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Kellner Elke HSLU W

Dr. Elke Kellner Elke Kellner

Lecturer

Kellner Elke HSLU W

Lucerne School of Business

Room 2. Stock, IBR
Walter-von-Moos-Promenade 1
6005 Luzern


Institute of Business and Regional Economics IBR

CC Regional Economy (IBR RO)

Lecturer

+41 41 228 41 70

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Biography

Elke Kellner’s research focuses on the governance of the transformation of social-ecological systems towards sustainability. Her work seeks to understand how complex, multi-level trade-offs are governed in multi-actor and multi-interest governance systems. She aims to bring knowledge into action by designing research through co-production processes and by informing policies and decision-making that improve outcomes for people and nature. With a background in human geography and natural science, she conducts interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research. She has carried out research in diverse cultural contexts, including rural areas in Switzerland, with Indigenous communities in the United States, and with farmers and industry partners in Albania.

From 2022 to 2025, she held a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Individual Global Fellowship within the Horizon 2020 European research program. As part of this fellowship, she conducted research and teaching stays at the School of Sustainability at Arizona State University (US), the School of Geography, Development & Environment at the University of Arizona (US), and the Wyss Academy for Nature at the University of Bern (CH). In 2024, she was a Nominated Visiting Scholar at the Ostrom Workshop at Indiana University Bloomington (US). She worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), ETH Zurich domain (CH), and holds a PhD in Science in Climate Science from the Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research and the Institute of Geography, University of Bern (CH).

Within the global Earth System Governance Project, she co-leads the international Working Group on Governance of Social-Ecological Systems.

She has extensive experience teaching at the Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD levels and has taught at universities in Switzerland (ETH Zurich, University of Bern, Bern University of Applied Sciences), the United States (Arizona State University, University of Arizona), and Germany (University of Kassel). At HSLU, she teaches Sustainable Development and Corporate Ethics.

Subjects
  • Sustainable Development
  • Corporate Ethics
Professional competencies
  • Lecturer for Sustainability, Transformation, and Circular Economy
  • Co-Coordinator Sustainability at the School of Business across research and education
  • Co-Head CAS Sustainable Management
  • Co-Convenor Working Group on Governance of Social-Ecological Systems
  • CAS in Hypnosystemic Organizational Development

Projects

Research projects

  • WindCoEconomy
  • IDN – Trade-offs in Accelerating the Energy Transition
  • Fostering Collaboration for Constructive Participation: An AI‑Supported Reflection Space for a Swiss Renewable Energy Infrastructure Project
  • Detailkonzeptes für eine Zentralschweizer Plattform Kreislaufwirtschaft
  • Strengthening the Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAP) Sector in Albania

Publications and presentations

Publications and presentations - Article, review; peer reviewed

  • Newig, Jens; Rose, Michael; Aksoy, Zühre; Beaudoin, Simon; Bolognesi, Thomas; Fritsch, Oliver; Hegger, Dries; Hofmann, Benjamin; Jager, Nicolas W.; Kellner, Elke; Leipold, Sina; Persson, Åsa; Runhaar, Hens & Webb, Robert (2026). Rethinking scientific progress in the social sciences: disruptive or cumulative?. Research Policy, 55(4),
  • Kellner, Elke (2025). Mineral extraction on Indigenous land: employing a relational approach to navigate the convergence of Indigenous and other ontologies and practices. Energy Research & Social Science, 125, 104097. doi: 10.1016/j.erss.2025.104097
  • Eisenack, Klaus; Epstein, Graham; Finzel, Lydia; Kellner, Elke; Nagel, Ben; Partelow, Stefan; Roggero, Matteo & Villamayor-Tomas, Sergio (2025). Synthesizing Archetypes of Social-Ecological Systems: Identifying Common Building Blocks. Environmental Policy and Governance (Formerly: European Environment), 35(5), 882-897. doi: 10.1002/eet.70006
  • Kellner, Elke; Petrovics, Daniel & Huitema, Dave (2024). Polycentric Climate Governance: The State, Local Action, Democratic Preferences, and Power—Emerging Insights and a Research Agenda. Global Environmental Politics, 3(24), 24-47. doi: 10.1162/glep_a_00753
  • Partelow, Stefan; Villamayor-Tomas, Sergio; Eisenack, Klaus; Epstein, Graham; Kellner, Elke; Roggero, Matteo & Tschopp, Maurice (2024). A meta‐analysis of SES framework case studies: Identifying dyad and triad archetypes. People and Nature, 3(6), 1229-1247. doi: 10.1002/pan3.10630
  • Carr Kelman, Candice; Srinivasan, Jaishri; Lorenzo Bajaj, Theresa; Raschke, Aireona R.; Brown-Wood, Nana; Kellner, Elke; Ahn, Minwoo; Kariuki, Rebecca; Simeone, Michael & Schoon, Michael (2024). Convergence research as transdisciplinary knowledge coproduction within cases of effective collaborative governance of social-ecological systems. Ecology and Society, 4(29), doi: 10.5751/ES-15534-290423
  • Tobin, Paul; Huitema, Dave & Kellner, Elke (2024). The Empirical Realities of Polycentric Climate Governance: Introduction to the Special Issue. Global Environmental Politics, 3(24), 1-23. doi: 10.1162/glep_a_00758
  • Kimmich, Christian; Ehlers, Melf-Hinrich; Kellner, Elke; Oberlack, Christoph; Thiel, Andreas & Villamayor-Tomas, Sergio (2023). Networks of action situations in social–ecological systems: current approaches and potential futures. Sustainability Science, 1(18), 1-10. doi: 10.1007/s11625-022-01278-w
  • Kellner, Elke & Martin, Dominic A. (2023). Learning from past coevolutionary processes to envision sustainable futures: Extending an action situations approach to the Water-Energy-Food nexus. Earth System Governance, (15), 100168. doi: 10.1016/j.esg.2023.100168
  • Kimmich, Christian; Baldwin, Elizabeth; Kellner, Elke; Oberlack, Christoph & Villamayor-Tomas, Sergio (2023). Networks of action situations: a systematic review of empirical research. Sustainability Science, 1(18), 11-26. doi: 10.1007/s11625-022-01121-2
  • Baldwin, Elizabeth; Thiel, Andreas; McGinnis, Michael & Kellner, Elke (2023). Empirical research on polycentric governance: Critical gaps and a framework for studying long‐term change. Policy Studies Journal, 52(2), 319-348. doi: 10.1111/psj.12518
  • Hughes, Alice C.; Tougeron, Kévin; Martin, Dominic A.; Menga, Filippo; Rosado, Bruno H.P.; Villasante, Sebastian; Madgulkar, Shweta; Gonçalves, Fernando; Geneletti, Davide; Diele-Viegas, Luisa Maria; Berger, Sebastian; Colla, Sheila R; de Andrade Kamimura, Vitor; Caggiano, Holly; Melo, Filipe; Guilherme de Oliveira Dias, Marcelo; Kellner, Elke & Do Couto, Edivando Vitor (2023). Smaller human populations are neither a necessary nor sufficient condition for biodiversity conservation. Biological conservation: an international journal, (277), 109841. doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2022.109841
  • Kellner, Elke (2023). Identifying leverage points for shifting Water-Energy-Food nexus cases towards sustainability through the Networks of Action Situations approach combined with systems thinking. Sustainability Science, 1(18), 135-152. doi: 10.1007/s11625-022-01170-7
  • Kellner, Elke & Brunner, Manuela I. (2021). Reservoir governance in world's water towers needs to anticipate multi‐purpose use. Earth's Future, 1(9), e2020EF001643. doi: 10.1029/2020EF001643
  • Kellner, Elke (2021). The controversial debate on the role of water reservoirs in reducing water scarcity. WIREs Water, e1514. doi: 10.1002/wat2.1514
  • Villamayor-Tomas, Sergio; Oberlack, Christoph; Epstein, Graham; Partelow, Stefan; Roggero, Matteo; Kellner, Elke; Tschopp, Maurice & Cox, Michael (2020). Using case study data to understand SES interactions: a model-centered meta-analysis of SES framework applications. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, (44), 48-57. doi: 10.1016/j.cosust.2020.05.002
  • Kellner, Elke; Oberlack, Christoph & Gerber, Jean-David (2019). Polycentric governance compensates for incoherence of resource regimes: The case of water uses under climate change in Oberhasli, Switzerland. Environmental Science & Policy, (100), 126-135. doi: 10.1016/j.envsci.2019.06.008
  • Kellner, Elke (2019). Social acceptance of a multi-purpose reservoir in a recently deglaciated landscape in the Swiss Alps. Sustainability, 14(11), 3819. doi: 10.3390/su11143819
  • Kellner, Elke & Weingartner, Rolf (2018). Chancen und Herausforderungen von Mehrzweckspeichern als Anpassung an den Klimawandel. Wasser Energie Luft, 2(100), 101-107.

Publications and presentations - Article, review; not peer reviewed

  • Pütters, Hanna; von dem Berge, Karina & Kellner, Elke (2025). Kreislaufwirtschaft: Unternehmen, Regionen und Hochschulen als Partner. Organisator: das Magazin für KMU, (9-10), 78.

Publications and presentations - Chapter/legal commentary/lexicon article

  • Kellner, Elke & Oberlack, Christoph (2025). Different modes of coordination influence performance to tackle sustainability trade-offs in polycentric governance systems. In Andreas Thiel (ed;Elizabeth Baldwin; Mark Stephan; Sergio Villamayor-Tomas; (Hrsg.), Modes of Coordination and Performance in Polycentric Governance: Disentangling Complexity (S. 63-77). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Kellner, Elke (2025). Justice perspectives. In Frank Biermann; Thomas Hickmann; Yi hyun Kang; Carole-Anne Sénit; Yixian Sun (Hrsg.), Essential Concepts for Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals. An A-Z Guide (S. 77-78). New York: Routledge (Taylor & Francis).
  • Kellner, Elke (2020). Alpine Mehrzweckspeicher zur Minderung von Wasserknappheit im Sommer. In Emmanuel Reynard; Alain Dubois; Muriel Borgeat-Theler (Hrsg.), Le Rhône. Territoire, ressource et culture (S. 177-184). Valais: Cahiers de Vallesia.

Publications and presentations - Report/working paper

  • Kellner, Elke (2026). Rethinking participatory processes: Hypnosystemic approaches for fast and just sustainability transformations (Bericht).
  • Kellner, Elke & Z'Rotz, Jana (2025). Fast-track procedures for infrastructure and resource projects to accelerate energy transition (Bericht).
  • Kellner, Elke & Dubas, Daniel (2016). Bericht zur Umsetzung der Strategie Nachhaltige Entwicklung 2012-2015 (Bericht). Bundesamt für Raumentwicklung (ARE), Bern, Schweiz.
  • Kellner, Elke; Berger, Till & Dubas, Daniel (2015). Synthesebericht Stakeholder-Dialog. Im Rahmen der Erarbeitung der Strategie Nachhaltige Entwicklung 2016-2019 (Bericht). Bundesamt für Raumentwicklung (ARE), Bern, Schweiz.

Publications and presentations - Theses (Bachelor/Master/Dissertation/Habilitation)

  • Kellner, Elke (2019). Multi-purpose reservoirs for alleviating water shortages: Opportunities and challenges in the governance processes to coordinate competing resource uses under climate change. Dissertation, Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research and Institute of Geography, University of Bern, Switzerland.
  • Kellner, Elke (2015). Ways of influencing decision-making behavior in ethical consumption using the example of coffee (nicht veröffentlichte Bachelorarbeit). University of Bern, Switzerland.
  • Kellner, Elke (1997). Characterization of two essential yeast proteins, Mrs5p and Mrs11p, in the mitochondrial intermembrane space (nicht veröffentlichte Master-/Lizentiats-/Diplomarbeit). Biozentrum, University of Basel and Free University of Berlin, Germany and Switzerland.

Publications and presentations - Presentation (conference/report/lectures)

  • Kellner, Elke (14.01.2026). Fast-Track Procedures to Mitigate Climate Change: Are We Really Accelerating Towards Sustainability? – A Perspective Informed by a Relational Approach. Systemwissenschaftliches Kolloquium, University of Osnabrück, Germany.
  • Kellner, Elke (30.10.2025). Chaco Canyon: Zwischen kultureller Bewahrung und wirtschaftlicher Nutzung – Ein Fallbeispiel für nachhaltigen Tourismus und Naherholung. 6. Tagung Parkforschung Schweiz, HES-SO Valais-Wallis, Campus Siders.
  • Kellner, Elke (21.10.2024). Progress and Prospects: Insights and Reflections from the Working Group on Governance of Social-Ecological Systems. Conference on Earth System Governance, Online.
  • Kellner, Elke (10.10.2024). Governance approaches to balance trade-off situations for sustainability transformations. Wageningen Centre of Sustainability Governance (WCSG) Conference, University of Wageningen, NL.
  • Kellner, Elke (09.09.2024). Governance interventions to balance trade-off situations between Sustainable Development Goals. The SDG Interaction Archetypes approach. Research Seminar, Center for Behavior, Institutions and the Environment, Arizona State University, US.
  • Kellner, Elke (20.06.2024). Governance approaches to balance trade-off situations between Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Agreement. Insights from Chaco Culture National Historical Park, US. Workshop on the Ostrom Workshop (WOW 7), Indiana University, Bloomington, US.
  • Kellner, Elke (19.06.2024). Challenges and opportunities of mineral extraction for energy transition on Indigenous land. Workshop on the Ostrom Workshop (WOW 7), Indiana University, Bloomington, US.
  • Kellner, Elke (18.06.2024). Cultural fit of institutions: A critical condition to make the 30 by 30 initiative successful. Workshop on the Ostrom Workshop (WOW 7), Indiana University, Bloomington, US.
  • Kellner, Elke (17.04.2024). How to find the balance? Governing trade-off situations in mining of transition minerals for energy transition. Research Seminar, Ostrom Workshop, Indiana University, US.
  • Kellner, Elke (14.03.2024). Using frameworks for analysing and modeling of social-ecological systems. Research Seminar, University of Freiburg, DE.
  • Kellner, Elke (25.01.2024). How to govern conflictual trade-off situations between Sustainable Development Goals? Insights of two years of empirical research in the Southwest. School of Sustainability Research Seminar, School of Sustainability, Arizona State University, US.
  • Kellner, Elke (08.11.2023). Passing the hot potato: Where to mine minerals for energy transition? Commons in Space 2023 Conference. International Association for the Study of the Commons, online.
  • Kellner, Elke (03.10.2023). Comparing two action situation approaches to analyse the governance of trade-off situations between SDGs: A comparative case study of Grand Canyon and Chaco Culture National Park. Conference on Earth System Governance, Nijmegen, NL.
  • Kellner, Elke (02.10.2023). A review of frameworks to study complex social-ecological systems: Which framework is appropriate for which application? Conference on Earth System Governance, Nijmegen, NL.
  • Kellner, Elke (07.06.2023). Critical research areas in polycentric climate governance - Insights of a systematic literature review. International Association for the Study of the Commons 2023 XIX Biennial Conference, Nairobi, Kenia, online.
  • Kellner, Elke (07.06.2023). Co-producing conservation: Conditions shaping the integration of indigenous and western scientific knowledge systems in decision-making processes. International Association for the Study of the Commons 2023 XIX Biennial Conference, Nairobi, Kenia, Online.
  • Kellner, Elke (06.06.2023). How to govern trade-off situations towards sustainability in UNESCO World Heritage Sites? Insights from Chaco Culture National Historical Park, US. International Association for the Study of the Commons 2023 XIX Biennial Conference, Nairobi, Kenia, online..
  • Kellner, Elke (29.05.2023). Polycentric climate governance, democracy, power, scaling and the state – emerging insights from the literature. The complex empirical realities of polycentric climate governance, Wageningen University; Netherlands.
  • Kellner, Elke (23.05.2023). Splintering Governance Temporalities in the Anthropocene: The Dynamics of Preservation, Conservation and Neo-colonialism at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Chaco Canyon, US. Laws and Times in Anthropocene Environments, Tilburg University.
  • Kellner, Elke (05.10.2022). Understanding past coevolutionary processes in social-ecological systems helps to envision pathways for sustainable futures: an action situations approach on Water-Energy-Food nexus. Conference on Earth System Governance, Toronto, Canada.
  • Kellner, Elke (10.05.2022). Identifying leverage points for shifting Water-Energy-Food nexus cases towards sustainability through the Networks of Action Situations approach combined with systems thinking. Polycentricity Webinar Series, online.
  • Kellner, Elke (12.04.2022). Transformation of social-ecological systems under climate change in the European Alps. Environmental Policy Course, University of Arizona, US.
  • Kellner, Elke (09.03.2022). Governance processes of trade-off situations in resource management to increase sustainable development. Social Science Speaker Series, University of Arizona, US.
  • Kellner, Elke (12.08.2021). Mehrzweckspeicher als Anpassung an den Klimawandel? Wasserschloss Schweiz, Schlossmuseum Nidau, Nidau, CH.
  • Kellner, Elke (21.06.2021). Wasserspeicher im Zielkonflikt zwischen Minderung und Anpassung an den Klimawandel. Strukturverbesserungstagung vom Bundesamt für Landwirtschaft und suissemelio, online.
  • Kellner, Elke (23.04.2021). Governance of complex trade-offs between mitigation and adaptation in the Swiss Alps. International Workshop Renewable Energy Transitions: Comparative Assessment in the Hindu Kush Himalayas, Andes and Alps, Himalayan University Consortium, Mountain Research Initiative (MRI), University of Arizona. Online.
  • Kellner, Elke (29.03.2021). (Un-)Sustainable water governance under climate change in Switzerland. Sustainability Week Switzerland, University of Basel, CH.
  • Kellner, Elke (14.10.2020). Governance of multi-purpose use of water - Challenges and opportunities. Hydro-CH2018 Meeting, Federal Office for Environment, Ittigen, CH.

Achievements

Achievements - Commissions, memberships and external activities

  • Kellner, Elke. External scientific reviewer for Ambizione Grants. (2026). Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF).
  • Kellner, Elke. Co-Convener. (2023). Working Group on Governance of Social-Ecological Systems.
  • Kellner, Elke. Research Fellow. (2019). Earth System Governance Project.

Achievements - Awards and honours

  • Kellner, Elke (01.03.2024). Nominated Visiting Scholar für Excellence of Research.
  • Kellner, Elke (01.02.2022). Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Global Fellowship für Horizon 2020 European research program.