Alumnus (former Member)

Wolfgang Lucht would have almost studied German philology or theology; however he eventually decided to study Physics at the Christian-Albrechts University in Kiel where he also received his PhD in 1993. Later he was postdoc and assistant professor at the Boston University and since 1999 he works at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, currently co-chairing the research area “Earth System Analysis”. Since 2009 he holds the Alexander von Humboldt Chair in sustainability research at HU, in 2004 he also started the professorship Biosphere Dynamics and Earth System Research at the University of Potsdam. Starting 1st of July 2016 Wolfgang Lucht has been appointed as member of the German Advisory Council on the Environment.

Research Interests

  • Planetary opportunities and planetary boundaries
  • Earth system analysis and Earth system modelling
  • Sustainability science, global biosphere, climate change and social ecology