landsat time series from 1986 to 2015
1st Prize
Carolin Hoffmann, Integrated Natural Resource Management, MSc thesis
Colombia and the prospect of peace: Is there hope for a slowdown of deforestation in the foothills of the Amazon? An analysis of deforestation patterns and potential preventive measures
Marc Lange, European Ethnology, BA thesis
Qualitative GIS in Ethnographic Research: Reviewing Recent Studies and Making a Case for an Interdisciplinary, Collaborative Research Tool
2nd Prize
Constanze Werner, Physical Geography of Human-Environment-Systems, MSc thesis
A Multi-Criteria Analysis as an Alternative Approach for the Planetary Boundary of Land System Change
Simon Thomsen, Geography, BSc thesis
Comparing deforestation rates and patterns along the Colombian-Ecuadorian border
1st Prizes
Janine Hauer, European Ethnology, MA thesis
Landscapes of hope: Urban expansion in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Franz Schug, Geography, BSc thesis
Potential of a multi seasonal spectral mixture analysis using Landsat imagery for detecting urbanization patterns in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
