Professor of Geographical Information Science

Prof. Haklay has been working on environment and society issues since 1992, when the Rio Earth Summit inspired life-long research on environmental information, geospatial technology, and participatory approaches. Prof Haklay’s extensive research and publications (with over 19,000 citations according to Google Scholar) are covering a wide range of issues relating to the nature, production, and use of environmental information. Prof Haklay has been studying systems approaches for environmental management, and in particular the area of citizen science, an area in which he is considered one of the leading global experts. Prof Haklay research was funded through interdisciplinary funding sources such as the UK Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC) “Challenging Engineering” programme, and a European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant. In addition, he co-led a range of interdisciplinary catalysis efforts, such as ''Bridging the Gaps'' at UCL, which accelerated collaboration around sustainability2, or the UCL Grand Challenges programme3. He has been on the ERC panels, and in 2023 selected as the chair of the SH7, and evaluator of Green Deal proposals in the Horizon Europe programme. He is a professor at UCL and a team leader at the Learning Planet Institute (formerly the Centre for Research and Interdisciplinarity) in Paris.

Assistant Professor of Regenerative Social-Ecological Systems

Ariane König is a research scientist at the University of Luxembourg, who leads a team of seven researchers active in four transdisciplinary research projects on sustainabilDrity at the water-food-energy nexus. This research serves to further develop and put into practice concepts and methods and collaborative processes to understand and act on sustainability challenges as embedded I complex dynamic systems I which the social, ecological ad technological spheres are inextricably coupled.  Collaborative research approaches include collaborative conceptual systems mapping and scenario approaches, engaging diverse stakeholder groups to gain new perspectives and repertoires of action on sustainability challenges. She developed and leads an innovative transdisciplinary study programme, the ‘Certificate in Sustainability and Social Innovation’, that is open to students at all levels and professionals and contributes to doctoral school training. König has analysed challenges of connecting interdisciplinary research and teaching to practice in a special issue in the Journal Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability she edited in 2016. She edited the book Sustainability Science: Key Issues (Routledge) in 2018, positing a novel conception of transformative sustainability science for refashioning the interface of research, policy and practice, and the first book on living laboratories for regenerative sustainability (Edward Elgar) in 2013. She is co-author on over 60 and first author on over 30 publications, most of which are published in international peer reviewed journals (H-factor of 20). König is a member of the European Statistical Advisory Committee, and served two terms on the national Conseil Supérieur pour un Développement Durable, and is board member of two social enterprises in Luxembourg. Before coming to Luxembourg König was employed at the Harvard and Oxford University, where she conducted research and taught in post-graduate and executive training courses on technology governance. Prior to this, she learnt about the co-production of technologies and social practice working for a leading multinational life science corporation. She was a scientific consultant for the OECD, the European Commission, and EU research consortia. Ariane König was conferred her Bachelor, Master and Ph.D. Degree in Biochemistry from the University of Cambridge, Emmanuel College.