Munich Sustainability Award Recognizes Impactful Research on Climate Change and Society
Munich, Bavaria, Germany – April 9, 2026 – Two significant research works addressing climate change and sustainability have been honored with the Munich Sustainability Award. The awards highlight how scientific insights into climate change can provide concrete societal impetus. The recognition underscores the importance of interdisciplinary approaches to understanding and mitigating environmental challenges.
Bachelor’s Thesis on Swiss Glaciers Receives Award
Moritz Gschlößl received the Munich Sustainability Award for his bachelor’s thesis, which focused on the development and modeling of Swiss glaciers. His research meticulously examined their changes based on glaciomorphological parameters and utilized models to estimate future developments within the context of climate change. Gschlößl emphasized that such analyses could form a scientifically sound basis for long-term decisions in dealing with environmental changes.
“Receiving the Munich Sustainability Award means a great deal to me,” Gschlößl stated. “It demonstrates that research into environmental changes and climate impacts – in my case, the development of Swiss glaciers – is not only academically relevant but can also make a significant contribution to understanding and addressing current challenges.”
Gschlößl further explained that the award signifies that sustainability topics are recognized beyond expert circles and encourages stronger integration of research findings into societal and practical contexts. He stressed that, especially with climate change, it is crucial that scientific knowledge is not only available but also translated into concrete measures and planning processes. The award, he believes, helps to strengthen this bridge between knowledge and action.
Dissertation on Human-Nature Relationships Also Honored
Another award went to Dr. des. Lena Schlegel for her dissertation on new human-nature relationships in the context of Australia’s ‘Black Summer.’ Schlegel highlighted that the award is an important signal that climate protection must no longer be viewed purely technocratically, but also from a social and cultural perspective.
Especially in times of increasing political polarization, she considers it important to strengthen common societal tasks such as climate protection. “The Munich Sustainability Award allows me to make the results of my research accessible to a broader public and to contribute to understanding the hurdles and potentials of socio-ecological transformation,” Schlegel explained. “Personally, I am also delighted with the recognition, which motivates me to continue my path in science.”
About the Munich Sustainability Award
The Munich Sustainability Award recognizes outstanding scientific works in the field of sustainability that have originated at Munich universities. Alongside the Munich Sustainability Award, the BNE Special Award and, for the first time this year, the BNE Teaching Award are also presented every two years. The awards are sponsored by RCE BenE München e.V., the Munich Center for Sustainability (LMU), the Rachel Carson Center for Environment and Society (LMU), and the Verein für Nachhaltigkeit e.V. The Munich Sustainability Award itself is endowed by the Selbach Environmental Foundation.
