The CIB-Lab
The CIB-Lab at the Centre for Interdisciplinary Risk and Innovation Research at the University of Stuttgart (ZIRIUS) deals with cross-impact balance analysis (CIB) in theory and practice. The CIB was developed at ZIRIUS and is now used internationally for the algorithm-based development of qualitative and semiquantitative scenarios.
The Lab uses the CIB in application projects, studies its method properties and supports the community through application consulting, contract evaluations, operation of this homepage, internships, training and lecturing, and providing the application software 'ScenarioWizard'. A project overview of the Lab is available on its website. At the ZIRIUS CIB-Lab, nine researchers are currently engaged.
Lead of the CIB Lab
 | Dr. Hannah Kosow Contact: hannah.kosow@zirius.uni-stuttgart.de More information |
Staff
 | Dr. Wolfgang Hauser His work focuses on the socio-technical analysis of the energy system and scenario building. In addition to the classical methods of empirical social research, agent-based modeling and cross-impact balance analysis are mainly applied. His main research interests in the field of CIB are the creation of hybrid scenarios and statistical scenario analysis. Contact: wolfgang.hauser@zirius.uni-stuttgart.de More information |
| Dr. Hannah Kosow Hannah Kosow is a social scientist with an inter- and transdisciplinary focus. In the CIB-Lab she works on the methodological reflection and further development of CIB as well as in its practical application. In her dissertation project she has been working on hybrid scenarios, i.e. the combination of qualitative (CIB-based) and model-based environmental scenarios (ACCESS). She is currently investigating in the ZuWaKo project how CIB can be used for policy and goal conflict analyses. Thematic focuses are environment (e.g. UBA framework assumptions), sustainable water use and water governance (LiWa, TRUST). Contact: hannah.kosow@zirius.uni-stuttgart.de More information |
 | Matthias Leger, M.A. Matthias Leger is a sociologist specializing in qualitative social research methods. He deals with issues relating to socio-ecological transformation processes, particularly in the area of mobility. In the CIB Lab, he is primarily concerned with the effects of social change on future energy demand, in particular the interactions of opposing developments across different sectors. Contact: matthias.leger@zirius.uni-stuttgart.de More information |
 | Dipl.-Ing. Christian D. León Christian D. León studied agricultural sciences with a focus on economics and social sciences at the University of Hohenheim. After his studies, he was a research associate at the Academy for Technology Assessment in Baden-Württemberg, where he led various projects in the field of sustainable development. From 2002 to 2008 he was head of the office of the Sustainability Advisory Council of the State Government of Baden-Württemberg (NBBW). Since 1.6.2008 he has been a research associate at ZIRN (since 2012: ZIRIUS) and leads research projects on integrated water management, scenario development and stakeholder participation. Contact: christian.leon@zirius.uni-stuttgart.de More information |
 | Janina Moschner Janina Moschner studied art therapy (BA) at the HfWU Nürtingen and Social Sciences (BA) at the University of Stuttgart. She achieved her MA in 2020 at the University of Reading in International Relations, focusing on interdisciplinary and systemic approaches in the realm of transnational water rights, distribution, and uses. In 2021, Janina Moschner founded the “Institute for Modern Indigenous Knowledge” that advocated the recognition of traditional as complement to academic knowledge for sustainable development work. Since September 2022 she works as research associate for ZIRIUS. In the ZUWAKO project she links her experience of diverse actor networks in the water sector with innovative methods of scenario research to anticipate possible futures of German water resources as well as potential conflicts. Kontakt: janina.moschner@zirius.uni-stuttgart.de More information |
 | Dr. Patricia Oviedo Toral Driven by a commitment to sustainable energy transformation, Patricia Oviedo's research delves into the complex interplay of economic, political, environmental, technological, and, crucially, social factors that shape our evolving energy systems. She leverages the Cross Impact Balance (CIB) as a central tool to analyze these interdependencies and potential future scenarios for a more sustainable energy future. Her work seeks to identify pathways for transition that prioritize long-term environmental well-being, economic viability, social equity, and political feasibility, ensuring a balanced and just approach to the energy transformation system for generations to come. Contact: patricia.oviedo-toral@zirius.uni-stuttgart.de More information |
 | Dipl.-Geogr. Sigrid Prehofer Sigrid Prehofer is an anthropogeographer and focuses her research on scenario building and socio-technical energy system analysis. In the CIB-Lab, she is also dedicated to the reflection and further development of the CIB method. She works mainly in the field of interdisciplinary construction of hybrid scenarios. Contact: sigrid.prehofer@zirius.uni-stuttgart.de More information |
 | Sandra Wassermann, M.A. Sandra Wassermann studied political science, sociology and economics at the University of Stuttgart and at the University of Edinburgh. She is the managing director of ZIRIUS and spokesperson of the Energy Research Area. Her work focuses on the analysis of socio-technical transitions, especially in the energy sector. She has also applied the CIB method in various research projects to evaluate consistent energy transition paths. Contact: sandra.wassermann@zirius.uni-stuttgart.de More information |
 | Dr. Wolfgang Weimer-Jehle (Advisor) Wolfgang Weimer-Jehle is a physicist and worked in the fields of energy demand, energy supply and energy systems, climate change and climate protection, sustainability, scenario methodology and method research for qualitative system analysis. One focal point is methodological research on Cross-Impact Balance analysis (CIB), which has been developed by him. Dr. Weimer-Jehle headed the CIB Lab until June 2023. Contact: wolfgang.weimer-jehle@cross-impact.de More information |