Academic Fields of Interest

Systems Scientist, in particular dynamic systems, how and why integrated, complex systems develop over time. Research and publications in ecology and evolution, economy and innovation including breakthrough (or "basic innovations"), urban development, human beings and the biosphere, energy supply, tourism, geographical information systems, and more.

Interest in using the options of the emerging information society, which includes the very large field of artificial intelligence, for establishing a new relationship between humanity and earth. As most people no longer work with materials or energy but with information, including knowledge and hopefully sometimes wisdom, the relationship to our earth changes fundamentally.

The use of dynamic models often allows the application of advanced mathematics in new ways, with training as a student by Erich Kaehler and Lothar Collatz.

Professional Experience

2004, ongoing
Adjunct Professor of Systems Science, Wegener Center, University of Graz, Austria
2001-2018
Visiting Scholar and Adjunct Professor of Climate and Society
Center for Climate and Society, University of Hawaii at Manoa, USA. Co-founder of that center.
2010-2014
Member of Board of Directors, PACON (Pacific Congress), University of Hawaii at Manoa
2000-2005
Research Scientist, Research Center GKSS Geesthacht
2002-2004
Research Fellow, Visiting Scientist
Hamburg Center for International Economy (HWWA). Development of integrated socio-economic models.
1995-2000
Head, Regional Future Models
Center for Environmental Research Leipzig/Halle (UFZ). Development of integrated perspectives on humanity, environment, and economy in the information society.
1992-1994
Director, Section Applied Landscape Ecology
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig
1990-1992
Head, Research Unit for Ecosystems and Environmental Research
Austrian Academy of Science
1990-1992
Visiting Associate Professor of Systems Science, University of the Bundeswehr Munich
1989-1990
Director, Institute for Socio-economic Research and Development
Austrian Academy of Science
1989-1995
Visiting Associate Professor of Systems Science, Viennese Economic University
1987-1991
Austrian Delegate, Human Dimensions of Global Change Research Programme
1986-1989
International Science Consultant, Vienna/Austria
1984-1985
Head, Micro-Ecological Management Systems (MMS)
International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Laxenburg, Austria
1982-1984
Research Scholar, Forest Sector Project
International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Laxenburg, Austria
Forest Sector Project, and Adaptable Renewable Resources Project
1971-1982
Research Scientist and Lecturer, Computing Center, University of Hamburg
1966, 1968
IBM Internship, System Programmer (Assembler), IBM, Hamburg

Research Grants & Projects

  • Forest Damage (1985): $25,000 (PI). Austrian Federal Ministry for Science
  • Integrated research on forest damage (1986-1987): $250,000 (PI). Austrian Federal Ministry for Science
  • Inventory of emissions of volatile organic compounds (1987-1988): $50,000 (PI). Austrian Federal Ministry for Science and Austrian Federal Environment Agency
  • Documentation of large integrated dynamic systems models (1990s): $75,000 (PI). German Federal Environmental Agency
  • MAB-6 project Berchtesgaden Man and the Biosphere (1980-1989): $10 Million (Co-PI). German Federal Ministry of Education and Research
  • Research project on forest damage (1986-1988): $1.5 Million (Co-PI). German Federal Ministry of Education and Research
  • Fractal Modeling (1994-1997): $5.5 Million (Co-PI). Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt DBU
  • An Innovative Landscape Plan for the City of Visselhövede (1996-1997): $50,000 (PI). City of Visselhövede
  • Research on cultural landscapes (1996-1997): $250,000 (PI). German Federal Ministry of Education and Research
  • Socially and environmentally friendly information society (2000-2001): $50,000 (PI). German Federal Ministry of Education and Research
  • EU-Project MOSES (1996-1999): $250,000 (PI). European Union. Modelling Sustainable Development in the European Information Society. International project with Austria, Germany, Great Britain, Israel, Spain, Switzerland

Awards & Recognition

  • MASUA Distinguished Foreign Scholar Award (1986) - University of Lincoln/Nebraska, USA for AI research on complex land-use agriculture
  • Austrian State Award for Applied Ecosystems Research (1988) - For ecosystems research using combinations of dynamic systems models and geographical information systems
  • Graf-Stürgkh Award - Austrian Holding Association of Organizations of Forest and Agricultural Land Owners. For forest die-back research and decrease of emissions of volatile organic compounds.
  • Featured in PNAS (2015) - Solar electricity supply isolines paper