Prof. Dr. Timo von Wirth is Professor for Sustainability at Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences and professorial member of the Research Lab for Urban Transport (ReLUT). He also serves as Adjunct Professor with the Dutch Research Institute for Transitions (DRIFT) and the Erasmus School for Social and Behavioral Sciences at Erasmus-University Rotterdam, Netherlands. He is also currently Invited Research fellow with the Centre for Sustainability Transitions at Stellenbosch University, South Africa.
His research, teaching and societal engagement focus on analyzing and experimenting with collective and individual transformations in the past, present, and future. A particular emphasis is on patterns of sustainable and resilient development of social and spatial systems, and understanding the types and dynamics of value- or interest-based conflicts in transformations. Moreover, his research also touches upon the generative role of trust and transformational leadership, as well as ontological (in)security and perceived protection.
Previous work has also covered acceptance and legitimacy of technological innovation in the energy sector and for a circular economy. Research and teaching follow a theory driven, often interdisciplinary approach and include working with sets of theories and methods from Human Geography, Sociology, Transition studies, Sustainability Science, Planning studies and Environmental Economics.
Current Projects
- Experimental Governance for climate-neutral Cities (EGONET) [Bund- und Länderprogramm PROFfm des BMFTR; 2024 – 2026]
- Transformative Skills for Nachhaltigkeit (KENT) [Stifterverband, Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt, Carl Zeiss Stiftung; 2024 – 2025]
- Accelerating Energy and Sustainability Transitions in Ports (ACES) [Norwegian Research Council; 2022-2025]
Selected key publications
Raven, R., von Wirth, T., Bai, X. et al. (2026) The future of urban experimentation through ten critical lessons from decades of practice. Nature Cities. doi.org/10.1038/s44284-026-00398-z
Mukhtar-Landgren, D., von Wirth, T., Bertolini, L., & Torrens, J. (2026). Urban living labs as cracks, not doors: Reimagining experimentation in transport (and beyond). Journal of Transport Geography, 132, 104598. doi.org/10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2026.104598
von Wirth, T. (2025). Ontological (in) security and sustainability transitions: A theoretical perspective and future research prospects. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 57, 101042. doi.org/10.1016/j.eist.2025.101042
Raymond, C. M., Nummi, P., von Wirth, T., Poom, A., Ahdekivi, A., Barthel, S., ... & Venuti, F. (2025). Uses, opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence in participatory urban planning. Discover Cities, 2(1), 1-18. doi.org/10.1007/s44327-025-00137-4
von Wirth, T.; Vogel, T.; Jansen, P. (2025) Sozial-ökologische Transformation: zwischen Dringlichkeit und Marginalisierung eine individuelle und kollektive Selbstwirksamkeit ermöglichen. In: von Wirth, T.; Vogel, T.; Jansen, P. (Hrsg.) Kompass für den Wandel: Mit transformativen Fähigkeiten die Welt von morgen gestalten, oekom Verlag: München, S. 16-27. doi.org/10.14512/9783987264351
Caniglia, G., Freeth, R., Luederitz, C., Leventon, J., West, S. P., John, B., ..., von Wirth, T., Schlüter, M. & Vogel, C. (2023). Practical wisdom and virtue ethics for knowledge co-production in sustainability science. Nature Sustainability, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-022-01040-1
Ryghaug, M., Subotički, I., Smeds, E., von Wirth, T., Scherrer, A., Foulds, C., ... & Wentland, A. (2023). A Social Sciences and Humanities research agenda for transport and mobility in Europe: key themes and 100 research questions. Transport reviews, 43(4), 755-779. doi.org/10.1080/01441647.2023.2167887
Hebinck, A., Diercks, G., von Wirth, T. et al. (2022) An actionable understanding of societal transitions: the X-curve framework. Sustainability Science 17, 1009–1021 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-021-01084-w
Torrens, J., & von Wirth, T. (2021). Experimentation or projectification of urban change? A critical appraisal and three steps forward. Urban Transformations, 3(1), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42854-021-00025-1
Caniglia G., Luederitz C., von Wirth T., Fazey I., Martin-Lopez B., Hondrilla K., Koenig A., von Wehrden H., Schaepke N., Lang D. (2020) A pluralistic and integrated approach to action-oriented knowledge for sustainability. Nature Sustainability,1-8. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-020-00616-z
von Wirth, T., Fuenfschilling, L., Frantzeskaki, N., & Coenen, L. (2019). Impacts of urban living labs on sustainability transitions: Mechanisms and strategies for systemic change through experimentation. European Planning Studies, 27(2), 229-257; https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2018.1504895
von Wirth, T., Grêt-Regamey, A., Stauffacher, M. (2015). Mediating effects between objective and subjective indicators of urban quality of life: testing specific models for safety and access. Social Indicators Research, 120, 189-210, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-014-0682-y
von Wirth, T., Hayek, U. W., Kunze, A., Neuenschwander, N., Stauffacher, M., & Scholz, R. W. (2014). Identifying urban transformation dynamics: Functional use of scenario techniques to integrate knowledge from science and practice. Technological forecasting and social change, 89, 115-130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2013.08.030
Current book publications:
von Wirth, T.; Vogel, T.; Jansen, P. (Hrsg.) (2025) Kompass für den Wandel: Mit transformativen Fähigkeiten die Welt von morgen gestalten, oekom Verlag: München. https://doi.org/10.14512/9783987264351
Raymond, C. M., Manzo, L. C., Williams, D. R., Di Masso, A., & von Wirth, T. (Eds.). (2021) Changing senses of place: Navigating global challenges. Cambridge University Press.
Full list of publications
For a detailed list of publications, please visit my profile in
Google Scholar
Serving as scientific reviewer for the following Scientific Journals:
Environmental Innovation & Societal Transitions, Land Use Policy, Landscape & Urban Planning, Sustainable Cities and Society, Urban Transformations, Energy Research & Social Science, Technological Forecasting & Social Change, Journal of Cleaner Production, Journal of Happiness Studies, Futures, GAIA, Sustainability, Environmental Science & Policy, European Planning Studies.
Reviewer for the Leibniz Society, European Research Council (ERC); Berlin University Alliance, Bosch Foundation, a.o.
Selected memberships and committee engagements:
- Member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the project ‚Policy Labs‘ led by Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin (WZB).
- Member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Research Project ‚SCALE - Scaling local climate niche initiatives for regional transformation’ led by BOKU University, Vienna
- Member of the International Research Network ‚Foresight for Food (F4F), led by the Environmental Change Institute (ECI) at University of Oxford, UK
- Member of the Scientific Advisory Board for the BMBF-research group “MoveMe - Die sozio-räumliche Transformation zu nachhaltigem Mobilitätsverhalten at Technical University Dortmund
- Member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Intl. research project CO-CARBON led by Prof. Christopher Raymond, University of Helsinki, HELSUS, Finland.
- Member of the Steering Board for the International PostDoc-Academy for Transformational Leadership, funded by the Robert Bosch Foundation.
- Member of the international expert group invited by the German Science and Humanities Council (Deutscher Wissenschaftsrat) for the development of guiding perspectives for German Agro-Food research (until 12/2022)
Topics and supervision of Bachelor and Master theses
The topics of Bachelor's and Master's theses should generally match the research focus of my Professorship. In addition to thesis topics that may be announced, students are welcome to propose their own topics via email anytime.
Please note that before discussing the possible supervision of a thesis, interested students should familiarize themselves with the chosen topic and the relevant literature, as well as prepare a short expose (1 page DIN A4), including an outline and a time schedule for the thesis work. A prerequisite for a successful application is also the participation in the "Research Methodology Workshop" of Department 3 or a comparable event. It is recommended to apply at least two months prior to the start of your thesis.
Currently supervised Dissertations / PhD supervision
Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences has the right to grant doctoral degrees for example in the Center for Doctoral studies in Mobility & Logistics. I am happy to supervise your PhD thesis, if you are interested to conducting ambitious and impact-oriented research, please contact me.
I am currently supervising several PhD students: more detailed information to follow soon!