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Felicitas Riedel

Research Profile

Environmental and Sustainability Sociology | Political Sociology | Climate Policy & Social Inequality | Qualitative Interviews | Ethnography

Felicitas Riedel’s research and teaching focus lies at the intersection of political sociology and environmental sociology. In her dissertation project, she examines the ambivalences of socially just climate policy using the example of energy-saving coaching for low-income households. Her approach centers on processes of critique and justification, which she investigates through qualitative interviews and participant observation.

Felicitas Riedel studied sociology in Heidelberg and Lund (Sweden) and completed her Master’s degree in Sociology with a focus on sustainability and societal transformation at Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena. In her research and teaching, she combines empirical social research with theoretical questions concerning the socio-ecological transformation of society, thereby contributing to the analysis of the social dimensions of sustainable transformation processes.

Selected Publications

Rubik, F., Prakash, S. & Riedel, F. (2022). Integration of social aspects in the German Blue Angel scheme – Views from manufacturers and consumers. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 33, 466–476. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2022.07.018 

Oppelland, T. & Riedel, F. (2019). Fortschritte bei der Europäisierung der Europa-Wahlkämpfe nationaler Parteien? Eine kurze Bilanz der EP-Wahl von 2019. Kurzanalyse. Erschienen auf: regierungsforschung.de: https://regierungsforschung.de/fortschritte-bei-der-europaeisierung-der…

Current Research Projects

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Aktuell
Explorer Project / Field of Focus 4: Studying the evidence base of policy, stakeholders, and policy design in an in vivo setting [NEVIVO]
Aktuell
Dissertationsprojekt: Ambivalenzen sozial gerechter Klimapolitik. Über die Grenzen des Energiesparens in einkommensschwachen Haushalten

Curriculum Vitae

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04/2022 – ongoing
Doctoral Fellow at Max-Weber-Institute of Sociology, Heidelberg University
09/2021 – ongoing
Research Associate at Max-Weber-Institute of Sociology, Heidelberg University
2018 – 2020

Master Program Sociology, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena

  • Degree: M.A. Sociology
  • Focus: Sustainability and Societal Transformations
2016 – 2018
Internships at SINUS-Institute, Institute for Ecological Economy Research (IÖW), GIM-Research-Institute, German Environment Agency
2016 – 2017
Erasmus Program Sociology and Gender Studies, Lund University, Sweden
2014 – 2017

Bachelor Program Sociology, Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg

  • Degree: B.A. Sociology

Memberships

  • German Sociological Association (DGS), Section for Environmental and Sustainability Sociology
  • Heidelberg Center for the Environment (HCE-College) (2022 - 2025)

Presentations & Awards

  • Presentation 42nd Congress of the German Sociological Association: Ambivalences of Socially Just Climate Policy in Capitalism, Duisburg, September 2025
  • Presentation 5th ISA Forum of Sociology: Energy Saving in Low-Income Households: Synergy or Misery for Climate Justice Objectives? Rabat, Juli 2025
  • Presentation DAI: In the psyche, out of the climate crisis? In dialogue. Psycho Talks, Heidelberg, June 2022
  • Award for Master’s Thesis: Institute Prize of the Institute of Sociology at Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena for the year 2021
  • Award for Bachelor’s Thesis: Alumni Prize 2017 for outstanding achievements in the Bachelor’s program in Sociology, Max Weber Institute of Sociology, Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg

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