Secretariat
The IHDP Secretariat (UNU-IHDP), located at the UN Campus in Bonn, advises, coordinates and supports IHDP’s research projects and National Committees. It plays a central role in the development, implementation and evaluation of the programme's goals and collaborates closely with IHDP’s partner global change programmes (DIVERSITAS, IGBP and WCRP) and the broader research network.
The Secretariat’s work aims at opening up channels of communication, collecting information, and disseminating results that are essential to the smooth operation of the programme. It lobbies for IHDP, organizes activities and events, and develops research and policy capacity in order to meet the programme's goals.
The close ties to its host, the United Nations University Vice Rectorate in Europe (UNU-ViE), provides the Secretariat with a unique opportunity to advocate for the social science perspective on global change within the UN system.
Watch today's live webcast of High Level Meeting on National Drought Policy
At the High Level Meeting on National Drought Policy currently taking place in Geneva, Switzerland, Prof. Anantha Duraiappah will be among the Heads of UN Agencies and International Organizations addressing the High Level Segment today starting at 10 a.m.
15 March 2013 | Read more
Prof. Anantha Duraiappah presenting at the Trieste Forum
IHDP’s Executive Director Prof. Anantha Duraiappah is participating in the Trieste Forum, giving a presentation on IHDP’s Inclusive Wealth Report and human capital.
6 March 2013 | Read more
Call for articles – IHDP writing contest on Sustainable Development Goals
Extended Deadline: 15 May 2013
The IHDP Secretariat's Writing Contest is open again! Young scholars are invited to take part and write an article for the third issue of the Dimensions magazine, to be published mid 2013. The issue will focus on the human dimensions of the Sustainable Development Goals that have been widely discussed in the context of the Rio+20 summit. The magazine is directed towards a wider audience, including non-scientists interested in the topic. Upon expiry of the submission deadline, the Secretariat will select up to three winners to be awarded cash prizes - and will publish their work in the magazine (print and online).
8 February 2013 | Read more
Executive Assistant to the Director
IHDP Secretariat, Bonn, Germany
Deadline: 9 December 2012 |Read more
IHDP and United Nations Deepen Collaboration on Global Change
IHDP and the UN have intensified cooperation in tackling Global Environmental Change issues of late, highlighted by the upcoming Earth System Governance Conference in Tokyo in January, and the recently-released Inclusive Wealth Report. |Read more
”Inclusive Wealth: Transition towards Sustainability”, lecture by Sir Partha Dasgupta at the UN Campus in Bonn
17 December 2012 | Bonn, Germany |Read more
IHDP Annual Report 2011
The Report features editorials by IHDP's newest Scientific Committee members, Professors Ruth Oniang'o and Dan Ariely, and highlights some of the current challenges and opportunities of human dimensions research on global environmental change. |Read more
IWR 2012 featured in The Economist
UNU-IHDP's and UNEP's recently launched Inclusive Wealth Report 2012 has been gaining widespread media coverage. Among the articles featuring the report are two interesting pieces in The Economist: "The real wealth of nations" and "Wholewealth". |Read more
Enter the 2nd IHDP Writing Contest and Win a Cash Prize!
The IHDP Secretariat is happy to announce its second scientific writing contest for the next issue of the DIMENSIONS magazine! The topic: The human dimension of biodiversity and ecosystem services.
The contest is open to young scholars from all over the world (graduate students, PhD students or postdocs). Scholars from developing countries are particularly encouraged to take part. The Secretariat will select up to five winners to be awarded a cash prize - and will publish their work as part of the upcoming fall issue. | Read more
The IHDP’s Executive Director’s Planet Under Pressure Wrap-up
IHDP Executive Director Professor Anantha Duraiappah summarizes key outcomes of the Planet Under Pressure Conference and advocates for a shift towards inclusive wealth indicators in this article recently published by UNU’s award-winning web magazine OurWorld 2.0. |Read more
Inclusive wealth as a tool for the United Nations
IHDP’s Executive Director Professor Anantha Duraiappah and Academic Officer Dr. Pablo Muñoz co-authored a paper on inclusive wealth as a framework for sustainable recently published in Environment and Development Economics. |Read more
The Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Science-Policy Interface Paper
Against the backdrop of the official establishment of IPBES, check out an interesting article our Executive Director Anantha Duraiappah wrote in the journal “Science” last year. |Read more
Announcing our new Dimensions magazine - Issue 1
The IHDP Secretariat is proud to announce the launch of its new magazine, Dimensions. Dimensions is designed to reach a wide range of readers who are interested in global environmental change, sustainability, and the central role human societies play in shaping our planet. Published on a biannual basis, Dimensions will be IHDP’s premier dissemination outlet for key findings from its portfolio of projects, as well as contributions from distinguished scientists in the field.
Download the online version of our first issue, in which we explore the Green Economy, or order your free hard copy from secretariat@ihdp.unu.edu. |Read more
IPBES survey launched
UNU-IHDP and UNU-ISP in collaboration with DIVERSITAS have been commissioned by the Ministry of the Environment of Japan to undertake a survey on the process of the new Intergovernmental Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). The survey is reaching out to natural and social scientists as well as relevant stakeholders to solicit their feedback in the nascent stages of the establishment of the platform. |Read more
Training Workshop on Asian Development Pathways and transitioning towards a “Green Economy" held in Nanjing, China
IHDP recently organised a Training Workshop on Asian Development Pathways and transitioning towards a “Green Economy ” in Nanjing, China. Participants of the workshop represented the scientific community and public and private sectors from across the Asia-Pacific region. At the centre of the event was the question of how to transform the basic economic sectors of Asian countries to be environmentally and economically sustainable. |Read more
IHDP Writing Contest Winners have been chosen!
The IHDP Secretariat (UNU-IHDP) had invited young scholars to take part in a scientific writing contest. We're happy to announce that based on accordance with the selection criteria, three winners could be chosen. |Read more
Social scientists call for more research on human dimensions of global change
Scientists across all disciplines share great concern that our planet is in the process of crossing dangerous biophysical tipping points. The results of a new large-scale global survey among 1,276 scholars from the social sciences and humanities demonstrate that the human dimensions of the problem are equally important but severely under-addressed. |Read more
IHDP's Deborah Rogers writes about inequality in PLoS ONE
Why do class inequalities exist within the majority of cultures around the world? IHDP Science Officer Deborah Rogers, together with former colleagues from Stanford University, recently published a paper in PLoS ONE on this question. Their study modeled the demographic consequences of unequal access to resources, and found that several factors, including the comparatively unstable populations and rapid migration of stratified societies, may have allowed them to conquer and displace egalitarian societies throughout history. |Read more
IHDP releases 2010 Annual Report
The Annual Report 2010 provides a comprehensive overview of IHDP’s mission and objectives as well as an extensive update on the latest activities and progress of IHDP’s global research network, its projects and partners. One of the most substantial innovations introduced with this report is a summary of key findings and recommendations provided by IHDP projects, addressing a broad range of vital issues such as food security and human health. |Read more
Interview with IHDP Executive Director Anantha Duraiappah featured in ‘International Innovation’
In the June edition of ‘International Innovation’, IHDP Executive Director Anantha Duraiappah talks about the programme’s work and explains why it is crucial that we understand the social and cultural drivers of human behaviour in order to bring about more sustainable societies. |Read more
IHDP's Pablo Muñoz talks at ProEcoServ workshop in Nairobi
Science Officer Pablo Muñoz recently shared his expertise in wealth accounting at the ProEcoServ workshop in UNEP headquarters in Nairobi, focusing on the context of measuring natural capital and more generally in the realm of using inclusive wealth as an indicator of societies’ progress. |Read more
IHDP launches Global Survey on Social Sciences
IHDP, in partnership with ISSC and UNESCO, just launched a global survey to document how social sciences and humanities scholars view research priorities related to global environmental change (GEC). We are inviting scholars to give feedback on their role in GEC and will be using the results to illustrate incentives and disincentives for engaging in this field and to frame the global sustainability research program from a social sciences perspective. To take the on-line survey, please click on this link. |Read more
Report
Survey results are presented and analyzed in their entirely in the survey report. Additionally, the report presents further background information to the survey and presents a more complete argument for the important role the social sciences have to play in global environmental change research. |Read more
Anne Gessner
Anne Gessner is in charge of the Executive Director’s office and acts as the focal point for the IHDP Secretariat in Bonn. She has studied in Hamburg, Cologne and Paris and holds a diploma in translation for French and English. |Read more
Sabrina Zwick
Sabrina Zwick joined IHDP in February 2011. Her main tasks are project administration, finances and donor reporting. She studied in Constance, Tübingen and Barcelona and holds a master’s degree in Public Policy and Management. |Read more
Dr. Leisl Joanne Neskakis
Leisl Neskakis is in charge of supporting the development, maintenance and implementation of IHDP’s Science Management Strategy, including the areas of capacity development and science-policy-dialogue. |Read more
Barbara Solich
Barbara Solich acts as a liaison for IHDP's science projects, partner programmes, National Committees and the Scientific Committee. She is involved in the organization of meetings and workshops and supports IHDP's scientific initiatives. |Read more
Carmen Scherkenbach
As Communications Manager & Editor, Carmen Scherkenbach is in charge of writing and editing IHDP's various publications, such as opinion editorials, policy briefs, press releases and annual reports. She is the editor-in-chief of IHDP's biannual DIMENSIONS magazine... |Read more
Louise Schenk
Louise Schenk manages the design and implementation of print and web products, and assists in the implementation of the overall communication activities of IHDP. She has recently completed her master's degree at the Koeln International School of Design. |Read more
Vera Köpsel
Vera Köpsel is an intern with the IHDP Academic Officer Leisl Neskakis. |Read more