Professor Elke U. Weber

A psychology professor at Princeton University, Elke U. Weber is currently an Einstein Visiting Fellow at the Science of Intelligence Center, where she researches political decision-making powers and global action to tackle climate change through the behavioral and social sciences. Elke Weber is connected to the Center Climate Change, and draws on psychological theories to investigate the extent to which personal experiences, as well as social norms and interactions, affect decision-making and action. To ensure the study considers the specific social and existential factors that influence people’s decision-making, Elke Weber’s project is based on a comparative analysis of existing studies on climate policy and environmental protection measures, comparing Berlin-Brandenburg, New Jersey (USA), and New Delhi (India).

Professor Eric J. Johnson

Eric J. Johnson from the Center for Decision Sciences at Columbia University is is currently an Einstein Visiting Fellow at the Science of Intelligence Center. In his CREDiBl project he links climate research with the behavioral sciences and economics. Based at the Technische Universität, Eric Johnson researches decision architectures, i.e. ways of presenting choices and facilitating decision-making processes by utilizing the various social, economic, and psychological factors that shape our actions. Using empirical methods as well as face-to-face and online interviews, the projects aim to develop approaches and tools for political structures and businesses to more effectively communicate their carbon impact to citizens. In addition, we are exploring effective carbon labeling and other forms of choice architecture to improve citizen’s knowledge of their carbon footprint

Johnson is also the author of The Elements of Choice, a book describing choice architecture and its consequences.

Dr. Lubna Rashid

Lubna’s work lies at the intersection of ecological sustainability, behavioral psychology, and digital entrepreneurship. She is particularly interested in understanding the drivers of (un)sustainable decision-making and the behavioral change surrounding climate adaptation and mitigation. She presently works with the Berlin Brandenburg Climate Change Center and the Princeton University Behavioral Science for Policy Lab Prof. Dr. Elke Weber. Her current research aims to uncover the psychological states and traits (e.g. well-being, cognitive dissonances, moral disengagement strategies), personal experiences, and social norms surrounding the climate transition, particularly in the areas of building and transportation in Berlin and Brandenburg. Lubna’s eclectic background spans biology and ecology, industrial engineering, and entrepreneurship in fragile contexts. Lubna is part of the Einstein Visiting Fellowship, which links climate research with behavioral sciences and economics.

Dr. Jonas Ludwig

Jonas does research at the intersection of behavioral economics and social/cognitive psychology, focusing on judgment and decision making across various domains. He currently works with TU Berlin’s Climate Change Center Berlin Brandenburg and the Center for Decision Sciences at Columbia University. Jonas is particularly interested in better understanding how motivational and social factors affect choices and decision processes in situations that many decision makers perceive as difficult, for instance, because conflicting motivations pull them in different directions. His current projects focus on how people judge the ecological impact of consumer choices, as well as decision making related to sustainability, climate action, and ethical behavior more generally. Jonas is a member of Eric Johnson’s Einstein Visiting Fellowship Team.

Vanessa Hiess

Vanessa completed her Bachelor’s degree in Political and Administrative Sciences at the University of Constance before successfully completing her Master’s degree in Innovation Management, Entrepreneurship and Sustainability (IMES) at TU Berlin. After gaining professional experience in advocacy for higher education and research in Brussels and in the field of sustainable development policy in Berlin, she began her doctorate under the supervision of Prof. Jan Kratzer. With her doctoral application, Vanessa received an Einstein Fellowship and is thus part of the Center for Research on Environmental Decision-Making in Berlin, which is led by Prof. Elke Weber (Princeton) and Prof. Eric Johnson (Columbia). Her research is located at the interface of sociology, psychology, sustainability and behavioral sciences, focusing on (un)sustainable behavior of decision-makers.

Arian Trieb

Arian Trieb is a predoctoral researcher, specializing in the study of decision-making processes and their impact on sustainable consumption. Arian recently completed an MPhil degree at the Judge Business School, University of Cambridge. Prior to joining CREDiBl, Arian gained valuable industry experience as an account strategist at Google. With a keen interest in understanding how individuals make sustainable decisions, Arian collaborates with Professors Johnson and Weber, as well as with postdoctoral researchers Lubna Rashid and Jonas Ludwig. Together, they focus on examining the effective implementation of choice architecture to promote the adoption of sustainable behaviors in the Berlin and Brandenburg regions. Arian is part of the Einstein Visiting Fellowship, which links climate research with behavioral sciences and economics.