Thorsten Michaelis studied agricultural sciences in Giessen with a focus on economics and social sciences of agriculture.

At the University of Kassel, he works in the SynSICRIS project, coordinating in the areas research management, participation processes, research funding and knowledge transfer. Currently he is coordinating the KasselAgroForestry project with the objective of extending the area of transformation for the development of agroforestry systems for climate-sensitive species in northern Hesse (Agroforestry overview page).

Thorsten previously worked in research funding at the Federal Scheme for Organic Farming, helped to establish the German Agricultural Research Alliance (DAFA) as a network for agricultural, food and environmental research, and helped to develop several research strategies. Other areas of work include communication, extension, moderation, cooperatives, cooperation, ecological management extension and a small forestry farm.

Area of work

Project SynSICRIS - Evaluation of societal contributions of agricultural research

Project KasselAgroForestry

  • Michaelis, Thorsten (11.04.2024): Impact or potential impact? Individual or standardised? Speed talk and round table discussion on impact measurement of and in real-world laboratories at the conference "Real-world laboratories - experimentation spaces for the path to a sustainable society", Dresden

  • Michaelis, Thorsten (05.03.2024): Moderation of the World Café workshop "Role allocation in the real-world laboratory". Pre-conference "Real-world laboratories in agricultural and food systems" of the Hessian Research Association for Agricultural Systems Ecology (HFA) and ZALF for the 17th Scientific Conference on Organic Farming, Gießen

  • Michaelis, Thorsten; Wolf, Birge (28.02.2024): Impact of sustainability research: Developing, monitoring and assessing the impact potential of the Kassel Institute for Sustainability. Conception and moderation of the workshop at the Kassel Institute Retreat, Kassel

  • Michaelis, Thorsten; Bönninger, Karin (20.10.2023): Game of Market Economy - Experiencing profit-seeking & the economy of the common good in a game-based way. Workshop at the 51st International Play Congress "Grow together", Kassel

  • Michaelis, Thorsten; Wolf, Birge (27/28.09.2023): 4th event of the Federal Organic Farming Scheme to discuss research projects in organic poultry farming. Conception and moderation of parts of the event. Mariensee/Neustadt am Rübenberge

  • Michaelis, Thorsten; Wolf, Birge (19.09.2023): How can research become an impact? Workshop at the Staff event 2023 of the University of Kassel, Witzenhausen

  • Wolf, Birge; Michaelis, Thorsten; Kühn, David; Lange, Doris (23.03.2023): Presentation of the SynSICRIS monitoring tool - reflection on the current status and possibilities of pilot operationalisation by funding bodies. Conception and moderation of the workshop, Bonn

  • Michaelis, Thorsten; König, Bettina; Hobelsberger, Christine; Göttert, Thomas; Nölting, Benjamin (09.03.2023): Transformation barriers for more sustainable food systems - new or old friends of organic farming? Conception and moderation of the workshop and keynote speech. 16th Scientific Conference on Organic Agriculture, Frick

  • Risius, Antje; Niemann, Henning; Michaelis, Thorsten (09.03.2023): What creates trust? Training in a different way. Co-conception and moderation of the workshop and keynote speech. 16th Scientific Conference on Organic Farming, Frick

  • Moser, Andrea; Pfeifer, Lena; Michaelis, Thorsten; Wolf, Birge (11.11.2022): Approaches for the sustainability assessment of research. Co-organization and moderation of a working group of the online workshop of SynSICRIS and LeNa Shape, Witzenhausen.
  • Michaelis, Thorsten (28.06.2022): Agroforestry systems in Germany - where is the future heading? Moderation of the panel discussion with Dr Ophelia Nick, Felix Riecken, Janos Wack and Hubert Heigl, Öko-Feldtage 2022, Villmar
  • Michaelis, Thorsten (23.06.2022): The SynSICRIS-Tool - Assessing the Societal Impact of Funded Research, Presentation, AESIS conference: Impact of Science 2022, Leiden
  • Michaelis, Thorsten; Pöll, Gerd; Mönicke, Gabriele; Einsiedel, Christian; Gruber, Paul (16.05.2022): Economy for the Common Good Training of sobat sobat of DOCUMENTA FIFTEEN - day training of art mediators, responsible conception and moderation/training of parts of the event, Kassel

  • Wolf, Birge; Moser, Andrea; Lange, Doris; Michaelis, Thorsten; Lossow, Stefan (12.05.2022): Current status and test results on the SynSICRIS monitoring tool for researchers. Responsible conception, organization and moderation of the SynSICRIS online workshop, Witzenhausen.

  • Wolf, Birge; Moser, Andrea; Lange, Doris; Michaelis, Thorsten; Lossow, Stefan (09.05.2022): Current status and test results on the SynSICRIS monitoring tool for funding bodies. Responsible conception, organization and moderation of the SynSICRIS online workshop, Witzenhausen.

  • Bornmann, Günter; Michaelis, Thorsten (16.10.2021): Economy for the common good - an alternative economic model for shaping a sustainable future. Moderation of the workshop of the LCOY (Local Conference of Youth) 2021, Kassel
  • Michaelis, Thorsten; Lange, Doris; Wolf, Birge; Moser, Andrea (17./18.11.2020): Strengthening Impact-oriented Research, Midterm Web Event. Responsible for conception, organisation and moderation of the SynSICRIS online event, Witzenhausen.
  • Michaelis, Thorsten (11./12.09.2020): Act Fair, Transform Society! The Economy for the Common Good and social tripartism as a compass for a good life for all. Moderation of the discussions in the plenum of the symposium of the Economy for the Common Good Kassel and the Anthroposophical Centre Kassel e.V., Kassel.
  • Bahrmann, Sibylle; Prunzel-Ulrich, Eberhard; Michaelis, Thorsten; Winzer, Miriam (29.02./01.03.2020): Soil and climate protection: from humus accumulation to land grabbing. Annual conference of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft bäuerliche Landwirtschaft Niedersachsen-Bremen. Conception and moderation of parts of the event, Hermannsburg.
  • Michaelis, Thorsten; Lange, Doris; Wolf, Birge; John, Stefanie; Moser, Andrea; Seibt, Claus (26.09.2019): Evaluating projects - feedbacks - processing and providing research results. Conception and moderation of the SynSICRIS workshop, Kassel.
  • Moser, Andrea; Seibt, Claus; Wolf, Birge; Stefanie John; Michaelis, Thorsten; Lange, Doris (18.09.2019): Presentation and reflection of the SynSICRIS criteria for evaluating the potential societal impact of projects. Moderation of the SynSICRIS workshop, Kassel.
  • Michaelis, Thorsten; Wolf, Birge; Moser, Andrea; Stefanie John (04.06.2019): Use of the SynSICRIS monitoring tool on a concrete example of a research project. Conception and moderation of the SynSICRIS workshop at VDI/VDE-IT, Berlin.
  • Michaelis, Thorsten; Wolf, Birge (07.03.2019): "Science communication as a social achievement?" Contribution in Workshop: Research for and with practice and society - (also) a question of attention economy? 15th Scientific Conference on Organic Agriculture, Kassel
  • Michaelis, Thorsten; Herrmann, Farina; Klischat, Ulrich; Wolf, Birge (07.03.2019): Thinking innovatively about knowledge transfer. In: Mühlrath, Daniel; Albrecht, Joana; Finckh, Maria R.; Hamm, Ulrich; Heß, Jürgen; Knierim, Ute und Möller, Detlev (Ed.) Workshop in the context of the 15th Scientific Conference on Organic Farming, Kassel, 7 March 2019. Conception and moderation of the workshop and keynote speeches. (https://orgprints.org/id/eprint/36177/)
  • Wolf, Birge; Michaelis, Thorsten; Moser, Andrea (20.02.2019): Potential impacts in the assessment of the societal benefits of research - clarification of possibilities and limitations in the assessment and evaluation. Conception and moderation of the workshop, Bonn
  • Wolf, Birge; Michaelis, Thorsten; Moser, Andrea (19.02.2019): What can a research information system do - what does a research funder need? Conception and moderation of the workshop, Bonn
  • Michaelis, Thorsten; Wolf, Birge; Moser, Andrea (30.01.2019): Functions of the monitoring system - criteria for ex-post evaluation - requirements for the tool from project and programme management. Conception and moderation of the SynSICRIS workshop at PTJ, Berlin.
  • Michaelis, Thorsten; Wolf, Birge; Moser, Andrea (15.11.2018): External project evaluation. Conception and moderation of the SynSICRIS workshop at PT BLE, Bonn.
  • Michaelis, Thorsten; Wolf, Birge; Moser, Andrea (15.11.2018): Criteria for the evaluation of research benefits for practice and society. Conception and moderation of the SynSICRIS workshop at PT BLE, Bonn.
  • Michaelis, Thorsten; Wolf, Birge; Moser, Andrea (14.11.2018): Target groups, cooperation processes and activities. Conception and moderation of the SynSICRIS workshop at PT BLE, Bonn.
  • Michaelis, Thorsten; Wolf, Birge; Moser, Andrea (13.11.2018): Application, application possibilities and readiness levels. Conception and moderation of the SynSICRIS workshop at PT BLE, Bonn.
  • Michaelis, Thorsten; Wolf, Birge; Moser, Andrea (09.10.2018): Goals and requirements for the evaluation of research services for practice and society. Conception and moderation of the SynSICRIS workshop at PT DLR, Bonn.
  • Michaelis, Thorsten; Lange, Doris; Moser, Andrea (28.09.2018): Knowledge transfer - applicability of research results. Conception and moderation of the SynSICRIS workshop, Kassel.
  • Michaelis, Thorsten; Wolf, Birge; Moser, Andrea; Noll, Philipp (07.05.2018): Goals and requirements of the BLE for the evaluation of transfer benefits of research for practice and society - goals and benefits of SynSICRIS. Conception and moderation of the SynSICRIS workshop at PT BLE, Bonn.
  • Michaelis, Thorsten; Wolf, Birge; Moser, Andrea; Noll, Philipp (06.05.2018): BLE's objectives and requirements for the evaluation of research outputs for practice and society - objectives and benefits of SynSICRIS. Conception and moderation of the SynSICRIS workshop at PT BLE, Bonn.
  • Michaelis, Thorsten (27.04.2018): "Practice research". Moderation of a focus group discussion, Alsfeld
  • Michaelis, Thorsten (25.01.2018): "Practice Impact - Further development of incentive and reward systems in agricultural research". Meeting of the Agricultural Research Officers of the Federal Government and the States, Berlin.
  • Wolf, Birge; Michaelis, Thorsten (30.11.2017): "Societal benefit - demanded! measured? promoted?". Conception and moderation of the workshop at the Annual Conference on Science Management, Bonn.
  • Bahrmann, Sibylle; Michaelis, Thorsten; Aloji, Victor (01./02.07.2017): Creative workshop "How can we succeed in stopping farm death?". Conception and moderation of the workshop as well as impulse lectures, Luttmissen.
  • Wolf, Birge; Herrmann, Farina; Michaelis, Thorsten (09.03.2017): More voice for extension, practice and society in research assessment! Conception and moderation of the workshop and keynote speeches. 14th Scientific Conference on Organic Farming, Freising.
  • Michaelis, Thorsten (16./17.06.2016): Utilisation of functional soil biodiversity to increase sustainable food production. Conception and moderation of the DAFA workshop, Berlin.
  • Michaelis, Thorsten (23.05.2016): Food-Chain-Metabolomics. Conception and moderation of the DAFA workshop, Karlsruhe.
  • Michaelis, Thorsten (18./19.05.2016): Integration of refugees in rural areas of Germany. Conception and moderation of the DAFA workshop for the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Berlin.
  • Michaelis, Thorsten (18.04.2016): Protein - commodity market and more ... Institute for Sustainable Nutrition (iSuN), FH Münster
  • Michaelis, Thorsten (03.02.2016): Digitalisation, Big Data and Research Data Management. Conception and moderation of the DAFA workshop, Frankfurt.
  • Michaelis, Thorsten (20.10.2015): Current status of the Expert Forum on the Organic Food Sector. Members' meeting of the Association of Organic Food Producers e.V., Fulda.
  • Michaelis, Thorsten (24.06.2015): "Organic farming - Quo Vadis? A debate on the development potential and future viability of organic farming". Moderation of a debate at the University of Kassel between Prof. Dr. Urs Niggli (FiBL/University of Kassel) and Prof. Dr. Albert Sundrum (University of Kassel), Witzenhausen.
  • Hamm, Ulrich; Michaelis, Thorsten (19.03.2015): Future of research on the organic farming system from the perspective of young researchers. Conception and moderation of the workshop and keynote speeches. 13th Scientific Conference on Organic Farming, Eberswalde.
  • Michaelis, Thorsten (28.01.2015): Practice Research / On-farm Research - Methods of Cooperation. Conception and moderation of the DAFA workshop, Fulda.
  • Michaelis, Thorsten (26.01.2015): Implementing nature conservation goals through organic farming. Moderation of the panel discussion. Conference Implementing nature conservation goals through organic farming - reintroducing endangered arable wild herbs to organic fields, Witzenhausen.
  • Michaelis, Thorsten; Lange, Doris (15.10.2014): German Agricultural Research Alliance - Science, Business and Society in Dialogue. Working Group on Agriculture and Food of the SPD Parliamentary Group, Berlin.
  • Michaelis, Thorsten; Lange, Doris (22.02.2014): DAFA Livestock Strategy: "Science, business, society - working together for better animal husbandry". Bündnis 90/Die Grünen: Federal Working Group Meeting "Agriculture and Rural Development" with the Federal Working Group "Animal Welfare Policy", Berlin.
  • Michaelis, Thorsten (22.10.2013): Introduction and impulse from the DAFA research strategy "Making ecosystem services from legumes competitive". Federal Agency for Nature Conservation: Nature Conservation and Agriculture in Dialogue - Concepts for Establishing Sustainable and Diverse Legume Cultivation, Vilm.
  • Michaelis, Thorsten (15.04.2013): Research strategy for the increased use of legumes. 19th International Scientific Conference "Potentials of Plant Proteins", Institut für Getreideverarbeitung GmbH (IGV), Potsdam.
  • Michaelis, Thorsten (29.11.2012): Next steps towards a DAFA Grassland Research Strategy. BMEL Expert Discussion "Prospects for Grassland Research", Braunschweig.
  • Michaelis, Thorsten (27/28.06.2011): Use of legumes in feed. Moderation of the workshop and overall conception of the event "Legumes as a necessary building block in a sustainable German agriculture and food industry". DAFA Expert Forum Legumes, Braunschweig
  • Michaelis, Thorsten (29.04.2010): Presentation of the German Agricultural Research Alliance (DAFA) - Making agricultural research effective for practice. Knowledge through dialogue - challenges for agricultural research oriented towards sustainability, Kassel
  • Michaelis, Thorsten (20.08.2009): Groundwater protection through organic farming. Presentation for the initiative "Groundwater Protection through Organic Agriculture" of the Government of Lower Franconia (Groundwater protection action) as part of the programme for the fact-finding mission of a delegation in the framework of the GTZ project "Implementation of the Integrated Water Management Strategy in Three Pilot Catchment Areas" of the Republic of Chile in the Federal Republic of Germany, Karlstadt.
  • Eichert, Christian; Niessen, Jan; Michaelis, Thorsten (11.05.2009): NextOrganic - Making value discussion in the organic sector useful. Market and Consumer Working Group of the Association of Organic Food Producers e.V.. (AoeL), Fulda
  • Michaelis, Thorsten (06.10.2005): Nature conservation aspects in the research management of the Federal Organic Farming Scheme. Conference "Individual farm nature conservation advice - a recipe for success for more nature conservation in agriculture", Witzenhausen
  • Boland, Hermann; Michaelis, Thorsten (21.07.2003): "System Constellations in agriculture - impact analysis", Witzenhausen
  • Michaelis, Thorsten (19.02.2003): "Methodology of guiding conversations in extension services". Leading a seminar for students of oenology at the University of Applied Sciences Wädenswil (CH)
  • Boland, Hermann; Michaelis, Thorsten (18.06.2002): "The way to a commercial bank for the Wetterau region - development of Wetterauer Volksbank eG". Presentation of results at the representatives' meeting of Wetterauer Volksbank eG, Friedberg.
  • Michaelis, Thorsten (21-25.01.2002): "Human Communication and Conversation". Conducting a seminar in the qualification course "Eastern Europe Manager" for the Institute for Social and Cultural Research, Duisburg.
  • Boland, Hermann; Michaelis, Thorsten (26./27.06.2000): "Methodology of Extension Services". Chair and moderator of a seminar of the Academy of German Cooperatives (ADG) in the context of the business management seminar for advisers of the associations, Münster
  • Michaelis, Thorsten (15./16.06.1999): "New possibilities of EDP for the preparation and follow-up of moderated events". Co-moderation of the seminar together with Volker Hoffmann and Angelika Thomas (University of Hohenheim) according to the Teacher and Extension Service Training Plan of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (Vienna), Linz (A)

  • Wolf, Birge; Michaelis, Thorsten; Becker, Pascal-Nikolas; Digilio, Giuseppe and Bollini, Andrea (2024): Fostering and assessing societal impact orientation in research - the SynSICRIS monitoring tool as an extension of DSpace-CRIS 7. 16th International Conference on Current Research Information Systems (submitted)

  • Wolf, Birge; Michaelis, Thorsten; Lange, Doris (2023): Gesellschaftliche Wirkung fördern und erfassbar machen. Monitoring und Evaluierung von Forschungsprojekten. (Promoting societal impact and making it measurable. Monitoring and evaluation of research projects.) In: Transfer & Innovation. Wissenschaft wirksam machen 1/2023, DUZ, Berlin, pp. 87-99 (PDF of the Article - german)

  • Michaelis, Thorsten; König, Bettina; Hobelsberger, Christine; Göttert, Thomas; Nölting, Benjamin (2023): Transformationshemmnisse für nachhaltigere Ernährungssysteme - neue oder alte Bekannte des Ökolandbaus? In: Bibic, Vanessa; Schmidtke, Knut (Hrsg.): One Step Ahead - einen Schritt voraus! Beiträge zur 16. Wissenschaftstagung Ökologischer Landbau, Frick, 7. bis 10. März 2023, Verlag Dr. Köster, pp. 622-623 (Article extended with results)

  • Risius, Antje; Niemann, Henning und Michaelis, Thorsten (2023) Was schafft v(V)ertrauen? Schulung einmal anders. In: Bibic, Vanessa; Schmidtke, Knut (Hrsg.): One Step Ahead - einen Schritt voraus! Beiträge zur 16. Wissenschaftstagung Ökologischer Landbau, Frick, 7. bis 10. März 2023, Verlag Dr. Köster

  • Wolf, Birge Michaela; Lange, Doris; Michaelis, Thorsten; Moser, Andrea; John, Stefanie; Abecker, Andreas; Lossow, Stefan; Hahne, Lucia; Bollini, Andrea; Digilio, Giuseppe; Mornati, Susanna (2021): Introduce Impact-Pathways in a CRIS - support societal impact orientation in research projects and funding processes, The 16th International Conference on Open Repositories, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10730819

  • Isselstein, Johannes; Michaelis, Thorsten et.al. (2016): Innovative use of grassland for resource protection - Research strategy of the German Agricultural Research Alliance (DAFA), The Grassland Expert Forum, Braunschweig (DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4126/FRL01-006404452)
  • Michaelis, Thorsten; Hamm, Ulrich; Lange, Stefan; Rahmann, Gerold; Isermeyer, Folkhard (2015): Forschungsstrategie nimmt Gestalt an. In: Ökologie & Landbau, H. 3, S. 44-45. oekom, München
  • Michaelis, Thorsten (2013): Forschung und Praxis verzahnen. Interview zur DAFA-Forschungsstrategie und zur Eiweißpflanzenstrategie des BMEL. In: Deutsche Vernetzungsstelle Ländliche Räume, LandInForm 4/2013, Dezember, S. 49
  • Wiggering, Hubert; Jungbluth, Thomas; Braun, Jürgen; Götz, Kay-Uwe; Daniel, Hannelore; Isermeyer, Folkhard; Michaelis, Thorsten; Lange. Doris (2013): Agrarforschung – zwischen bewerten und verwerten. Impulspapier der DAFA (Stand 29.04.2013)
  • Wehling, Peter; Finckh, Maria; Heß, Jürgen; Michaelis, Thorsten; Wiggering, Hubert et.al. (2012): Science, economy, society - Making ecosystem services from legumes competitive - Research strategy of the German Agricultural Research Alliance (DAFA), The Legumes Expert Forum, Braunschweig
  • Michaelis, Thorsten (2010): Neue Kooperation in der Agrarforschung? Interview, Bauernzeitung 18/2010
  • Michaelis, Thorsten (2007): Unterstützung des Ökologischen Landbaus – Einordnung der Ergebnisse und Handlungsstrategien. In: Nölting, Benjamin; Schäfer, Martina (Hrsg.): Vom Acker auf den Teller – Impulse der Agrar- und Ernährungsforschung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung, S. 159-164, oekom, München
  • Boland, Hermann; Michaelis, Thorsten (2006): Jenseits des Rubikon? Der mögliche Beitrag von Systemaufstellungen zur Beratungsarbeit in der Landwirtschaft. In: Berichte über Landwirtschaft, Bd. 84, H. 2, August 2006, S. 264-288, Kohlhammer, Stuttgart
  • Wesseler, Matthias; Fink-Keßler, Andrea; Boland, Hermann; Michaelis, Thorsten; Göbel, Ingrid (2003): Systemaufstellungen als innovatives Beratungsinstrument im ökologischen Landbau. Forschungsbericht. Institut für soziokulturelle Studien, Fachbereich Ökologische Agrarwissenschaften der Universität Kassel und Büro für Agrar- und Regionalentwicklung, Kassel und Institut für Agrarsoziologie und Beratungswesen der Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen (http://orgprints.org/1936/)
  • Boland, Hermann; Grunzke, Beate; Michaelis, Thorsten (2001): Der Weg zur Geschäftsbank für die Region Wetterau – Entwicklung der Wetterauer Volksbank eG anhand vorhandener Unterlagen und Aussagen von Zeitzeugen. Forschungsbericht, Gießen
  • Boland, Hermann; Eckert, Sabine; Michaelis, Thorsten (1999): Die Raiffeisen-Warenzentrale Kurhessen-Thüringen GmbH im Spiegel der Besucher einer Landtechnikausstellung in Hünfeld, 1999. Forschungsbericht, Gießen
  • Boland, Hermann; Michaelis, Thorsten (Hrsg.) (1999): Herausforderungen an das Management von Agrargenossenschaften – Mitarbeiterführung und Erfolgssicherung. Schriftenreihe „Ländliches Genossenschaftswesen“ des Instituts für ländliches Genossenschaftswesen an der Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, H. 45, Wiss. Fachverlag Dr. Fleck, Niederkleen
  • Michaelis, Thorsten (1998): PRA-Anwendung im deutschsprachigen Raum. In: Boland, H., Schwarte, J., Stahr, K. (Hrsg.), Partizipative Konzepte in der ländlichen Entwicklung, Zentrum für regionale Entwicklungsforschung der JLU Gießen, Materialien Bd. 44, Gießen
  • Michaelis, Thorsten (1996): Ist Öffentlichkeitsarbeit in der Landwirtschaft machbar? In: bio-land – Fachzeitschrift für ökologischen Landbau, H. 6, Dezember 1996, S. 26, Bioland-Verlag, Göppingen

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