Urban Art
& Green

Helmut Leder is professor holds a chair in Empirical Visual Aesthetics (of General Psychology) at the University of Vienna where in 2004 he founded the research focus in Empirical Aesthetics, in which human aesthetic experiences are studied, regarding a variety of objects, and contexts, from neurophysiological laboratory studies, to field studies in museum and outdoors. He has published more than 200 peer-reviewed papers, more than a dozen funded projects in Empirical Aesthetics, he was the president of the International Association of Empirical Aesthetics, and in Vienna is also the Head of the interdisciplinary Cognitive Sciences Research Hub. He was a Founding International Member of the Global Institute of Advanced Studies (GIAS at NYU), in 2018 Fellow at the Italian Academy – of Advanced Studies in America, at Columbia University. In 2020 he received the Arnheim Award of the APA American Psychological Association, Div.10, for Outstanding Achievement in Psychology and the Arts. In 2024 at the IAEA (International Association of Empirical Aesthetics) conference, he received the Gustav Theodor Fechner Award for Outstanding Contributions to Empirical Aesthetics. 

Elisabeth Oberzaucher is a behavioural scientist and evolutionary psychologist at the University of Vienna. She is the scientific director of the research institute Urban Human and President of the International Society for Human Ethology. Her research interests focus on the effects of the physical and social environment on human behaviour. Insights from basic research and applied research are the foundation for the development of specific solutions, with a focus on urban design and sustainable mobility. Her book "Homo urbanus, ein evolutionsbiologischer Blick in die Zukunft der Städte" was shortlisted as science book of the year 2018.  As Member of the Science Busters she is also dedicated to communicating science to a broader audience. 

I am Jan Mikuni, a Post-doc for this project at the CogSciHub of Vienna. During my Ph.D., I was enrolled in a joint-degree system, cotutelle de thèse, between Keio University (Japan) and Vienna University (Austria), investigating how to facilitate the interaction between art and human in museums as well as the effects of culture on art appreciation. My particular interest as a researcher is to connect the science to the real-life setting. As such, it’s my pleasure to join this WWTF project, making cities a better place for its dwellers.

I’m Margot Dehove, a PhD candidate at the CogSciHub of Vienna. Trained as a biologist, I ended up pursuing my passion for art by studying neuroaesthetics and the psychology of the arts. My particular interest in cities and street art prompted me to jump on board with this project. I’m really excited to conduct research that aims at understanding the importance of making the cities of tomorrow healthier and more pleasurable to live in.  

Hi, my name is Elisabeth, I am 25 years old and I am studying psychology at the University of Vienna. I have been interested in the research of EVALabs for a long time and now I am allowed to work on this project for my master's thesis. Together with a great team we are conducting a study in urban space which, in the long term, will make the cities we live in even more liveable as well as contributing to a greater sense of well-being for the citizens.

My name is Doris, I study Psychology at the University of Vienna, and I am currently working on my master’s thesis within the Urban Art and Green project, where I explore how built environments impact human well-being.
My research focuses on well-being and perceived safety in urban spaces, and how psychology can contribute to designing environments that make people feel good. This project is an ideal opportunity for me to develop the skills and knowledge I will need to pursue a future career in research.

Hi, my name is Ben, I’m 28 years old and I studied Communication Studies and am currently finishing my master’s degree in Psychology. I just recently joined this project due to my keen interest in the interaction of nature, the urban environment and human health. Stress is constantly accompanying us in this modern and hectic urbanized society. If we can design a city in a way that counteract the effects of stress and aid in improving people’s health and well-being, I’m more than happy to contribute. My bachelor’s thesis was already concerned with the differential effects of natural and urban environments on stress and on skin barrier recovery. Therefore, partaking in this project just makes me glad to be able to continue in this line of research.

I’m Manuel and a master student in Psychology of the Mind and Brain at the University of Vienna. Originating from a farm in the alps and living in the city now, I’ve always had a feeling that providing lots of green is the way to create a liveable city that helps its residents to feel well and stay healthy. Now as a part of this project, I am excited to see how combining green and art can bring more beauty and well-being into our everyday lives in busy cities.

My name is Vanessa Jakoubek, and I am a 26-year-old master's student in psychology at the University of Vienna, specializing in mind and brain. I joined this project to investigate how environments and aesthetics influence human behavior and well-being. I am particularly fascinated by the ways in which our surroundings can improve our daily experiences. I appreciate being part of this team and contributing to meaningful research that aims to create more appealing and supportive urban spaces.

My name is Laura, I'm currently a master student at the University of Vienna. After completing my bachelor's degree in molecular biology in Graz, I came to Vienna for the master programme in cognition, behavior and neurobiology. Over the course of my studies, I found particular interest in the environments humans live in and their effect on brain and behavior. Thanks to a practical course during my master's, which later turned into a master thesis, I was introduced to the team working on this project. I am excited to see how research will guide future urban living and create spaces that enable well-being for its habitants.

My name is Marlene and I am currently studying psychology at the University of Vienna, specializing in mind and brain. I joined the project to investigate and better understand the effects of aesthetics on people's wellbeing. I am glad that I can be part of this project and contribute to this important research with my master's thesis.

Hi, I'm Patsy Frohwein. I studied psychology at the University of Vienna, where I completed my bachelor's and am now finishing my master's. 

After spending four years as a culture editor at ARD and Bayerischer Rundfunk, I gained a deep appreciation for how art, culture, and aesthetics influence the human mind.  I'm especially interested in how urban design and aesthetics shape mental well-being. I'm excited to bring my background and passion to this project and help explore how the spaces we create impact our psychological health.