Dr. Sabrina Kirschke

Scientific Publications

Dissertation

• Kirschke, S. (2019). The role of complexity in addressing the water quality challenge. Dissertation. Leuphana Universität Lüneburg, Lüneburg.

Peer-reviewed articles in scientific journals

• Kirschke, S. / Kosow, H. (2025). Structuring wicked problems in science communication. Journal Review of Policy Research, 00, 1–26.
• Schmidtke, L. / van Emmerik, T.H.M. / Pinto, R.B. / Schreyers, L.J. / Schmidt, C. / Wendt-Potthoff, K. / Kirschke, S. (2024). Sustainable Implementation of Citizen-Based Plastic Monitoring of Fresh Waters in Western Africa. Sustainability 16, 10007.
• Kirschke, S. / Akif, N. U. (2024). How do the social sciences approach wicked resource nexus problems? A bibliometric review. Environmental Earth Sciences.
• Brouwer, F. / Caucci, S. / Karthe, D. / Kirschke, S. / Madani, K. / Mueller, A. / Zhang, L. / Guenther. E. (2024). Advancing the Resource Nexus concept for research and practice. Sustainability Nexus Forum.
• van Emmerik, T.H.M. / Kirschke, S. / Schreyers, L. / Nath, S. / Schmidt, C. / Wendt-Potthoff, K. (2023). Estimating plastic pollution in rivers through harmonized monitoring strategies. Marine Pollution Bulletin 196, 115503.
• Kirschke, S. / Bennett, C. / Bigham Ghazani, A. / Kirschke, D. / Lee, Y. / Loghmani Khouzani, S. T. / Nath, S. (2023). Design impacts of citizen science. A comparative analysis of water monitoring projects. Frontiers in Environmental Science.
• Kirschke, S. / van Emmerik, T.H.M. / Nath, S. / Schmidt, C. / Wendt-Potthoff, K. (2023). Barriers to plastic monitoring in freshwaters in the Global South. Environmental Science & Policy 146, 162-170.
• Orou Sannou, R. / Kirschke, S. / Günther, E. (2023). Integrating the social perspective into the sustainability assessment of agri-food systems: A review of indicators. Sustainable Production and Consumption 39.
• Wiering, M. / Kirschke, S. / Akif, N. U. (2023). Addressing diffuse water pollution from agriculture: Do governance structures matter for the nature of measures taken? Journal of Environmental Management 332, 117329.
• Nath, S. / Kirschke, S. (2023). Groundwater monitoring through citizen science – A review of project designs and results. Groundwater 61(4), 481-493.
• Kirschke, S. / Avellán, T. / Benavides, L. / Caucci, S. / Hahn, A. / Müller, A. / Rubio Giraldo, C. B. (2023). Results-based management of wicked problems? Indicators and comparative evidence from Latin America. Environmental Policy and Governance 33(1), 3-16.
• Hahn, A. / Kirschke, S. / Caucci, S. / Müller, A. / Benavides, L. / Avellán, T. (2023). Perceptions of transdisciplinary research – A comparative case study from Latin America. Current Research in Environmental Sustainability 5, 100207.
• Avellán, T. / Hahn, A., Kirschke, S. / Müller, A. / Benavides, L. / Caucci, S. (2022). Co-generating knowledge in nexus research for sustainable wastewater treatment. Resources 11(10), 93.
• Kirschke, S. / Kosow, H. (2022). Designing policy mixes for emerging wicked problems. The case of pharmaceutical residues in freshwaters. Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning 24(5), 486-497.
• Kirschke, S. / Bennett, C. / Bigham Ghazani, A. / Franke, C. / Kirschke, D. / Lee, Y. / Loghmani Khouzani, S. T. / Nath, S. (2022). Citizen science projects in freshwater monitoring. From individual design to clusters? Journal of Environmental Management 309, 114714.
• Loghmani Khouzani, S. T. / Kirschke, S. / Yousefi, A. / Liedl, R. (2022). The effect of policy incoherence on the emergence of groundwater-related subsidence phenomena: a case study from Iran. Water International 47(2), 181-204.
• San Llorente Capdevila, A. / Kokimova, A. / Ray, S. S. / Avellán, T. / Kim, J. / Kirschke, S. (2020). Success factors for citizen science projects in water quality monitoring. Science of The Total Environment, 137843.
• Kirschke, S. / Avellán, T. / Bärlund, I. / Bogardi, J. J. / Carvalho, L. / Chapman, D. / Dickens, CWS. / Irvine, K. / Lee, SB. / Mehner, T. / Warner, S. (2020). Capacity challenges in water quality monitoring: understanding the role of human development. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 192, 1-16.
• Kirschke, S. / Häger, A. / Kirschke, D. / Völker, J. (2019). Agricultural Nitrogen Pollution of Freshwater in Germany. The Governance of Sustaining A Complex Problem. Water 11, 2450.
• Kirschke, S. / Franke, C. / Newig, J. / Borchardt, D. (2019). Clusters of water governance problems and their effects on policy delivery. Policy & Society 38(2), 255-277.
• Benavides, L. / Avellán, T. / Caucci S. / Hahn, A. / Kirschke, S. / Müller, H. (2019). Assessing sustainability of wastewater management systems in a multi-scalar, transdisciplinary manner in Latin America. Water 11, 249.
• Kirschke, S. / Zhang, L. / Meyer, K. (2018). Decoding the wickedness of resource nexus problems. Examples from water-soil nexus problems in China. Resources 7(4), 67.
• Kirschke, S. / Newig, J. / Völker, J. / Borchardt, D. (2017). Does problem complexity matter for environmental policy delivery? How public authorities address problems of water governance. Journal of Environmental Management 196, 1-7.
• Kirschke, S. / Borchardt, D. / Newig, J. (2017). Mapping complexity in environmental governance: A comparative analysis of 37 priority issues in German water management. Environmental Policy and Governance 27(6), 534-559.
• Kirschke, S. / Newig, J. (2017). Addressing Complexity in Environmental Management and Governance. Sustainability, 9, 983.
• Hagemann, N. / Kirschke, S. (2017). Key issues of interdisciplinary NEXUS governance analyses: Lessons learned from research on Integrated Water Resources Management. Resources 6, 9.
• Kirschke, S. / Völker, J. / Richter, S. (2016). Evaluating water management processes in Germany. Conceptual approach and practical applications. Environmental Earth Sciences 75, 1098.
• Kirschke, S. / Hagemann, N. (2014). Stärkung der Wasser-Governanceforschung. Impulse aus der Forschung zum Integrierten Wasserressourcen-Management. GAIA 23(4), 313-317.

Invited articles in scientific journals

• Kosow, H. / Kirschke, S. / Borchardt, D. / Cullmann, J. / Guillaume, J. H. A. / Hannah, D. M. / Schaub, S. / Tosun, J. (2022). Scenarios of water extremes: Framing ways forward for wicked problems. Hydrological Processes 36(2), e14492.
• Bleischwitz, R. / Kirschke, S. / Adam, N. (2021). Implications of the Resource Nexus on International Relations: The Case of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Hydropower Dam. Zeitschrift für Außen- und Sicherheitspolitik. 14(4), 397-409.

Contributions to edited volumes (books)

• Kirschke S. / Newig J. (2021). Complexity in Water Management and Governance. In Bogardi J.J. et al. (Hrsg.). Handbook of Water Resources Management: Discourses, Concepts and Examples. Springer, Cham, S. 801-810.
• Fekete B.M. / Andreu, A. / Argent, R. / Avellán, T. / Birkett, C. / Caucci, S. / Cohen, S. / Dube, T. / Kirschke, S. / Looser, U. (2021). Observations, Monitoring and Data Management. In Bogardi J.J. et al. (Hrsg.). Handbook of Water Resources Management: Discourses, Concepts and Examples. Springer, Cham, S. 385-442.
• Kirschke, S. / Horlemann, L. / Brenda, M. / Deffner, J. / Jokisch, A. / Mohajeri, S. / Onigkeit, J. (2016). Benefits and barriers of participation: experiences of applied research projects in integrated water resources management. In Borchardt, D., Bogardi, J., Ibisch, R. (Hrsg.). Integrated water resources management: concept, research and implementation. Springer, Cham., S. 303-331.
• Kirschke, S. / Richter, S. / Völker, J. (2015). Management-Indikatoren zur Bewertung des Umsetzungsprozesses der WRRL. Ein konzeptioneller und empirischer Beitrag. In Evers, M., Diekkrüger, B. (Hrsg.). Aktuelle Herausforderungen im Flussgebiets- und Hochwassermanagement: Prozesse, Methoden, Konzepte. Beiträge zum Tag der Hydrologie am 19./20. März 2015 an der Universität Bonn. Forum für Hydrologie und Wasserbewirtschaftung 35. Deutsche Vereinigung für Wasserwirtschaft, Abwasser und Abfall (DWA), Hennef, S. 255-264.

Conference reports

• Kirschke, S. / Glahe, J. / Ahrend, C. / Brandt, M. / Hecker, S. / Krohmer, J. / Lentz, S. / Marzinek, N. / Molthagen-Schnöring, S. / Stewart, M. / Voigt-Heucke, S. (2024). Perspectives on Science Communication. Research Ideas and Outcomes (RIO).
• Bessert-Nettelbeck, M. / Bischof, A. / Sturm, U. / Nagy, E. / Schraudner, M. / Backhaus, J. / Bruckermann, T. / Hecker, S. / Henke, J. / Köpferl, K. / Kirschke, S. / Liedtke, C. / Mahr, F. / Maibaum, A. / Podann, A. / Rössig, W. / Schäfer, M. / Schröder, C. / Schrögel, P. / Shennan, V. / Steinhaus, N. / Stewart, M. / van den Bogaert, V. / Voigt-Heucke, S. (2023). Participation as a research approach in academia: a converging field. Research Ideas and Outcomes (RIO) 9, e105155.
• Kirschke, S. / Ibisch, R. / Stärz, C. / Borchardt, D. (2013). Report from the Dresden International Conference on Integrated Water Resources Management. In Borchardt, D., Ibisch, R. (Hrsg.). Integrated Water Resources Management in a changing world. Lessons learnt and innovative perspectives. London: IWA Publishing, S. XV-XXIV.

Practice-Relevant Publications

• Kirschke, S. / Fenta, A. T. / Glahe, J. / Manasfi, N. / Namugize, J. / Namukose, M. / Schmidt, C. / Schmidtke, L. (2025). WWQA Plastics workstream: The social dimension in plastic monitoring – Lessons from the Volta Basin and the Nile Basin. Yemaya Newsletter.
• Bishop, I. et al. (2024). The role of citizen science in monitoring ambient water quality (Sustainable Development Goal Target 6.3). Policy brief.
• Bischop, I. et al. (2024). The role of citizen science in monitoring ambient water quality (Sustainable Development Goal 6.3). Technical brief.
• Günther, E. / Becker-Thierry, S. / Nebel, B. / Kirschke, S. (2021). Leistungsmessung an der Universität der Vereinten Nationen: Eine Perspektive aus dem nicht-wirtschaftlichen Bereich. Controlling.
• Wendt-Potthoff, K. / Avellán, T. / van Emmerik, T. / Hamester, M. / Kirschke, S. / Kitover, D. / Schmidt, C. (2020). Monitoring Plastics in Rivers and Lakes. Guidelines for the Harmonization of Methodologies. UNEP.
• Wendt-Potthoff, K. / Avellán, T. / van Emmerik, T. / Hamester, M. / Kirschke, S. / Kitover, D. / Schmidt, C. (2020). Monitoring Plastics in Rivers and Lakes. Guidelines for the Harmonization of Methodologies. Technical Summary for Policy Makers. UNEP.
• Kjellén, M. / White, M., et al. (2020). Chapter 11: Water governance for resilience to climate change. In: UNESCO, UN-Water (2020). United Nations World Water Development Report 2020: Water and Climate Change, Paris, UNESCO, pp. 150-159.
• Decade of Action on SDG 6 (2020), One Earth 2(3), S. 199-200.
• Avellán, T. / Benavides, L. / Caucci, S. / Hahn, A. / Kirschke, S. / Müller, A. (2019): Towards Sustainable Wastewater Treatment Systems: Implementing a Nexus Approach in two Cases in Latin America. Case study Report. Dresden: United Nations University Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES).
• Thinyane, M. / Kirschke, S. (2019). Data assemblages for enhanced citizen participation in sustainable development.
• Kirschke, S. / Avellán, T. (2018). Political challenges in monitoring SDG 6. SDG Knowledge Hub.
• Kim, J., / Kirschke, S. / Avellán, T. (2018). Well-Designed Citizen Science Projects Can Help Monitor SDG 6. SDG Knoweldge Hub.
• Lee, S.B. / Avellán, A. / Kirschke, S. (2017). Too many indicators make monitoring murky. The Source.
• Ibisch, R. / Kirschke, S. / Stärz, C. / Borchardt, D. (eds., 2013). Integriertes Wasserressourcen-Management (IWRM): von der Forschung zur Umsetzung. 4. überarb. Aufl. Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung - UFZ, Leipzig, Magdeburg.
• Ibisch, R. / Kirschke, S. / Stärz, C. / Borchardt, D. (eds., 2013). Integrated water resources management (IWRM): from research to implementation. 4. überarb. Aufl. Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung - UFZ, Leipzig, Magdeburg.
• Brenda, M. / Jokisch, A. / Kirschke, S. / Lee-Peuker, M.-Y. / Onigkeit, J. / Sigel, K. / Walk, H. (2013). Partizipationsprozesse in Forschungsprojekten zum Integrierten Wasserressourcen-Management. Eckpunktepapier.
• Dombrowski, I. / Hagemann, N. / Huppert, W. / Kirschke, S. (2013). Governance als Erfolgsfaktor für ein Integriertes Wasserressourcen-Management. Eckpunktepapier.
• Ibisch, R. / Kirschke, S. / Stärz, C. / Borchardt, D. (Hrsg., 2011). Integriertes Wasserressourcen-Management (IWRM): von der Forschung zur Umsetzung. 3. überarb. Aufl. Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung - UFZ, Leipzig, Magdeburg.
• Ibisch, R. / Kirschke, S. / Stärz, C. / Borchardt, D. (Hrsg., 2011): Integrated water resources management (IWRM): from research to implementation. 2. überarb. Aufl. Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung - UFZ, Leipzig, Magdeburg.

Projects

Ongoing Projects

• Future Plan-Project Knowledge Transfer: Sub-project Public Science/Science-Policy Lab 
• BiodivKI: AI-assisted analysis and prediction of biodiversity and water quality in drinking water reservoirs (IQ-Water)
• Action Plan Development on Macroplastic Pollution Monitoring in the Nile Basin Countries
• Analyse von Narrativen im Gentechnikdiskurs
• Vernetzung im Rahmen der Begleitstudie zum Wissenschaftsjahr 2022 – Nachgefragt!

Completed Projects

• Begleitstudie zum Wissenschaftsjahr 2022 – Nachgefragt!
• Community Driven Freshwater Plastic Monitoring in Western Africa
• Chancen und Grenzen der Partizipation in der Wissenschaft. Eine Tagung im Rahmen des Wissenschaftsjahres “Nachgefragt!"

Professional experience

Since 08/2022           Research associate at Museum für Naturkunde - Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Research, Berlin

11/2016 – 07/2022    Research associate at United Nations University – Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES), Dresden

06/2010 – 12/2015    Research associate at Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Magdeburg

02/2010 – 05/2010    Consultant at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (GTZ), Eschborn

08/2009 – 01/2010    Intern at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (GTZ) in Eschborn and Kampala

Education

04/2013 – 11/2018    PhD studies at Leuphana University Lüneburg. Degree: Doctor of Economic, Social, and Political Sciences (Dr. rer. pol)

10/2005 – 07/2009    Political science studies at Freie Universität Berlin. Degree: Diploma in Political Science (Dipl. Pol)

10/2003 – 11/2005    Political science studies at University of Augsburg. Degree: Intermediate Diploma in Political Science

09/2002 – 06/2003    French language studies at Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour, Pau. Degree: Diplôme d'Etudes Françaises

Tasks

Head of Public Policy Research Group at Science Programme Society & Nature

Research

Analysis of the interplay between science and policy 

• Research at the interface of public science and public policy
• Focus on complex resource management problems
• Inter- and transdisciplinary research and mixed methods designs
• Policy-relevant research for nature at local, regional and global level