Prof. Dr. Daniel J. Lang

Head of research group
Research group “Designing Real-World Laboratory Research”
Room: 205
Phone: +49 721 608-22336
daniel lang ∂does-not-exist.kit edu

Institut für Technikfolgenabschätzung und Systemanalyse (ITAS)
Postfach 3640
76021 Karlsruhe

Current positions

Professor for Real-World Laboratory Research, KIT
Head of Research group “Designing real-world laboratory research”, ITAS
Co-leader of the real-world laboratory “Autonomous Driving in the Mobility System of the Future”
Chair holder of the UNESCO-Chair in Higher Education for Sustainable Development, Leuphana University Lüneburg

Fields of work

Real-world laboratories and real-world experiments
Transdisciplinarity
Sustainability science
Methods of knowledge integration and decision support in human-environment systems

Current projects

Transformation paths for a sustainable design of regional mobility networks in the Middle Upper Rhine Region (TRAMIGO)
Digitalization and Sustainability Interface Project
Basis Project Sustainability
CulturalRoad: Cultural, regional, and societal factors to overcome barriers to cooperative, connected, and automated mobility deployment
Strengthening integrative and effective sustainability research at Baden-Württemberg universities (SiNfo)
Real-world lab “Autonomous Driving in the Mobility System of the Future” (ADMoS-Future)
tdAcademy for Transdisciplinary Research and Studies (funded by the Ministry for Education and Research, via Leuphana University Lüneburg)
Linking real-world laboratory and disciplinary research – Fostering novel scientific insights and sustainability transformation (LinkLab)
TRANSFORM - Accelerating sustainability entrepreneurship in local spaces (funded by the Socieal Science and Humanities Council Canada, via Leuphana University Lüneburg)

On the internet

Author IDs:
ORCID
Scopus

Social networks:
LinkedIn
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Professional background

since 2022	Professor for Real-World Laboratory Research, ITAS
since 2021	UNESCO Chair in Higher Education for Sustainable Development
2010 - 2022	Professor for Transdisciplinary Sustainability Research, Leuphana University Lüneburg
2016 - 2021	Presidents Special Advisor for Sustainability, Leuphana University Lüneburg
2012 - 2016	Dean of the School of Sustainability, Leuphana University Lüneburg
2001 - 2009	Research associate and later Senior scientist at the Institute for Environmental Decisions, ETH Zurich
2001 - 2005	PhD Studies (Dr. Sc. ETH) at the Department for Environmental Natural Science, ETH Zurich

Selected publications

Lang, D. J.; Wiek, A. (2022)
Structuring and Advancing Solution-oriented Research for Sustainability. Ambio, 51(1), 31-35.

Bergmann, M.; Schäpke, N.; Marg, O.; Stelzer, F.; Lang, D. J.; Bossert, M.; Gantert, M.; Häußler, E.; Marquardt, E.; Piontek, F. M. et. al. (2021)
Transdisciplinary sustainability research in real-world labs: Success factors and methods for change. Sustainability Science, 16(2),541-564

Caniglia, G.; Luederitz, C.; von Wirth, T.; Fazey, I.; Martín-López, B.; Hondrila, K.; König, A.; von Wehrden, H.; Schäpke, N. A.; Laubichler, M. D.; Lang, D. J. (2021)
A pluralistic and integrated approach to action-oriented knowledge for sustainability. Nature Sustainability, 4(2), 93-100
doi: 10.1038/s41893-020-00616-z

Abson, D. J.; Fischer, J.; Leventon, J.; Newig, J.; Schomerus, T.; Vilsmaier, U.; von Wehrden, H.; Abernethy, P.; Ives, C. D.; Jager, N. W.; Lang, D. J. (2017)
Leverage points for sustainability transformation. Ambio, 46(1), 30–39
doi: 10.1007/s13280-016-0800-y

Lang, D. J.; Wiek, A.; Bergmann, M.; Stauffacher, M.; Martens, P.; Moll, P.; Swilling, M.; Thomas, C. J. (2012)
Transdisciplinary research in sustainability science: Practice, principles, and challenges. Sustainability Science, 7(SUPPL. 1), 25–43
doi: 10.1007/s11625-011-0149-x

Publications

2025

Journal Articles

Fraske, T.; Weiser, A.; Schrapel, M.; Schippl, J.; Lang, D. J.; Vinel, A.
Driving change? Exploring the role of socio-technical experiments in shaping autonomous mobility transitions
2025. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 56, Article no: 100993. doi:10.1016/j.eist.2025.100993

Presentations

Albiez, M.; Parodi, O.; Ober, S.; Lang, D.
Real-world Lab vs. Real-world Experiment: what makes the difference?
2025. GAIA-Jahrestreffen anlässlich der Verleihung des "GAIA Best Paper Award" (2025), Stuttgart, Germany, April 4, 2025

2024

Journal Articles

Bernert, P.; Weiser, A.; Kampfmann, T.; Lang, D. J.
Impacts beyond experimentation ‐ Conceptualising emergent impacts from long-term real-world laboratory processes
2024. GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society, 33 (1), 18–25. doi:10.14512/gaia.33.S1.4

Holst, J.; Potthast, T.; Fritz, H.; Nölting, B.; Singer-Brodowski, M.; Albiez, M.; Betz, C.; Lang, D. J.; Meyer, S.; Ober, S.; Parodi, O.; Schaltegger, S.; Scheiding, C.; Weynand, M.
Vom Ziel zur Normalität
2024. Deutsche Universitätszeitung, (2), 20–23

Horcea-Milcu, A.-I.; Dorresteijn, I.; Leventon, J.; Stojanovic, M.; Lam, D. P. M.; Lang, D. J.; Moriggi, A.; Raymond, C. M.; Stålhammar, S.; Weiser, A.; Zimmermann, S.
Transformative research for sustainability: characteristics, tensions, and moving forward
2024. Global Sustainability, 7. doi:10.1017/sus.2024.12

Kampfmann, T.; Bernert, P.; Lang, D. J.; Drautz, S.
Governance for urban sustainability through real-world experimentation – Introducing an evaluation framework for transformative research involving public actors
2024. Cities, 153, Art.-Nr.: 105301. doi:10.1016/j.cities.2024.105301

Kampfmann, T.; Lang, D. J.; Weiser, A.
Analyzing the political impact of Real-world laboratories for urban transformation in eight German ‘Cities of the Future’
2024. Environmental Science & Policy, 162, 103923. doi:10.1016/j.envsci.2024.103923

König, C.; Lang, D. J.; Schaefer, I.
Sustainable Software Engineering: Concepts, Challenges, and Vision
2024. ACM Transactions on Software Engineering and Methodology. doi:10.1145/3709352

Parodi, O.; Ober, S.; Lang, D. J.; Albiez, M.
Reallabor versus Realexperiment: Was macht den Unterschied?
2024. GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society, 33 (2), 216–221. doi:10.14512/gaia.33.2.4

Pfendtner-Heise, J.; Ackerschott, A.; Schwenck, C.; Lang, D. J.; von Wehrden, H.
Making mutual learning tangible: Mixed-method Delphi as a tool for measuring the convergence of participants’ reciprocal understanding in transdisciplinary processes
2024. Futures, 159, Art.-Nr.: 103365. doi:10.1016/j.futures.2024.103365

Wanner, M.; Augenstein, K.; von Wirth, T.; Lang, D. J.
Impacts of urban real-world labs: Insights from a co-evaluation process informed by structuration theory in Wuppertal-Mirke
2024. GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society, 33 (1), 102 – 109. doi:10.14512/gaia.33.S1.15

Presentations

Bernert, P.; Weiser, A.; Lang, D.; Ober, S.; Steinbrügge, F.
Case Reporting als gute Praxis der Reallaborforschung
2024. "Reallabore – ExperimentierRäume für den Weg in eine nachhaltige Gesellschaft" (2024), Dresden, Germany, April 11–12, 2024

Parodi, O.; Ober, S.; Lang, D. J.
Reallabor und Realexperiment - Eine theoretische Unterscheidung
2024. "Reallabore – ExperimentierRäume für den Weg in eine nachhaltige Gesellschaft" (2024), Dresden, Germany, April 11–12, 2024

2023

Book Chapters

Weiser, A.; Meyer, S.; Bernert, P.; Lang, D. J.
Problem- und projektorientierte Lehre transdisziplinär gestalten
2023. Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung in der Hochschule. Hrsg.: G. Michelsen, 25–44, Verlag Barbara Budrich

Journal Articles

Barth, M.; Gossen, M.; Lang, D. J.; Santarius, T.
Sustainable digitalization ‐ fostering the twin transformation in a transdisciplinary way
2023. GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society, 32 (S1), 6–9. doi:10.14512/gaia.32.S1.3

Barth, M.; Jiménez-Aceituno, A.; Lam, D. P. M.; Bürgener, L.; Lang, D. J.
Transdisciplinary learning as a key leverage for sustainability transformations
2023. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 64, Art.-Nr.: 101361. doi:10.1016/j.cosust.2023.101361

Bernert, P.; Wahl, D.; von Wehrden, H.; Lang, D. J.
Cross-case knowledge transfer in transformative research: enabling learning in and across sustainability-oriented labs through case reporting
2023. Urban Transformations, 5 (1), Art.-Nr.: 12. doi:10.1186/s42854-023-00056-w

Parodi, O.; Schwichtenberg, R.; Stelzer, F.; Rhodius, R.; Schreider, C.; von Wirth, T.; Lang, D. J.; Marg, O.; Wagner, F.; Egermann, M.; Bauknecht, D.; Wanner, M.
Stellungnahme des Netzwerks Reallabore der Nachhaltigkeit zur Reallabore-Gesetz-Initiative
2023. GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society, 32 (4), 399–401. doi:10.14512/gaia.32.4.14

Weiser, A.; Wanner, M.; Stelzer, F.; Lang, D. J.; Berger, H.; Förster, A.; Liedtke, C.; Micklitz, H.-W.; Niewöhner, J.; Parodi, O.; Potthast, T.; Schneider, F.; Sörgel, F.; Ziehl, M.; Ziemer, G.
Exploring fruitful links between real-world laboratory and disciplinary research : Introduction of the DKN Future Earth working group LinkLab
2023. GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society, 32 (3), 335–337. doi:10.14512/gaia.32.3.13

Conference Papers

Gerling, K.; Vinel, A.; Müller, K.; Nierling, L.; Stiefelhagen, R.; Karmann, C.; Lang, D.; Asfour, T.
Technology-Centric Real-World Labs: Challenges and Opportunities for a New Mode of Participatory Research From the Perspective of Computer Science
2023. 10. Workshop Mensch-Maschine-Interaktion in sicherheitskritischen Systemen, Gesellschaft für Informatik (GI). doi:10.18420/muc2023-mci-ws02-431

Presentations

Weiser, A.; Fricke, A.; König, A.; Lang, D.
Selbstexperimentieren für die Transformation – Verschiedene Ansätze zur Wissensproduktion und Wissensdomänen für die Nachhaltigkeitsforschung und -praxis
2023, October 16. Workshop "Die Vielfalt des Wissens und seine Relevanz: Was können wir im Hinblick auf den gesellschaftlichen Wandel lernen?" (2023), Karlsruhe, Germany, October 16–17, 2023

Other

Parodi, O.; Schwichtenberg, R.; Stelzer, F.; Rhodius, R.; Schreider, C.; Wirth, T. von; Lang, D.; Marg, O.; Wagner, F.; Egermann, M.; Bauknecht, D.; Wanner, M.
Stellungnahme des Netzwerks „Reallabore der Nachhaltigkeit“ zur Initiative des Bundesministeriums für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz (BMWK) für ein Reallabore-Gesetz
2023. Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)

2022

Journal Articles

Fritz, H.; Holst, J.; Lang, D. J.; Nölting, B.; Parodi, O.; Potthast, T.; Singer-Brodowski, M.
Transformationspfade für eine Kultur der Nachhaltigkeit an deutschen Hochschulen [Pathways of transformation towards a culture of sustainability in German higher education institutions]
2022. Gaia, 31 (4), 254 – 256. doi:10.14512/gaia.31.4.14

2021

Journal Articles

Bergmann, M.; Schäpke, N.; Marg, O.; Stelzer, F.; Lang, D. J.; Bossert, M.; Gantert, M.; Häußler, E.; Marquardt, E.; Piontek, F. M.; Potthast, T.; Rhodius, R.; Rudolph, M.; Ruddat, M.; Seebacher, A.; Sußmann, N.
Transdisciplinary sustainability research in real-world labs: success factors and methods for change
2021. Sustainability science, 16 (2), 541–564. doi:10.1007/s11625-020-00886-8

2020

PhD Theses

Beecroft, R.
Das Reallabor als transdisziplinärer Rahmen zur Unterstützung und Vernetzung von Lernzyklen. PhD dissertation
2020. Leuphana Universität Lüneburg

2019

Journal Articles

Keeler, L. W.; Beaudoin, F.; Wiek, A.; John, B.; Lerner, A. M.; Beecroft, R.; Tamm, K.; Seebacher, A.; Lang, D. J.; Kay, B.; Forrest, N.
Building actor-centric transformative capacity through city-university partnerships
2019. Ambio, 48 (5), 529–538. doi:10.1007/s13280-018-1117-9

2018

Journal Articles

Keeler, L. W.; Beaudoin, F. D.; Lerner, A. M.; John, B.; Beecroft, R.; Tamm, K.; Wiek, A.; Lang, D. J.
Transferring sustainability solutions across contexts through city-university partnerships
2018. Sustainability, 10 (9), 2966. doi:10.3390/su10092966

2016

Journal Articles

Luederitz, C.; Schäpke, N.; Wiek, A.; Lang, D. J.; Bergmann, M.; Bos, J. J.; Burch, S.; Davies, A.; Evans, J.; König, A.; Farrelly, M. A.; Forrest, N.; Frantzeskaki, N.; Gibson, R. B.; Kay, B.; Loorbach, D.; McCormick, K.; Parodi, O.; Rauschmayer, F.; Schneidewind, U.; Stauffacher, M.; Stelzer, F.; Trencher, G.; Venjakob, J.; Vergragt, P. J.; Wehrden, H. von; Westley, F. R.
Learning through evaluation : A tentative evaluative scheme for sustainability transition experiments
2016. Journal of cleaner production, 169, 61–76. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.09.005