The international journal GAIA – Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society invites Masters students to participate in the GAIA Masters Student Paper Award. Masters students are encouraged to submit their results from research-based courses or Masters theses in the field of transdisciplinary environmental and sustainability science. Every year, one article will be selected by a jury as the winner of the GAIA Masters Student Paper Award. The Award is endowed by Selbach Environmental Foundation and DIALOGIK.
Victoria Herbig receives the award for her entry »From Promise to Practice: The Missing Conditions for Inclusive Modelling for Sustainability«.
In her Master’s thesis, she develops a conceptual framework for an “Enabling Environment” that supports more inclusive modelling practices in sustainability science. Drawing on a large EU Horizon project involving 19 countries, she analyses the socio-political conditions that shape stakeholder participation in integrated assessment modelling. The Award jury praised her work for its conceptual clarity, strong methodological design, and practical relevance to policy and modelling communities.
Marlene Rimmert receives the award for her entry »Accelerating the Transition to Regenerative Agriculture: A Participatory Modeling Framework for Analyzing Social Tipping Elements and Their Interactions in the Food and Land Use System«
In her Master’s thesis, she presents an innovative participatory modelling framework that explores how social tipping elements can accelerate the shift toward regenerative agriculture. Her research highlights key leverage points in food and land-use systems and contributes to understanding transformative change processes. The Award jury commended the work for its conceptual depth, methodological innovation, and high relevance to sustainability transitions.