Michael Gorki

Analyzing the core concept of sustainability: An interdisciplinary approach combining cognitive affective mapping and philosophical reflection

While theoretical debates about an appropriate understanding of sustainability are ongoing in a number of academic disciplines, we surprisingly know very little about how „lay people“ and scientists who are not actively engaged in these debates conceptualize sustainability. Therefore, in my research project we investigate people’s conceptualization or mental models of sustainability with different methods like Cognitive-Affective Maps and questionnaires. The goal is to gain a picture of which aspects of sustainability are common ground and which aspects might be contested. At the same time we aim to reflect implications e.g., for science communication and transdisciplinarity.

First supervisor:

Prof. Dr. Andrea Kiesel

2025

• Cognitive-affective maps extended logic: Proposing tools to collect and analyze attitudes and belief systems*
  Fenn, J., Gouret, F., Gorki, M., Reuter, L., Gros, W., Hüttner, P. & Kiesel, A. (2025). Cognitive-affective maps extended logic: Proposing tools to collect and analyze attitudes and belief systems. Behavior Research Methods, 57(174), doi: 10.3758/s13428-025-02699-y
• Blurring the boundaries between living and non-living? Examining and mapping the living properties of engineered matter and systems*
  Lantada, A.D., Estadieu, L., Gorki, M., Höfele, P. , & Islam, M. (2025). Blurring the boundaries between living and non-living? Examining and mapping the living properties of engineered matter and systems Technology in Society, Volume 81, June 25, 2025. doi: 10.1016/j.techsoc.2025.102822
• Challenging the Biomimetic Promise—Do Laypersons Perceive Biomimetic Buildings as More Sustainable and More Acceptable?*
  Gorki, M., Speck, O., Möller, M., Fenn, J., Estadieu, L., Menges, A., Schiller, M., Speck, T., & Kiesel, A. (2025). Challenging the Biomimetic Promise—Do Laypersons Perceive Biomimetic Buildings as More Sustainable and More Acceptable? Biomimetics, 10(2), Article 2. doi: 10.3390/biomimetics10020086