University of Luxembourg appoints new director at its centre for socio-environmental systems

The University of Luxembourg proudly announces the appointment of Prof. Ralf Seppelt as the Director of its new interdisciplinary centre for Socio-Environmental Systems, effective March 1, 2025. This strategic appointment was confirmed by the Board of Governors, following a proposal from the rector at their recent plenary session.

The Luxembourg Centre for Socio-Environmental Systems – LCSES is a flagship initiative under the University’s current four-year plan. It focuses on addressing critical ecological, environmental, and sustainability challenges.

The Centre will use advanced methods like modelling, simulation, and artificial intelligence to combine existing data and conduct innovative research in environmental science and sustainability. To achieve this, the Centre will bring together various working groups from different fields, including biodiversity research, global food security, one health, and the governance of common goods. It strives to grow into an internationally recognised environmental research hub with the objective to improve our understanding of environmental systems and guide sustainable resource management and public policy.

Prof. Ralf Seppelt, born 1969 in Braunschweig, Germany, is an esteemed applied mathematician from Clausthal University of Technology in Germany. He shifted his research focus to environmental sciences during his PhD at the Technical University of Braunschweig, Germany. Having published more than 150 scientific articles and serving as an expert for the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), he is renowned globally for his work in environmental science, biodiversity, and socio-ecological systems. Currently, he leads the research unit “Ecosystems of the Future” at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ in Leipzig, Germany, overseeing a team of 100 researchers.

“I am delighted to welcome Prof. Ralf Seppelt to our university. His internationally recognised expertise and dedication to environmental research will be invaluable to our new Centre, which shall play a crucial role in addressing some of the most pressing global ecological and sustainability challenges of our time.  As the founding director, Prof. Seppelt will inject innovative vision and dynamic energy, driving our Centre towards excellence and impactful discoveries,” stated the rector, Prof. Jens Kreisel.

Prof. Seppelt expressed his enthusiasm for the new role: “I am deeply grateful for this opportunity and excited to address the complex environmental challenges ahead.”

This article was first published on 22 October by University of Luxembourg.