Transfer Cooperation with Harvard: Cass R. Sunstein Visits Universität Heidelberg
Press Release No. 49/2026
29 May 2026
Public lectures and academic exchange with the distinguished scholar
The distinguished legal scholar Prof. Dr Cass R. Sunstein of Harvard University will visit Heidelberg University from 9 to 11 June 2026 as part of the strategic partnership between Heidelberg and Harvard. During his stay, he will meet with researchers and students and deliver three public lectures.
Prof. Sunstein is one of the most influential public intellectuals in the United States and is considered a leading figure in the field of behavioral economics. Together with Nobel laureate economist Prof. Dr Richard Thaler, he developed the concept of nudging to encourage better decision-making. Through his work as an advisor to the administrations of Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, as well as to international organizations, he has played a major role in shaping contemporary debates on democracy, governance, and public policy.
Hosted by the Department of Philosophy, Prof. Sunstein will give a lecture entitled “Manipulation” on 9 June in the Great Hall of the New University. The event begins at 7 pm and will also be livestreamed. An opportunity for informal discussion with the speaker will follow.
On 10 June, in collaboration with the Heidelberg Center for the Environment and the ClimateLifeNexus research network, Prof. Sunstein will speak on “Climate Justice”. The lecture will take place at the Marsilius Kolleg, starting at 5 pm.
The Faculty of Law will host a lecture by the visiting scholar on 11 June. He will speak on “Nudging”. The event will take place in the Great Hall of the Old University and begins at 10 am. All lectures will be held in English.
Prof. Sunstein’s cooperation partner at Heidelberg University is Prof. Dr Nora Heinzelmann, Professor of Philosophy at the Department of Philosophy and at the Institute for Molecular Systems Engineering and Advanced Materials.
With the Heidelberg | Harvard Cooperation, as decided in 2025, the two universities are deepening their historical collaboration. Joint projects advance promising research, strengthen transatlantic networks and promote early-career researchers. To date, 23 research projects have been selected for funding. The initiative is supported by the state of Baden-Württemberg in the context of the science ministry’s “Global Partnership in Science” activities.
Note for newsrooms
Prof. Dr Cass R. Sunstein is available for interviews. Please email your requests by 3 June to presse@rektorat.uni-heidelberg.de