Our mission

In our research, we aim to understand what influences planetary health behaviour. These insights can help shape effective political frameworks and clear, explanatory communication.

Professor Dr Cornelia Betsch (Health Communication)

I aim to explain why people break social norms, expectations and rules, or behave in ways that harm themselves or others, despite negative consequences. Why are so many people worried about the climate but fail to act?

Professor Dr Guido Mehlkop (Sociology)

How do people make decisions? What role do habits play, how do decision-making and judgement skills develop? How does scientific literacy emerge, and how can we counter anti-enlightenment tendencies in society?

Professor Dr Tilmann Betsch (Psychology)

I find it fascinating how people work together to tackle major social challenges such as climate change or the spread of infectious diseases. When and under what conditions does such cooperation succeed, and what motivates us to pursue joint solutions rather than individual interests? I am particularly interested in exploring how targeted behavioral interventions and technological innovations can be developed to strengthen this cooperation.

Professor Dr Robert Böhm (Fellow)

My goal is to empower individuals and organizations at the intersection of science, society, and politics to make evidence-based, risk-informed, and sustainable decisions—and to communicate them effectively.

Dr Mirjam Jenny (Health Communication)

I am particularly interested in what happens when scientific knowledge conflicts with everyday knowledge. How can misconceptions about specific topics be addressed?

Professor Dr Johannes Bauer (Educational Research)

My research focuses on the role the internet plays in public communication and opinion formation. At the IPB, I am particularly interested in journalism and online discourse on climate change.

Assistant professor Dr Fabian Prochazka (Communication Studies)

I am interested in understanding the role that local media play in conveying and negotiating global issues, such as climate change, and how local journalism contributes to addressing the climate crisis at the community level.

Professor Dr Leyla Dogruel (Communication Studies)

I aim to uncover how people’s intuitive conceptions of risk shape their health decisions. By bridging philosophy, psychology, and cross-cultural methods, I want to develop better tools to understand—and ultimately improve—responses to vaccines, antibiotics, and alternative medicine.

Dr Angelo Fasce (Fellow)