Nature, Society & Psychology of the Climate Crisis

This interdisciplinary CIVIS BIP brings together students and faculty from leading European universities to tackle the climate crisis through the lenses of climate science, social sciences, and psychology.

Hosted by the University of Salzburg, with contributions from Stockholm University and the University of Tübingen, the course is designed for advanced Bachelor’s, Master’s, and early-stage PhD students.

The programme includes three phases:

• Phase 1 (online, April 2026): students acquire foundational knowledge through virtual lectures and self-paced learning;
• Phase 2 (in-Person, 4–8 May 2025): in Salzburg, local and international students engage together in field trips, stakeholder meetings with an industrial company and at a power plant, and team activities;
• Phase 3 (online, May-June 2026): students collaborate in interdisciplinary teams to produce podcasts or videos proposing solutions to the real-world climate challenges they identified with the stake-holders.

Topics include climate modelling, water and energy management, societal adaptation, and psychological barriers to climate action. Students interact with local stakeholders such as Salzburg AG and sustainable industry leaders, applying their knowledge to practical problems.

The course awards 6 ECTS and aligns with CIVIS HUB 1 (Climate, Environment, Energy) and HUB 4 (Cities, Spaces, Mobilities), supporting EU priorities like the European Green Deal and the Digital Education Action Plan.

Climate Science Foundations

• Greenhouse effect, sea level rise, extreme weather events
• Climate modeling and Earth system variability

Water and Energy Management

• Hydropower and flood prevention 
• River systems and water-related risks 

Societal Adaptation and Urban Development

• Energy transition and regional planning
• Stakeholder engagement and sustainable industry practices

Psychological Barriers and Climate Action

• Threat perception, anxiety, and defensive responses
• Motivation and behavior change for sustainable consumption

• holistic understanding of climate change: gain interdisciplinary insights into the physical, societal, and psychological dimensions of climate challenges;
• transdisciplinary collaboration skills: learn to work effectively in diverse teams across disciplines and cultures;
• practical application of knowledge: apply theoretical concepts to real-world problems through stakeholder engagement and service learning;
• effective science communication: develop skills to communicate complex ideas clearly via podcasts and videos aimed at public audiences;
• digital literacy and teamwork: enhance proficiency in digital collaboration tools and virtual teamwork;
• critical thinking and problem solving: tackle climate-related challenges using evidence-based, interdisciplinary approaches.

The physical mobility section of the BIP will take place between 4-8 May 2026, in Salzburg, Austria. The students will engage in interactive learning, team-building, and field trips to local climate stakeholders.

Activities include visits to flood-affected communities, a hydro-power plant, and a sustainable industry leader specializing in household products. Classroom sessions focus on water and energy management, climate adaptation, and team planning.

Social events like a city rally and group dinners foster intercultural exchange and collaboration, preparing students to tackle real-world climate challenges in interdisciplinary teams.

The course will start on 23 March. All the virtual meetings will be held Mondays, between 16.00-18.00 CET.

• 23 March 2026: course kick-off & overview with Lukas Thürmer (mandatory); online lectures for self-paced learning; online meetings for Q&A 
• 30 March 2026: Climate Science: Earth System & Modeling (Qiong Zhang) 
• 7 April 2026: Water Systems & Environmental Impacts (Christiane Zarfl) 
• 13 April 2026: Energy Transition & Societal Adaptation (Olaf Kühne) 
• 20 April 2026: Psychological Responses to Climate Threats (Johannes Klackl)
• 27 April 2026: Motivation & Behavior Change for Sustainability (Lukas Thürmer)
• 5 May - 14 June: teams will be encouraged to schedule additional weekly work-meetings to complete their assignments; they have the chance to get feedback by booking online meetings, available again Mondays, 16.00-18:00 CET.

Evaluations are comprised of a combination of knowledge checks and peer feedback, which all contribute to a final project:

• knowledge quiz: assesses foundational understanding of climate science, societal impacts, and psychological processes;
• peer review: students provide constructive feedback on each other’s podcast or video drafts, practicing interdisciplinary critique and collaboration;
• final product: each team produces a podcast or video addressing a real-world climate challenge, evaluated for scientific accuracy, innovation, and public accessibility.

This evaluation structure ensures alignment with learning outcomes and promotes applied, interdisciplinary learning. 

Motivation Letter

CV

The applications will be evaluated based on:

• openness and motivation to tackle real-word issues;
• proven academic excellence;
• willingness to work independently in interdisciplinary and intercultural team.

• Prof. Olaf Kühne (Tübingen), a geographer specializing in landscape and regional development;
  
• Prof. Qiong Zhang (Stockholm), a climate scientist renowned for climate modeling;
• Prof. Christiane Zarfl (Tübingen), an environmental systems analyst focused on water and pollutant dynamics;
• Dr. Johannes Klackl (Salzburg), a psychologist exploring fear and conflict through neuroscience;
• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lukas Thürmer (Salzburg), a motivation scientist studying groups and teams attain their goals. Together, they bring cutting-edge insights from science, society, and psychology to tackle climate challenges.