Director Ricarda Winkelmann
As Founding Director at the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology, Ricarda Winkelmann is dedicated to advancing the understanding of the intertwined human–Earth system and its possible future trajectories. Her work combines analytical and numerical modelling with field-based insights and integrative approaches, bridging climate physics, complex systems theory, and Earth system science.
Ricarda’s research has made fundamental contributions to understanding the complex dynamics of the Earth system, including the stability of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, past and future sea-level change, ecosystem resilience, and tipping dynamics. She is widely recognised for her work on non-linear processes and critical thresholds in the Earth system and has been named among the world’s most highly cited researchers (Clarivate, 2025).
A pioneer in ice-sheet modelling, Ricarda co-developed the open-source Parallel Ice Sheet Model (PISM) and has played a leading role in advancing next-generation tools for analyzing cascading risks, including pycascades and TOAD. She also initiated and leads the Tipping Points Modelling Intercomparison Project (TIPMIP). Complementing her modelling work, Ricarda has participated in multiple scientific expeditions, including in the Andes and Antarctica. These field campaigns provide critical empirical grounding for her research and reflect her commitment to integrating theoretical and numerical modelling with observational approaches.
Ricarda’s scientific contributions have been recognised through numerous awards, including the Young Scientist of the Year Award by the Academics & ZEIT Publishing Group, the E-Learning Award UP for innovative teaching approaches, the Outstanding Early Career Scientists Award by the EGU Cryospheric Division, and the Karl-Scheel-Prize of the German Physical Society. She is a member of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, and serves as a lead author of the IPCC Seventh Assessment Report.
In addition to her research, Ricarda is an active science communicator and policy advisor. She regularly contributes to international assessment processes and science-policy dialogues, including Science7 statements, COPs, and briefings for the European Parliament, helping to translate scientific insights into actionable knowledge for decision-makers and the broader public.