Annegret Henriette Thieken

The 2025 Plinius Medal is awarded to Annegret Henriette Thieken in recognition of outstanding contributions to the understanding and mitigation of flood risk, and the design of adaptation management strategies informed by the involvement of affected communities.

Professor at the University of Potsdam, Annegret H. Thieken is a leading figure in the modern understanding of flood risks and the design and implementation of risk reduction, management, and adaptation strategies. After graduating in Environmental Sciences from the Technical University of Braunschweig, she obtained a PhD in environmental geology from the Martin Luther University of Halle for her research on pollution patterns of regional groundwater contamination in the Bitterfeld-Wolfen mining area, Germany. Since then, her research focused on the understanding of water-related risks, with emphasis on loss analysis and modelling, adaptive behaviour, resilient communities, and risk management and adaptation strategies. Her pioneering research has resulted in her appointment as Professor of Geography and Disaster Risk Research at the University of Potsdam.

With a distinctive approach and a rare depth of understanding, Thieken has made a substantial contribution to the analysis of recent severe flooding events in Germany. Her expertise in natural sciences, her openness, and her strong interest in the socioeconomics of risks, enabled her to lead research teams from diverse backgrounds, including natural, engineering, and social sciences. Her unique approach facilitated the successful execution of truly interdisciplinary research in flood risk assessment and in the design of adaptation strategies.

Thieken’s career has developed at the challenging boundary between academic research on risk and practical applications. Her research has significantly improved our collective understanding of flood risks and has resulted in concrete recommendations for action. Her activities at the science-policy interface include serving as Deputy Director of the German Climate Service Centre, and President of the German Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction. In these roles, she has been instrumental in aligning risk management in Germany with the UN Sendai Framework. She represented Germany at global meetings on disaster risk reduction, such as the Sendai World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction and the Cancun Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction.

As a leading figure in the integration of research approaches from different disciplines, Thieken has significantly advanced risk science, contributing to the development of effective risk reduction strategies and sustainable climate adaptation initiatives. Her work exemplifies the crucial role of knowledge transfer and policy advice in advancing scientific understanding and promoting effective policy actions. In this regard, Annegret Thieken epitomises the true essence of the EGU Plinius Medal.