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Roger Keller
Roger Keller, Dr.
Senior scientist

Space, Nature and Society

Tel.: 044 63 51769
Room number: Y25 L 22
roger.keller@geo.uzh.ch
Website

Expertise

I work at the interface of research, society and policy. Complex projects and transdisciplinary collaboration inspire me, especially in teams with diverse disciplinary and linguistic perspectives. My aim is to produce results that are relevant for policy and practice and that have an impact. To do so, I rely on close cooperation with my broad network in science, administration, politics, civil society and business – transparent, trusting and on an equal footing.

Science-practice interface

UZH translational biodiversity hub (in development)

I am leading the development of a new translational biodiversity hub at the University of Zurich. It aims to strengthen the university's capacity to support evidence-based decision processes in biodiversity, by enabling structured translation between scientific knowledge and societal decision contexts – while safeguarding academic independence and scientific integrity.

Project duration: since December 2025
My role: leading the development of the new hub

SCNAT Platform Science and Policy

The SCNAT Platform Science and Policy (SAP) works on urgent societal challenges through topic-based, inter- and transdisciplinary working groups that bring science and society into solution-oriented dialogue.

I initiated and lead the development of the Research Impact Navigator, an easy-to-use web tool that helps research teams find suitable methods to evaluate the impacts of their research beyond academia. Users answer a few questions about their project and evaluation needs and receive suggestions for potentially suitable methods, each with a description, guidance on application, examples and further sources. The tool does not evaluate projects itself. The idea grew out of ValPar.CH, where we realised that nobody knew the long-term impact of the project or how to evaluate it; my project proposal was then selected by the jury. The tool is developed with two colleagues and an advisory group from Swiss research and funding organisations.

Project duration: January to December 2026
My role: initiator and project manager

SCNAT Forum Landscape, Alps, Parks (FoLAP)

FoLAP is the national inter- and transdisciplinary network that promotes knowledge and discourse about landscape and landscape-changing processes.

As a member of the FoLAP plenary, I stepped in to cover the management on an interim basis. In that role I managed the working group on landscape and education and established a foresight process together with the Swiss Biodiversity Forum and the cantonal offices for nature and landscape in Switzerland. I also led the publication of the policy brief on landscape and climate change ("Shaping Switzerland in the face of climate change"). I am now a regular member of the plenary again.

Project duration: April 2025 to September 2026
My role: project manager; plenary member before and after

Transdisciplinarity / transformative change

Transdisciplinary collaboration – linking knowledge inside and outside academia – is at the centre of my work. Besides doing transdisciplinary work in practice, I also research the challenges and opportunities of transdisciplinary collaboration and its potential for transformative change.

  • In the research project "Empowering Policy Relevance" (2022-2023), we used surveys and interviews to identify key success factors for effective transdisciplinary collaboration aimed at transformative change, and turned them into recommendations.
  • In the research project "ValPar.CH" (2020-2025), we developed a "Theory of Change" that shows the intended changes resulting from the project's outputs.

ValPar.CH: Natures values and services in Switzerland

In ValPar.CH, an interdisciplinary research team from five universities studied the values of nature from ecological, social and economic perspectives, commissioned by the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) within the Action Plan of the Swiss Biodiversity Strategy. Main outputs:

  • The practice navigator makes the research findings accessible from a practical perspective, for planning, governance and communication from federal to municipal level. Users start from practice-relevant questions, filter by keywords, and find the original publications and the researchers' contact details, so that science and practice can connect directly.

  • The synthesis report "Vielfältige Werte der Natur" (Diverse values of nature) (in German, French) contains not only practice-relevant research results but also recommendations for different stakeholders.

  • All information and publications: www.ValPar.CH

Project duration: 2020-2025
My role: project coordinator, member of the project management and of the steering group

Landscape knowledge for schools (Landschaftswissen): translating research for a broad public

Together with the University of Lausanne, with the teacher-training universities of Zurich and Lausanne and other partners, we translate landscape research into material that teachers and children can use directly. "Landschaftswissen in Kürze" (landscape knowledge in brief) combines a knowledge platform with a brochure and a picture book, in German and French, and shows how research findings can reach a broad public through schools.

  • A new knowledge platform (available in German and French) collects knowledge on the topic of landscape for schools.
  • A brochure "Landscape knowledge in brief: information for teachers" (available in German and French) informs teachers about subject-related connections relevant to the curriculum and shows how landscapes shape our quality of life today and in the future.
  • The picture book "I discover landscapes" (available in German and French), 2023, with teaching and learning materials for ages 9–12, raises awareness of landscape as a common good and encourages children to perceive landscapes in many ways and to help shape them.

Project duration: 2019-2023 (several projects)
My role: project lead, project coordination, member of the scientific advisory group

Ecosystem and Landscape Services

Landscape services

Across several projects, together with the University of Lausanne, we developed a cyclical model that shows how identifying landscape services can strengthen landscape quality. Main outputs:

Project duration: 2016-2022 (several sub-projects)
My role: project lead, senior scientist

Landscape services and "Baukultur"

In the NRP 81 project "QUALISCAPES", we assess tipping points in the qualities of Baukultur (building culture) that shape the sense of place while fostering active public participation in Baukultur.

Project duration: 2025-2028 (my involvement: 2025-2026)
My role: co-lead of the work package on landscape perception

Ecosystem services (doctoral thesis 2016)

The thesis uses the ecosystem services concept to set out from which perspectives nature and landscape can be assessed. Expert surveys show where the opportunities and risks of applying the concept lie, with a focus on Swiss biodiversity, landscape and agricultural policy. Practical examples and a comparison with international developments complete the overview. The recommendations address readers from science, politics, civil society and business.

  • Book Ökosystemleistungen in der Schweiz: Chancen, Risiken und Nebenwirkungen bei der praktischen Anwendung (Ecosystem services in Switzerland: opportunities, risks and side effects in practical application)

Doctoral project 2012-2016

Editorial, review and network roles

Talks and publications

2026

Values in environmental policy and practice: Experiences from ValPar.CH. UZH Block course EEE340: From Values to Arguments, 28.10.2026.

Fostering Reflexivity on Roles of Scientists in Societal Transformations: A Conceptual and Institutional Approach by the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT). World Biodiversity Forum, Davos, 17.06.2026 

Leading Transformation together: What are concrete action steps after WBF? World Biodiversity Forum, Davos. 16.06.2026

From Concept to Practice: Co-producing an Online Knowledge Platform to Integrate Relational Values into Biodiversity Planning and Governance in Switzerland. World Biodiversity Forum, Davos. 15.06.2026

Landschaftsleistungen in Siedlungslandschaften. Fachtagung "Landschaft für Alle - vielfältige Freiräume in Siedlungslandschaften". 12.06.2026

What are Landscapes and Landscape Services? Master's Course in MSc in Life Sciences – Regional Management in Mountain Areas (the Alpine Master’s). 11.05.2026

Assessing nature's values and services: Learnings from a transdisciplinary project. IED Seminar ETHZ. 07.04.2026

The ValPar.CH project: Learnings from an inter- and transdisciplinary research project (with Gretchen Walters and Antoine Guisan). Master programme in Transdisciplinary Studies on Climate, Energy and Environment (TRACEE), 02.03.2026

Workshop 'Werte und Wahrnehmungen von Biodiversität' (mit Claudia Keller). SWIFCOB 26 Zukunft Biodiversität Schweiz. 23.01.2026

ValPar.CH: Werte und Leistungen der Natur. Netzwerk Schweizer Pärke: Erfahrungsaustausch Forschung-Praxis, 20.01.2026

2025

ValPar.CH: Werte und Leistungen der Ökologischen Infrastruktur. Gastvortrag im Modul "Landschaft und Gesellschaft" an der OST Ostschweizer Fachhochschule, 02.12.2025

Values in environmental policy and practice: Experiences from ValPar.CH. UZH Block course EEE340: From Values to Arguments, 28.10.2025

Leistungen von Landschaften fassbar machen. Ein Konzept für die Praxis. Plenumsveranstaltung Forum Landschaft, Alpen, Pärke, 24.06.2025

Research on "nature's values": Experiences at the science-policy-interface. Franxini Politics Course for Researchers at SNSF, 16.06.2025

Werte und Leistungen von Natur und Landschaft. Naturwissenschaftliche Gesellschaft Winterthur, 17.01.2025

2024

The ValPar.CH project: Assessing values and services of nature in Switzerland. Capacity Building Workshop on Effective Science-Policy-Collaboration in Biodiversity Management, 20.-21.11.2024

Research on landscape services: Potential for policy and practice? Keynote at Young Landscape Research, 13.11.2024

ValPar.CH: Werte und Leistungen der Ökologischen Infrastruktur. Gastvortrag im Modul "Landschaft und Gesellschaft" an der OST Ostschweizer Fachhochschule, 05.11.2024

Communiquer les valeurs ajoutées par la nature et le paysage et les intégrer dans la pratique (avec Johann Dupuis). 4e Congrès Suisse du paysage, 05.-06.09.2024

Mehrwerte von Natur und Landschaft erfassen und in Pärken in-wertsetzen (zusammen mit Erica Baumann). 4. Schweizer Landschaftskongress, 05.-06.09.2024

Landschaftseingriffe & kantonale Landschaftskonzeptionen: Chancen eines jungen Instruments (zusammen mit Enrico Celio und Sven-Erik Rabe). 4. Schweizer Landschaftskongress, 05.-06.09.2024

Combining social, economic and ecological viewpoints in nature's contribution to people (NCP) assessments (together with Emmanuel Reynard). Session at the World Biodiversity Forum Davos, 16.-21.06.2024

Gibt es "Natur" im Irchelpark? (mit Anna Deplazes Zemp und Norman Backhaus). Spaziergang am Science and Nature Festival 2024, 08.06.2024

Landscape and biodiversity value in Switzerland - insights from the interdisciplinary research project ValPar.CH (together with Annina Michel and Antoine Adde). WSL Biodiversity Seminar Series, 13.03.2024 

2023

ValPar.CH: Relevante Erkenntnisse, Instrumente und Szenarien für die Kantone (zusammen mit Johann Dupuis, Adrienne Grêt-Regamey, Antoine Guisan, Anthony Lehmann und Urs Steiger). N+L-Plattform KBNL, 22.11.2023

ValPar.CH: Werte der Ökologischen Infrastruktur in Schweizer Pärken: Werkstattbericht. Gastvortrag im Modul "Landschaft und Gesellschaft" an der OST Ostschweizer Fachhochschule, 07.11.2023

Ökologische Infrastruktur als Chance für Biodiversität und Lebensqualität: Erkenntnisse für Monitoring und Praxis aus dem Forschungsprojekt ValPar.CH (zusammen mit Emmanuel Reynard). Tagung Parkforschung, 12.09.2023

Science-policy-interface: Experiences from the ongoing ValPar.CH project on the added value of an Ecological Infrastructure in Switzerland (together with Johann Dupuis). Monte Verità: Biodiversity Convention - From Science to Implementation, 27.06.2023

Biodiversität - die Sicht von Bevölkerung und Wirtschaft (zusammen mit Emmanuel Reynard, Oliver Schelske, Eva Spehn, Anna Stünzi, Anthony Lehmann und Markus Fischer). Science et Politique à table, 31.05.2023

2022

Teilnahme am politischen und öffentlichen Diskurs: Erfahrungsberichte aus dem Themenbereich "Biodiversität/Landschaft". Franxini Boot Camp, 23.11.2022

The ValPar.CH project: Assessing the added value of ecological infrastructure in Swiss Parks. UNIGE: Green talks, 06.10.2022

2021

ValPar.CH: Werte der Ökologischen Infrastruktur in Schweizer Pärken. BAFU-Tagung Natur und Landschaft, 11.11.2021

ValPar.CH: Values of the Ecological Infrastructure in Swiss Parks. LUIGI - EUSALP mid-term event, 06.10.2021

ValPar.CH: Werte der Ökologischen Infrastruktur in Schweizer Pärken. KBNL-Herbsttagung, 16.09.2021

Policy Briefs / Recommendations for practitioners

Keller, Roger; Tobias, Silvia; Siegrist, Dominik; Urbach, Davnah; Käufeler, Bruno; Aschwanden, Romed; Grêt-Regamey, Adrienne, Wäger, Philippe, Steiger, Urs (2026). Shaping Switzerland in the face of climate change. Preserving landscape services for people and the environment. Bern: Swiss Academies Factsheets 21 (1).

Keller, Roger; Steiger, Urs; Reynard, Emmanuel; Grêt-Regamey, Adrienne; ValPar.CH-Team (2025). Vielfältige Werte der Natur. Erkenntnisse aus einem Forschungsprojekt des Aktionsplans Strategie Biodiversität Schweiz. Bern: Bundesamt für Umwelt BAFU.

Steiger, Urs; Keller, Roger; Reynard, Emmanuel; Grêt-Regamey, Adrienne (2024). Nature's values and services in Switzerland. Management summary of the inter- and transdisciplinary research project ValPar.CH. Zürich: ValPar.CH.

Keller, Roger; Clivaz, Mélanie; Backhaus, Norman; Reynard, Emmanuel; Lehmann, Peter; Schüpbach, Ursula (2022). Making landscape services tangible. Swiss Academies Factsheet, 17(1):1-7.

Keller, Roger; Huser, Karin; Breitenmoser, Petra; Backhaus, Norman (2021). Landschaftswissen in Kürze. Informationen für Lehrpersonen. Zürich: Universität Zürich.

Keller, Roger; Clivaz, Mélanie; Backhaus, Norman; Reynard, Emmanuel (2019). Landschaftsleistungen in Landschaften von nationaler Bedeutung. Forschungsbericht mit Handlungsempfehlungen für Bund, Kantone, Gemeinden, NGOs und Bewirtschaftende. Im Auftrag des Bundesamts für Umwelt BAFU. Zürich und Lausanne: Universität Zürich und Université de Lausanne.

Keller, Roger; Backhaus, Norman (2017). Landschaft zwischen Wertschätzung und Wertschöpfung - wie sich zentrale Landschaftsleistungen stärker in Politik und Praxis verankern lassen. Zürich: Universität Zürich.

Scientific articles

Lahm, Dechen; Janz, Jeannine; Zuppinger-Dingley, Debra; Rann Andriamahefazafy, Mialy; Brosse, Morgane; Richman, Sarah; Rizzolio, Diana; Bolli, Cedric; Spehn, Eva; Weber, Felix; Guntern, Jodok; Guyer, Lukas; Keller, Roger; Fontana, Simone; Thrippleton, Thimothy; Wang, Zhanyuan; Fischer, Manuel (2026). Empowering early-career researchers for science-policy engagement in biodiversity conservation. Sustainability: Science, Practice and Policy.

Gubler, Stefanie; Keller, Roger; Abderhalden, Angelika; Feichtinger, Linda M.; Rempfler, Thomas; Aeschbacher, Simon (2026). Landscape evaluation - insights from the Research Symposium SNP+ 2025. eco.mont, 18(1):64-69.

Otero, Iago; Keller, Roger; Deplazes-Zemp, Anna; Reynard, Emmanuel (2025). Exploring the personal sphere of transformative change in researchers and stakeholders working on nature. Ecosystems and People, 21(1):2436374.

Otero, Iago; Keller, Roger; Reynard, Emmanuel; Cracco, Marina; D'Agostino, Alix; Schlaepfer, Martin A; Honeck, Erica C; Pfund, Jean-Laurent; Guntern, Jodok; Komossa, Franziska; Purves, Ross S; Lehmann, Bernard; Klein, Noëlle; Grêt-Regamey, Adrienne (2024). How can pluralist nature valuation impact Switzerland's biodiversity? Insights from the ValPar.CH project. ValPar.CH – Values of the Ecological Infrastructure in Swiss Parks, University of Zurich.

Deutsch, Sierra; Keller, Roger; Krug, Cornelia Bettina; Michel, Annina Helena (2023). Transdisciplinary transformative change: an analysis of some best practices and barriers, and the potential of critical social science in getting us there. Biodiversity and Conservation, 32(11):3569-3594.

Huser, Karin; Keller, Roger (2023). Promoting sustainable landscape development in universities and schools. An implementation example in the primary education program. Progress in Science Education (PriSE), 6(3):36-51.

Reynard, Emmanuel; Grêt-Regamey, Adrienne; Keller, Roger (2021). The ValPar.CH project – Assessing the added value of ecological infrastructure in Swiss Parks. Eco.mont, 13(2):64-68.

Grêt-Regamey, Adrienne; Rabe, Sven-Erik; Keller, Roger; Cracco, Marina; Guntern, Jodok; Dupuis, Johann (2021). Operationalization of a Functioning Ecological Infrastructure. ValPar.CH – Values of the Ecological Infrastructure in Swiss Parks 1.2021, University of Zurich.

Reynard, Emmanuel; Clivaz, Mélanie; Keller, Roger; Backhaus, Norman (2021). L’approche par les prestations paysagères, un cadre analytique et un outil de gestion des géopatrimoines à forte composante paysagère. Geo-Regards, 14:35-53.

Keller, Roger; Backhaus, Norman (2020). Integrating landscape services into policy and practice – a case study from Switzerland. Landscape Research, 45(1):111-122.

Keller, Roger; Clivaz, Mélanie; Reynard, Emmanuel; Backhaus, Norman (2019). Increasing landscape appreciation through the landscape services approach. A case study from Switzerland. Sustainability, 11(20):5826.

Keller, Roger; Keune, Hans; Maynard, Simone (2018). Where do IPBES delegates in Europe see challenges, needs, gaps and opportunities in policy uptake of “Nature’s contributions to people”? Innovation: The European Journal of Social Science Research, 31(sup1):S116-S124.

Practice oriented publications

Keller, Roger (2026). Klimawandel trifft Landschaft: Handlungswissen aus Praxis und Forschung. N+L Inside, 26(2):33-34.

Richman S, Gnägi J, Widmer A, Camichel A, Lieberherr E, Pärli R, Ammann J, Baumann E, Berger S, Bühler C, Dajcar N, Donati G, Finkenbrink B, Fischer C, Fischer M, Fontana S, Gimmi U, Guntern J, Indermühle N, Käch H, Keller D, Keller R, Klein N, Landolt J, Marti F, Oehri J, Rutishauser E, Salminen J, Schmidt B, Wegscheider B, Widmer I, Wüest Karpati R (2026) Ein Datensatz und Toolkit zur Verbesserung der Lebensraumvernetzung. Synthesezentrum Biodiversität. doi.org/10.3929/ethz-c-000782986.

Richman S, Camichel A, Lieberherr E, Pärli R, Widmer A, Ammann J, Baumann E, Berger S, Bühler C, Dajcar N, Donati G, Finkenbrink B, Fischer C, Fischer M, Fontana S, Gimmi U, Guntern J, Indermühle N, Käch H, Keller D, Keller R, Klein N, Landolt J, Marti F, Oehri J, Rutishauser E, Salminen J, Schmidt B, Wegscheider B, Widmer I, Wüest Karpati R, (2026) Funktionale Vernetzung von Lebensräumen: Eine konsolidierte Wissensbasis für die Schweiz. Synthesezentrum Biodiversität. doi.org/10.3929/ethz-c-000782984.

Camichel A, Haller S, Richman S, Pärli R, Widmer A, Ammann J, Baumann E, Berger S, Bühler C, Dajcar N, Donati G, Finkenbrink B, Fischer C, Fischer M, Fontana S, Gimmi U, Indermühle N, Käch H, Keller D, Keller R, Klein N, Landolt J, Lichtenthäler G, Marti F, Oehri J, Rutishauser E, Salminen J, Schmidt B, Schwab Cammarano S, Wegscheider B, Widmer I, Wüest Karpati R, Lieberherr E (2025) Ökologische Infrastruktur umsetzen: die Rolle der sektorübergreifenden Koordination. Synthesezentrum Biodiversität. doi.org/10.3929/ethz-c-000783037.

Camichel A, Richman S, Pärli R, Widmer A, Ammann J, Baumann E, Berger S, Bühler C, Dajcar N, Donati G, Finkenbrink B, Fischer C, Fischer M, Fontana S, Gimmi U, Indermühle N, Käch H, Keller D, Keller R, Klein N, Landolt J, Lichtenthäler G, Marti F, Oehri J, Rutishauser E, Salminen J, Schmidt B, Schwab Cammarano S, Wegscheider B, Widmer I, Wüest Karpati R, Lieberherr E (2025) Übersicht relevanter Policy-Aspekte für die sektorübergreifende Umsetzung der Ökologischen Infrastruktur. Synthesezentrum Biodiversität. doi.org/10.3929/ethz-c-000783033.

Grêt-Regamey, Adrienne; Reynard, Emmanuel; Keller, Roger; Steiger, Urs (2024). Die Dynamik von Biodiversität und Ökosystemleistungen berücksichtigen. Hotspot, 50:34-36.

Keller, Roger (2022). Den konstruktiven Dialog über Landschaftsqualitäten fördern. N+L Inside, 22(2):47-48.

Keller, Roger (2021). Landschaften mit Wirkung auf Gesundheit und Wohlbefinden. Die Schweizer Gemeinde, 7/8:53-55.

Keller, Roger (2021). Landschaften kennen und wertschätzen lernen. Zürcher Umweltpraxis (ZUP), 99:25-26.

Keller, Roger; Huser, Karin (2021). Landschaftswissen kompakt und zielgruppengerecht vermitteln. N+L Inside, 1:44-45.

Keller, Roger; Clivaz, Mélanie; Backhaus, Norman; Reynard, Emmanuel; Künzler, Matthias; Clavien, Yann (2021). Landschaftsleistungen in die Praxis umsetzen: Erkenntnisse eines angewandten Forschungsprojekts. N+L Inside, 21(1):29-33.

Huser, Karin; Breitenmoser, Petra; Backhaus, Norman; Keller, Roger (2020). «Landschaften» ein bedeutsames Thema für alle Schulstufen. GeoAgenda, 4:28-31.

Keller, Roger; Clivaz, Mélanie; Backhaus, Norman; Reynard, Emmanuel (2019). Wertschätzung für Landschaftsleistungen steigern: Erkenntnisse eines Forschungsprojekts. N+L Inside, 19(1):25-29.

Keller, Roger; Backhaus, Norman (2018). Zentrale Landschaftsleistungen erkennen und in Politik und Praxis stärken: Erkenntnisse eines transdisziplinären Forschungsprojekts in der Schweiz. Naturschutz und Landschaftsplanung, 50(3):84-89.

Keller, Roger; Backhaus, Norman (2017). Warum die Landschaft uns teuer sein muss: Zwischen Wertschätzung und Wertschöpfung. In: Neue Zürcher Zeitung, 277, 28 November 2017, p.10.

Keller, Roger; Backhaus, Norman (2017). Landschaft zwischen Wertschätzung und Wertschöpfung: Erkenntnisse eines transdisziplinären Forschungsprojekts. N+L Inside, 17(4):32-36.

Keller, Roger; Schweppe-Kraft, Burkhard; Schwarzl, Bernhard (2014). Perspektiven des Ökosystemleistungsansatzes – Ergebnisse aus Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz. Natur und Landschaft, 89(3):124-125.

Keller, Roger; Backhaus, Norman (2014). Blicke auf die Landschaft. Anthos, (4):41-43.

Keller, Roger (2014). Ökosystemleistungen im Praxistest: Risiken und Nebenwirkungen bei der Anwendung. Hotspot, (30):10-11.

Books / book chapters

Huser, Karin; Pache, Alain; Thomasius, Angela; Keller, Roger; Bijotat, Claire; Mignot, Renaud (2023). Ich entdecke Landschaften. Herzogenbuchsee: Ingold Verlag.

Keune, Hans; Immovilli, Marco; Keller, Roger; Maynard, Simone; McElwee, Pamela; Molnár, Zsolt; Olsson, Gunilla A; Payyappallimana, Unnikrishnan; Schneiders, Anik; Schoolenberg, Machteld; Subramanian, Suneetha M; Van Reeth, Wouter (2022). Defining nature. In: Visseren-Hamakers, Ingrid J; Kok, Marcel T J. Transforming Biodiversity Governance. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 25-42.

Keller, Roger; Backhaus, Norman (2021). Wie fördern Landschaften das Wohlbefinden der Menschen? Erkenntnisse transdisziplinärer Forschungsprojekte aus der Schweiz. In: Walsh, Cormac; Kangler, Gisela; Schaffert, Markus. Landschaftsbilder und Landschaftsverständnisse in Politik und Praxis. Wiesbaden: Springer, 141-157.

Keller, Roger (2016). Ökosystemleistungen in der Schweiz: Chancen, Risiken und Nebenwirkungen bei der praktischen Anwendung. Bern: Haupt Verlag.

CV