M. A. Lea Melissa Becker
Research Associate
© RIFS@GFZ/Nadine Stenzel
Phone
Lea Melissa Becker joined RIFS as a research associate in October 2024. The political scientist is interested in the intersection of democracy and sustainability, and how they support and enable each other. Since 2025, she has been pursuing her PhD at the University of Münster, investigating the transformative potential of strategic climate litigation. Her approach combines political theory with transdisciplinary methods. She completed her studies in International and European Governance at Sciences Po Lille and the University of Münster, focusing on democratic theory, socio-ecological transformation, and justice.
Working title of the dissertation: Legal Contestation at the Intersection of Democracy and Sustainability – A Means of Advancing a Socio-Ecological Transformation?
First supervisor: Prof. Doris Fuchs, PhD; second supervisor: Prof. Dr. Svenja Ahlhaus
Groups
Blog Posts
- “Pessimism of the Mind, Optimism of the Will” – On the Interplay Between Democracy and Sustainability
- Dispelling the Myth: Making the Case for Ambitious Sustainable Consumption Policies
- Achieving 1.5°C lifestyles: why systemic change must accompany individual action
- Bringing Climate Research and Public Administration Together – How Local Government and Science Are Cooperating to Protect the Climate
- since 2025: PhD Candidate, University of Münster
- since 2024: Research Associate, RIFS
- 2023: Summer School "PPE: Climate Change, Politics, and Environmental Justice", University of Oxford
- 2023-24: Lecturer for a student-led seminar on the good life for all, University of Münster
- 2022-23: Student Research Assistant, University of Münster/RIFS
- 2022: Internship, Laboratoire de changement social et politique Paris
- 2019-24: B.A. & M.A. "International and European Governance", University of Münster & Sciences Po Lille
- Legal contestation and strategic climate litigation
- Socio-ecological transformation
- Deliberative democratic theory
- The good life for all
- Sustainable consumption
Publications at the RIFS
Selected Publications prior to joining the RIFS
Becker, Lea; Fuchs, Doris (2023): Freiheit, ja - aber welche? Zum Verhältnis zwischen Freiheit, Gerechtigkeit und einem guten Leben. Amosinternational 17/3. S. 14-20.
- Becker, L.M. (2026): Science Slam: Strategische Klimaklagen - ein Instrument Sozial-Ökologischer Transformation?. Demokratie-Aktionstag, Let's Talk about Science, Inselbühne Potsdam, 15 September.
- Becker, L.M. (2026): Lecture: SDG 12: Sustainable Consumption and Production. Sustainable Development Academy 2026, University of Potsdam, 07 July.
- Becker, L.M. (2026): Lecture: Zum Spannungsfeld von Demokratie und Nachhaltigkeit. Ringvorlesung "Nachhaltige Entwicklung, Goethe University Frankfurt, 02 June 2026.
- Becker, L.M. (2026): Paper Presentation: Transformation Underlabouring. Workshop: "Modes of Researching at the Intersection of Climate and Democracy", University of Amsterdam, 28 May.
- Becker, L.M. (2026): Paper Presentation: Political Theory in a Socio-Ecological Transformation" at Workshop "Debating Climate Litigation: Between Theory and Practice", Erasmus School of Philosophy, Rotterdam, 28 January.
- Becker, L.M. (2025). Paper Presentation: Pursuing the Transformation Towards 1.5° Societies in Times of Polarisation. The Politics of Limits: Sustainability and Democracy in Times of Changing Climates, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, 8–9 December.
- Becker, L.M.; Berker, L.E. (2025). Panel: Root Causes and Remedies: Exploring Interrelations Between the Crises of Democracy and Sustainability. RIFS Conference 2025 "Tough Conversations in Tough Times", Berlin, 3–5 December.
- Gumbert, T.; Becker, L.M. (2025). Paper Presentation: Green Republicanism and the Sustainable State. Steps towards Democratising Sustainable Lifestyle Governance. RIFS Conference 2025 "Tough Conversations in Tough Times", Berlin, 3–5 December.
- Becker, L.M. (2025). Paper Presentation: Pursuing the Transformation Towards 1.5° Societies in Times of Polarisation. RIFS Conference 2025 "Tough Conversations in Tough Times", Berlin, 3–5 December.
- Becker, L.M. (2025). Presentation: The Role of Democracy for a Good Life for All. RIFS Conference 2025 "Tough Conversations in Tough Times", Berlin, 3–5 December.
- Becker, L.M. (2025). Science Slam: Strategische Klimaklagen - ein Instrument Sozial-Ökologischer Transformation?. Waschhaus Potsdam, 12 November.
- Becker, L.M. (2025). Lecture: Demokratie und Nachhaltigkeit als Schlüssel zum Guten Leben für Alle. Gesellschaftspolitisches Seminar der Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Leipzig, 12 September.
- Becker, L.M. (2025). Lecture: Wie kommen wir zu 1.5° Lebensstilen? – Strategien und Ansätze für eine klimagerechte Gesellschaft. Ringvorlesung zum Klimaschutz, TU Berlin for Future, 19 March.
- Becker, L.M.; Berendt, P.J. (2025). Paper Presentation: Realising Sufficiency Policies: Examining political responsibilities for reducing aviation within the structure-agency nexus. SCORAI Europe Conference 2025, Lund, 8–10 April.
- Becker, L. (2025). Talk: Politische Lösungen zur Unterstützung von 1,5°-Lebensstilen. EU 1.5° Lifestyles Multi-Stakeholder-Workshop, Berlin, 29 January.