Klaus Töpfer Sustainability Fellowship

Residential fellowship to support a one-year research stay at the Research Institute for Sustainability in Potsdam, Germany.

Research Institute for Sustainability – Helmholtz Centre Potsdam (RIFS) is an international, inter-, and transdisciplinary research institute in Potsdam, Germany. The main focus of the institute is to integrate different types of knowledge to support a transformation of society towards sustainability.

As part of its work, RIFS operates the annual Klaus Töpfer Sustainability Fellowship Programme. The fellowship is intended to support researchers who are committed to sustainable development and build bridges between science, politics, and society.

The thematic focus is on projects that implement innovative ideas which can shape the path to a sustainable society, foster a common understanding of sustainability challenges, and propose solutions and ways forward with a view to collaborating with diverse actors. The programme is dedicated to a transdisciplinary approach and encourages applicants to bring innovative ideas from different fields including science, the arts, civil society, business and politics.

The fellowship duration is one year but may also be divided into multiple shorter stays.