Anna Aretha Sach is a PhD student at the University of Amsterdam. Her doctoral project is focused on understanding why people engage in climate activism. She is supervised by Dr Cameron Brick, Dr Disa Sauter and Dr Nils Jostmann. She graduated a Master in Interdisciplinary studies in Environmental, Economic and Social Sustainability at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, focusing on Political Ecology and sustainable mobilities. Previously, she completed a B.Sc. in Psychology at the University of Bonn, in which she focused on pro-environmental behavior and the support for radical climate politics.

Media appearances

• Zeit Online

Other links

• Brick Lab
• Amsterdam Interdisciplinary Centre for Emotions (AICE)
• Programme group Social Psychology
• Psychology Institute
• Graduate School Kurt Lewin Instituut (KLI)
• UvA Sustainability Platform (USP)

Research methods

• Qualitative Interviews
• Participartory Action Research
• Experience Sampling Method

Current research projects

• Systematic literature review on psychological factors underlying collective climate action
• Interviewing activists about their initial experience integrating into climate movements

Current cooperations

• Anna Castiglione, University of Trento
• Extinction Rebellion United Kingdom Data Analysis and Insights Circle 

RPA

• Real Emotion

MA Thesis

• Ania Doornebos (2024) Needs and Difficulties of New Climate Activists: A Qualitative Exploration
• Roos Herings (2024) Organizational Socialization in Climate Movements: An Interview Study on Newcomers’ Experiences and Psychological Needs During Their Initial Phase of Engagement