Transformations for
Sustainable Development
ISOE – Institute for Social-Ecological Research
Hamburger Allee 45, 60486 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Tel. 069 707 69 19-0, Fax 069 707 69 19-11
[email protected], www.isoe.de/en
https://twitter.com/isoewikom
Institute for
Social-Ecological
Research
More than 25 Years of Research
for Sustainable Development
ISOE is a nonprofit research organization and one of the leading independent sustainability research
institutes. For 25 years we have been developing a scientific basis for decision making and forward
looking concepts for policy makers, civil society and business leaders – regionally, nationally and
internationally.
The focal points of our social-ecological transdisciplinary research are water, energy and mobility. At
ISOE we investigate how these issues are related, how they are affected by global developments such
as urbanization, climate change, biodiversity loss and demographic change, and what this all means,
for example, for the sustainable conversion of utility infrastructures. In the course of our research we
assume a critical attitude in order to ensure that today’s solutions do not become tomorrow’s problems.
It is very important for us to share our research results both with other scientists and the broader
society, and to have them discussed by both. And that is another reason why we want to introduce
you to ISOE with this brochure. For our work we are looking forward to receiving new, stimulating
impulses from our readers.
ISOE Executive Board
Dr. Thomas Jahn
PD Dr. Diana Hummel
Dr. Engelbert Schramm
Transdisciplinary Research for
Sustainable Development
Globally we are facing unprecedented socialecological crises such as loss of biodiversity, land
degradation or climate change. These kinds of
difficult problems require fundamental transformations for sustainable development in all parts
of society. To cope with these new and challenging problems we need new knowledge in order to
answer the following central question: how can
crisis-prone societal relations to nature be recognized, understood and then responded to?
We look for answers by employing social-ecological transdisciplinary research. Our work contributes to an understanding of social-ecological
systems, an assessment of crises situations and
the creation of suitable pathways towards transformations for a sustainable development. Transdisciplinary means that we take both the findings of various disciplines and the experience
and knowledge of stakeholders into consideration. Methods suitable for these integration
processes are continuously subject to further development.
Our work focuses on the subject areas ‘water’,
‘energy’, and ‘mobility’. We examine the extent
to which these topics are connected, how they
are influenced by global developments such as
urbanization, climate change, loss of biodiversity
and demographic changes and go on to ask, for
example, what all this means for a sustainable
modification of supply infrastructures.
Social ecology as the science of societal relations
to nature provides the theoretical basis for our
research projects. That way, social-ecological
transdisciplinary research integrates basic science and applied scientific research, always remaining focused on solutions to practical problems of everyday life. For example, one ISOE
focal point is assessing the extent to which life
styles or every day routines influence sustainable
consumption or how changes in behavior can
reduce the pollutants being released into the
environment. ISOE is continuously developing
its scientific foundation for implementation in
transdisciplinary projects. We also draw up
strategies for the transfer of knowledge, via
which we aim to support joint learning processes
within science, society, and politics in their efforts to move towards sustainability.
ISOE-model of the transdisciplinary research process
Read more
Jahn, Thomas /Matthias Bergmann/Florian Keil (2012): Transdisciplinarity: Between mainstreaming and marginalization. Ecological
Economics, Vol. 79, 1–10 dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2012.04.017
Jahn, Thomas (2014): Science for Sustainable Development Requires a Critical Orientation (originally published in German language in
GAIA 22 /1 (2013), 29–33) http://de.scribd.com/doc/ 226742770/Science-for-Sustainable-Development-Requires-a-Critical-Orientation
Research unit
Water Resources and
Land Use
Climate change and changing land use along
with demographic and economic developments
are all exerting growing pressure on fresh water
resources. At the same time, increasing demand is
leading to shortages and land-use conflicts. This
results in considerable risks to society and ecosystems. In seeking to develop sustainable solution strategies, ISOE investigates how an integrated management of water and land resources
can be organised, given the complex social-ecological interactions. The application and further
development of methods and concepts play a
vital role in this respect, for example modelling,
impact assessment and scenarios as well as work
dealing with the concept of social-ecological systems and vulnerability.
Contact person
Stefan Liehr
[email protected]
Selected literature
Liehr, Stefan /Oliver Schulz/Thomas
Kluge /Alexander Jokisch (2015): Water
security and climate adaptation through
storage and reuse. ISOE Policy Brief
1/2015, ISOE – Institute for Social-Ecological Research, Frankfurt/Main, Germany
Lütkemeier, Rober/Stefan Liehr (2015):
Impact of drought on the inhabitants of
the Cuvelai watershed: A qualitative exploration. In: Joaquin Andreu et al. (Eds.):
Drought: Research and Science-Policy
Interfacing. London, 41–48
Kluge, Thomas (2014): Water Reuse, Rainwater Harvesting and Decentralization
as Elements to Mitigate the Water Crisis
in Israel and the Middle East Region. In:
Hubertus Fischer et al. (Eds.): Environmental Policy and Landscape Architecture. CGL-Studies 18. Munich, 257–274
Woltersdorf, Laura/Stefan Liehr/Ruth
Scheidegger/Petra Döll (2014): Smallscale water reuse for urban agriculture
in Namibia: Modeling water flows and
productivity. Urban Water Journal
12 (5): 414–429
Polak, Mathias /Stefan Liehr (2012): Theoretical reflections about the analysis
of water governance in coupled socialecological systems. In: Ibrahima Anne
(Ed.): Water Governance – Challenges in
Africa: Hydro-optimism or hydro-pessimism? CEAUP Studies on Africa, Vol. 2.
Bern /Berlin /Bruxelles /Frankfurt am
Main /NewYork /Oxford/Wien, 65–80
Sample project
SASSCAL – Water and food security
in southern Africa
The setting up of the regional science centre
SASSCAL (Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management) is a joint initiative by the countries Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, South Africa
and Germany. The aim of the centre is to undertake cross-border research into the consequences
of global change in southern Africa and thereby
identify an appropriately sustainable path of development. As part of the initiative, ISOE conducts research into the impacts of drought on the
water and food safety of the population based on
the cross-border Cuvelai catchment area in southern Angola and northern Namibia. ISOE draws
here on its years of experience from the CuveWaters project.
spective: analysis includes the geographical parameters of a drought situation (such as reduced
precipitation, lack of soil moisture, and diminished vegetation activity), socio-economic variables (such as consumer patterns and financial
capacities), along with infrastructure and institutional frame conditions.
Empirical research
Target groups/lifestyles
Scenarios
Evaluation
Modelling
Provision of decision-making aids
ISOE works with local authorities and social actors in using empirical data to gain a differentiated spatial understanding and illustrate the risk
to domestic households. With this objective in
mind, the team developed a synthetic indicator
(Household Drought Vulnerability Indicator –
HDVI) which links geographical drought parameters to societal variables, thus enabling identification of areas at high risk. This tool offers decision-makers a basis from which to initiate aid
measures in cases of emergency and respond to
needs by means of long-term adaptive measures.
➜ www.sasscal.org
Research approach
Pronounced seasonal rainy and dry seasons are
the trademark of the Cuvelai catchment area. Extreme events such as flooding and droughts are
regular occurrences and a characteristic feature of
the region. In the past, droughts lasting for several years have triggered food crises for several
hundred thousand people, creating a need for
state and international aid measures. The inhabitants of the region are nonetheless able to cope
with the respective risks to some extent by adapting their ways of life. Against this background,
the team of researchers develops tools to help
with decision-making and reduce risk. The problem is approached from a multidisciplinary per-
Methods used:
Contact person Stefan Liehr, [email protected]
Project partners Germany Universities of Hamburg, Bremen
Hannover, Jeny, Trier and Marburg; Climate Service Center 2.0
Hamburg; Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.
DLR); German Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural
Resources (BGR), Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD)
Project partners Namibia & Angola Ministry for Agriculture,
Water and Forestry, Windhoek (MAWF); Cuvelai-Etosha Basin
Management Committee, Outapi (CEBMC); Rural Development
Center, Ongwediva (RDC); Private University of Angola (UPRA)
Funding German Federal Ministry of Education and Research
(BMBF), Framework Programme Research for Sustainable
Development (FONA)
Impact assessment
Institutional analysis
Stakeholder processes
Research unit
Water Infrastructure
and Risk Analyses
Water management is facing major challenges
worldwide: dated infrastructures of limited flexibility are jeopardising efficiency and sustainability. Furthermore, increasing levels of critical substances are being measured in our ground- and
drinking water. ISOE comes up with innovative
concepts of how to sustainably reconstruct infrastructures and adapt them to changing circumstances. We also develop methods of weighing up
complex risks and devise strategies to minimise
them. It is our aim to generate knowledge which
is relevant for stakeholders working towards integrated water management.
Contact person
Martina Winker
[email protected]
Selected literature
Brandmayr, Caterina /Heide Kerber/
Martina Winker/Engelbert Schramm
(2015): Impact assessment of emission
management strategies of the pharmaceuticals Metformin and Metoprolol to
the aquatic environment using Bayesian
networks. Science of the Total Environment, 532, 605–616
Winker, Martina /Sabine Kunkel /Arash
Davoudi/Jörg Felmeden /Heide Kerber/
Engelbert Schramm /Jan Trapp (2014):
Heat and water recovery from wastewater in a passive house – scaling up
from building to district level. In: Proceedings of IWA World Water Congress,
21–26 September 2014, Lisbon, Portugal
Hummel, Diana /Cedric Janowizc/Alexandra Lux (2013): Demographic changes,
sustainability and the regulation of water
supply systems. In: Bernd Siebenhüner/
Marlen Arnold/Klaus Eisenack et al.
(Eds.): Long-term governance for socialecological change. Routledge Research
in Environmental Politics. London/New
York, 112–126
Felmeden, Jörg /Engelbert Schramm
(2012): Towards more resilient water infrastructure. In: K.-O. Zimmermann (Ed.):
Resilient Cities 2, Cities and Adaptation
to Climate Change – Proceedings oft he
Global Forum, Dordrecht, 177–186
Götz, Konrad /Corinne Benzing /Jutta
Deffner/Florian Keil (2012): Handbook
Communication strategies for shaping
environmental awareness in the handling of pharmaceutical drugs. ISOEStudientexte No. 16, Frankfurt am Main
Sample project
KREIS – Innovative municipal wastewater system in ‘Jenfelder Au’
The innovative drainage and energy-generating
concept HAMBURG WATER Cycle® is being implemented in a new urban district of the city of
Hamburg. ISOE is analysing the scheme in terms
of user behaviour, cooperation management and
sustainability.
Research approach
The quarter ‘Jenfelder Au’ comprising around 630
new residential units is being developed on the
site of former military barracks. The novel wastewater concept foresees the separate draining and
treatment of the toilet effluents (blackwater) and
the other domestic wastewater (greywater). This is
coupled with an innovative energy-generating
concept. The goal of KREIS is to provide preparatory surveys to support the planning and construction process along with the actual starting
up of the technical systems by HAMBURG
WASSER. Upon completion of this project phase,
the partners are planning to provide scientific
back-up during the operation phase in a subsequent project.
Perception by residents
ISOE is responsible for socio-technical analyses
of user behaviour and a sustainability analysis.
The researchers capture the needs of future residents regarding water. Wishes, expectations and
requirements are inquired at an early stage, so
that they can be considered in the planning. The
researchers have a special focus on investigating
the acceptance of vacuum toilets. The results were
integrated in the manual for vacuum drainage
which informs architects, fitters and plumbers on
the correct planning, construction and installation of such systems to guarantee high quality
standards and avoid inconveniences.
Methods used:
Cooperation management
Evaluation
Applying new technologies with changed material flows can lead to both modifications regarding the division of labour among key players and
a shift of needs and motivation between involved
actors. It is vital to identify and develop the now
required linkages and coordination between the
various actors in order to tap the full potential of
these novel technologies. Therefore, cooperation
models were developed, which could contribute
to a smooth and sustainable implementation. According to different physical and socio-economic
conditions at various places of implementation
the more appropriate models are selected. Communication at an early stage of implementation
plays a crucial role in coordinating the activities
and interests of the different parties.
Modelling
➜ www.kreis-jenfeld.de/home.html
Contact person Engelbert Schramm, [email protected]
Project partners Bauhaus-Universität Weimar; HAMBURG
WASSER; Hochschule Ostwestfalen-Lippe; Solar- und Wärmetechnik Stuttgart, ein Forschungszentrum der SteinbeißStiftung (STW); Öko-Institut e. V.; Technische Universität Hamburg-Harburg; Buhck Umweltservices GmbH & Co. KG; infranova Bauentwicklungs GmbH & Co. KG Flintenbreite Lübeck;
OtterWasser GmbH; Vacusatec Vacuum Sanitärtechnik GmbH
& Co. KG; Odocon GbR
Funding Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF),
Funding Project “Intelligent and multifunctional infrastructure
systems for sustainable water and waste water systems (INIS)”
Empirical research
Target groups/lifestyles
Scenarios
Impact assessment
Institutional analysis
Stakeholder processes
Research unit
Energy and Climate Protection in Everyday Life
More than half of the anthropogenic greenhouse
gas emissions in Germany are directly or indirectly influenced by private households. The decarbonisation of our carbon-based economy and
society requires the transformation of infrastructures and production systems as well as farreaching changes in consumption patterns,
lifestyles, and everyday life practices. ISOE aims
to support low carbon routines and behaviours by
analysing different approaches, potentials, constraints, and limits for change. Housing as an energy-intensive need area constitutes a major focus here, as does the question of how behavioural
change and social innovations can contribute towards a climate-friendly and sustainable transformation of the energy system.
Contact person
Immanuel Stieß
[email protected]
Selected literature
Schuldt-Baumgart, Nicola/Immanuel
Stieß (2014): Reducing Carbon Emissions
in Everyday Life. In: Elmer Lenzen (ed.):
Global Compact International Yearbook
2014. macondo publishing, 44–47
Stieß, Immanuel/Elisa Dunkelberg
(2013): Objectives, barriers and occasions for energy efficient refurbishment
by private homeowners. Journal of
Cleaner Production, Vol. 48, 250–259
Weiß, Julika /Immanuel Stieß/Stefan
Zundel (2012): Motives for and barriers
to energy-efficient refurbishment of residential dwellings. In: Rico Defila /Antonietta Di Giulio /Ruth Kaufmann-Hayoz
(Eds.): The Nature of Sustainable Consumption and How to Achieve it. Results
from the Focal Topic “From Knowledge
to Action – New Paths towards Sustainable Consumption”. Munich, 65–180
Zundel, Stefan /Immanuel Stieß (2011):
Beyond profitability of energy saving
measures – Attitudes towards energy
saving. Journal of Consumer Policy 34,
91–105
Sample project
KlimaAlltag – low carbon lifestyles
in the zero emissions city
The “KlimaAlltag” project is investigating low
carbon lifestyles in different social strata. The
focus is on mobility, nutrition, home living and
household energy consumption.
Research approach
The transdisciplinary researcher team working on
KlimaAlltag examined how everyday routines in
different social classes can be changed, and how
climate-friendly ways of life can be supported.
ISOE supervised the joint project.
Field testing
A field test in Cologne headed by the Consumer
Association of North Rhine-Westphalia involved
“climate households” from different milieus and
social strata voluntarily reducing their CO2 emissions. They received pertinent advice over a period of six months along with scientific back-up
to help with implementing suitable measures. The
research team of ISOE interviewed the “climate
households” on drivers and obstacles experienced
as they seek to change their everyday routines.
Empirical survey
Furthermore, the ISOE team conducted a standardized survey in the cities of Frankfurt/ Main
and Munich with 2.002 participants. The survey
showed that most interviewees are aware of the
importance of climate-friendly behaviour. However, a segmentation according to the extent of
actual climate-friendly behaviour showed: only
20 per cent succeeded in implementing climatefriendly practices coherently in the areas of energy use, mobility and nutrition.
Methods used:
Empirical research
Target groups/lifestyles
Potentials and social impact of
climate policy tools
Based on the examples of Frankfurt/Main and
Munich, the scientists investigated suitable programmes and tools with which the local authorities could offer socially just support in bringing
about climate-neutral lifestyles. To this end, the
standardized survey explored, whether or not the
municipal climate policy tools and measures are
actually taken on board. The Institute for Ecological Economic Research (IÖW) was analysing the
efficacy and efficiency of the climate policy tools
already in place. How measures to protect the climate affect households on low incomes was investigated by the University of Graz.
➜ www.isoe.de/en/klimaalltag
Contact person Immanuel Stieß, [email protected]
Coperation partners Verbraucherzentrale Nordrhein-Westfalen
Consumer Association of North-Rhine-Westphalia; Institute for
Ecological Economic Research (IÖW); Institute of Sociology at
the University of Graz
Practice partners Energy Agency Frankfurt am Main; Department of Urban Planning and Building Regulation Munich
Funding Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF),
Funding Programme Social-Ecological Research
Scenarios
Evaluation
Modelling
Impact assessment
Institutional analysis
Stakeholder processes
Research unit
Mobility and Urban
Spaces
Traffic flows are increasing – which means an increase in familiar negative consequences of traffic for society and the environment. But it is not
just transport and mobility that manifest nonsustainable dynamics; different forms of urban
settlement are also an issue. ISOE develops socioecological design concepts by asking how traffic
can be reduced while still serving the basic need
for mobility, and exploring possible forms of sustainable urban development and land use. Special
attention is paid to the social and socio-cultural
dimension of technological and social innovations. Empirical social research methods and the
social-ecological lifestyle concept play an important role – for example in analysing traffic behaviour and mobility, or with respect to the quality of stay in urban areas.
Contact person
Jutta Deffner
[email protected]
Selected literature
Deffner, Jutta/Tomas Hefter (2015): Sustainable mobility cultures and the role of
cycling planning professionals. ISOE
Policy Brief, No. 3 /2015. ISOE – Institute
for Social-Ecological Research (ed.).
Frankfurt am Main
Götz, Konrad /Jutta Deffner/Thomas
Klinger (2015): Mobilitätsstile und Mobilitätskulturen – Erklärungspotentiale,
Rezeption und Kritik. In: Oliver Schöller/
Weert Canzler/Andreas Knie (Hg.):
Handbuch Verkehrspolitik. Wiesbaden
Götz, Konrad (2014): Traffic Mobility. In:
A. C. Michalos (ed.): Encyclopedia of
Quality of Life Research. Dordrecht
Roßnagel, Alexander/Christoph Ewen/
Konrad Götz/Tomas Hefter/Anja Hentschel/Antonia Huge /Carla Schönfelder
(2014): Mit Interessengegensätzen fair
umgehen – zum Einbezug der Öffentlichkeit in Entscheidungsprozesse zu dezentralen Energieanlagen. ZNER Zeitschrift
für Neues Energierecht, 4, 329–337
Stieß, Immanuel /Christian Dehmel /
Georg Sunderer (2013): Promoting Low
Carbon Lifestyles among Urban Populations: Status quo and Opportunities for
Changing Everyday Routines. Conference Proceedings. ERSCP & EMSU
Conference. Istanbul
Sample project
MobileLiving – Innovative Home
and Mobility Services
The research project aims to develop and test
models for joint mobility and home services as
well as land use. In the course of the project, the
models will also be developed, tested and assessed with regard to their economic viability and
their ecologic and social impact.
Research approach
The project initiates a knowledge brokerage
process between joint housing initiatives and
housing companies. Innovative ideas from joint
housing and mobility concepts are going to be
designed to be compatible and economically viable. Furthermore, the research project offers a
knowledge pool containing promising ideas and
concepts. In order to systemize scopes for action
and innovation and make them utilizable, framework conditions and practised business models,
existing offers and organizational forms will be
analysed. The empirical analytic dimensions include practices in new buildings or already existing housing stock, user demand and behaviour
and settlement structure.
subsequently be assessed. As far as possible, the
services implemented will be empirically analysed
with regard to their ecological, social/sociocultural and economical sustainability impact. Concepts that offer potential to be marketed will be
classified with respect to their viability and compatibility for existing business models.
Empirical research
Target groups /lifestyles
Scenarios
Evaluation
Modelling
Background
Currently, initiatives for innovative forms of
housing are emerging in many places. Often, sustainability is playing an important role: there is a
focus on exchange, jointly shared facilities as
well as the aim to develop affordable housing for
several generations. The initiatives emphasize
ecological aspects with their desire for environmentally friendly mobility or resource efficiency.
On the other hand, housing companies are addressing the mainstream with their proven housing concepts. Creative impulses are rarely considered. There is hardly any exchange between innovative housing initiatives and commercial actors
from the building societies: From the building societies’ perspective the joint models often do not
seem to be marketable. A social-ecological transformation in the field of housing and mobility is
therefore currently rather taking place in niches.
➜ www.isoe.de/en/mobile-living
Implementation in real-life laboratories
The core of the project is the transdisciplinary development of specific concepts for practice partners which will then be implemented (real-life
laboratories). The concepts will be developed in
teams consisting of research and practice partners. Then measures developed for home and mobility services will be locally implemented by the
housing initiatives resp. housing companies. The
experiences made in the real-life laboratories will
Methods used:
Contact person Jutta Deffner, [email protected]
Project partners Bundesverband Baugemeinschaften e.V.,
Freiburg; Institute for Ecological Economy Research (IÖW),
Heidelberg; Öko-Institut e.V. Berlin; Technical University of
Kaiserslautern, Department of Real Estate Economics; Bauhilfe
Primasens GmbH; Baugemeinschaft Wohnen am Hochdamm
Treptow, Berlin; Bergedorf-Bille Baugenossenschaft, Hamburg;
Communale e.V., Heidelberg; Deutsche Wohnen AG, Berlin;
GBS Gemeinnützige Baugenossenschaft Speyer
Funding Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF),
Funding Programme Social-Ecological Research
Impact assessment
Institutional analysis
Stakeholder processes
Research unit
Biodiversity and
People
Selected literature
Biological diversity is pivotal for the provision of
ecosystem services and human well-being. The
concept of ecosystem services embraces all the
economic, ecological, cultural and social benefits
from biodiversity to society. Population dynamics
such as migration or urbanisation impact on biodiversity via (changing) utilisation, perception
and valuation of ecosystem services. We regard
this interface as a social-ecological system linking society with Nature. Our empirical focus is on
the change of ecosystem services and the corresponding effects on population dynamics, for example on migration. We also investigate the effects of societal changes (e.g. urbanisation,
shrinking population) on the provision of ecosystem services and forms of perception and valuation of ecosystem services.
Hauck, Jennifer/Burkhard SchweppeKraft/Christian Albert/Christoph Görg/
Kurt Jax /Rita Jensen/Christine Fürst/
Joachim Maes /Irene Ring/Iva Hönigová/Benjamin Burkhard/Marion Mehring/
Maria Tiefenbach /Karsten Grunewald/
Markus Schwarzer/Julian Meurer/Mario
Sommerhäuser/Jörg A. Priess /Jenny
Schmidt/Adrienne Grêt-Regamey (2013):
The Promise of the Ecosystem Services
Concept for Planning and DecisionMaking. GAIA 4 /2013, 232–236
Contact person
Marion Mehring
[email protected]
Hummel, Diana (2015): Climate change,
land degradation and migration in Mali
and Senegal – some policy implications.
Migration and Development
Hummel, Diana /Susanna Adamo /Alex
de Sherbinin/Laura Murphy /Rimjhim
Aggarwal/Leo Zulu /Jianguo Liu/Kyle
Knight (2013): Inter- and transdisciplinary
approaches to population-environment
research for sustainability aims: a
review and appraisal. Population and
Environment, 34 (4), 481–509
Land, Victoria van der/Diana Hummel
(2013): Vulnerability and the Role of
Education in Environmentally Induced
Migration in Mali and Senegal. Ecology
& Society, 18 (4), 14
Mehring, Marion (2013): How to Frame
Social-Ecological Biodiversity Research –
A Methodological Comparison between
two Approaches of Social-Ecological
Systems. In: Jan Friedrich/Aurélie Halsband /Lisa Minkmar (Eds.): Biodiversity
and Society: Societal Dimension of the
Conservation and Utilization of Biological Diversity. Conference Proceedings.
14.–16.11.2012. Göttingen, 91–98
Sample project
West African Savannahs as
Social-Ecological Supply Systems
Based on findings from research on the socialecological conditions of migratory process in the
West-African Sahel, the project focusses on the
influence of ecosystems on the human well-being
and on the mobility patterns of the local population in the West African Savannah. The research
project is part of the cooperation with the Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F). In
BiK-F, interactions between changes in biodiversity and climate are investigated.
Research approach
Previous research about interactions between climate change, land degradation and mobility revealed that in the West African Sahel, migration
is deeply rooted in history and culture represents
a traditional strategy to cope with harsh environmental conditions. Since agriculture is the most
important source of income in rural areas, the
livelihoods are highly affected by shifting rainfall
patterns and ecosystem degradation. Given these
conditions, migration can be one of several
strategies to cope with negative effects of environmental changes. However, motives for migration are manifold and cannot be reduced to an
adaptation strategy to environmental changes.
Most people move temporarily from rural to urban areas within the countries or the region and
keep strong ties to their rural home communities.
Based on these findings, the project investigates
the relationship between biodiversity, ecosystem
services and the mobility of the population. Research questions are: What is the significance of
ecosystem services for the generation of income,
food security and health? In which way do
changes of biodiversity affect the mobility of the
population? What are the effects of mobility on
biodiversity and ecosystem services? Apart from
regulating and provisioning ecosystem services,
there will be a special focus on cultural ecosystem
services for human well-being. The first will be a
preliminary study based on desktop research and
secondary analysis of existing data. The aim is to
develop a concept for a further transdisciplinary
empirical study in the West African Savannah.
Background
Debates about climate-induced migratory movements frequently highlight West African Sahel
and Savannah as regions of concern. However,
findings from recent empirical research suggest
no evidence for increasing population movements
towards Europe as direct result of environmental
and climate change. They illustrate that the connection between environmental changes and migration greatly depends on the local context, the
kind of environmental changes and the socio-cultural structures. However, there is still a lack of
knowledge about the connection between biodiversity, ecosystem services and the mobility of
the population, and their effects on the human
well-being. This knowledge is crucial for developing options for sustainable regional development.
➜ www.isoe.de/en/savannahs
Contact person Diana Hummel, [email protected]
Cooperation partner Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung (SGN), Frankfurt/Main; Goethe University Frankfurt
Funding Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung (SGN);
own project of ISOE
Methods used:
Empirical research
Target groups/lifestyles
Scenarios
Evaluation
Modelling
Impact assessment
Institutional analysis
Stakeholder processes
Research unit
Transdisciplinary
Methods and Concepts
Transdisciplinary research poses challenges for
researchers and other knowledge holders alike.
Theoretical framing, basic methodologies, and established approaches are put into a new context,
which makes interdisciplinary integration a key
task. ISOE develops scientific and practice-related
foundations for transdisciplinary research and
examines how research and cognitive processes
change when applied to problems in the context
of sustainable development. Furthermore, we develop theoretical, conceptual and methodological
principles that facilitate at the same time highquality science and social impact within transdisciplinary research processes.
Contact person
Alexandra Lux
[email protected]
Selected literature
Jahn, Thomas (2015): Theory of Sustainability? Considerations on a Basic Understanding of “Sustainability Science”.
In: Judith C. Enders /Moritz Remig (Eds.):
Theories of Sustainable Development.
Routledge Studies in Sustainable Development. London/New York, 30–42
Jahn, Thomas /Florian Keil (2015): An
actor-specific guideline for quality
assurance in transdisciplinary research.
Futures, 65, 195–208
Jahn, Thomas (2014): Science for Sustainable Development Requires a Critical
Orientation. http://de.scribd.com/doc/
226742770/Science-for-SustainableDevelopment-Requires-a-Critical-Orientation (this article was originally published in German language in GAIA 22 /1
(2013), 29–33)
Hummel, Diana /Cedric Janowicz/
Alexandra Lux (2013): Demographic
changes, sustainability and the regulation of supply systems. In: Bernd Siebenhüner et al. (Eds.): Long-Term Governance
for Social-Ecological Change. Routledge
Research in Environmental Politics. London /New York, 112–126
Bergmann, Matthias /Thomas Jahn/
Tobias Knobloch /Wolfgang Krohn/
Christian Pohl /Engelbert Schramm
(2012): Methods for Transdisciplinary
Research. A Primer for Practice.
Frankfurt/New York
Sample project
Biodiversity and Climate: Transdisciplinarity in Biodiversity Research
Together with the Senckenberg Biodiversity and
Climate Research Centre (BiK-F) ISOE is investigating the impact of reduced biodiversity on the
provision of society with ecosystem services. The
research unit Transdisciplinary Methods and Concepts is coordinating the cooperation with BiK-F.
Research approach
With its work based on the natural sciences,
(BiK-F) follows the geo-biodiversity approach
which combines the classification and recording
of biodiversity with the significance of biodiversity within the system earth. ISOE’s transdisciplinary contributions are supporting this research
approach by social-ecological analyses of interactions between biosphere and geosphere and by
integrating the societal requirements for knowledge into research, application and communication. Inter- and transdisciplinary concepts and
methods are being developed that enable a dialogue on biodiversity and ecosystem services as
well as on the effects of human interventions on
ecosystems and the role of climate change.
Ecosystem services as integrative concept
The concept of ecosystem services captures values
(economic, ecologic, cultural and social) that
ecosystems provide for society. By also integrating the societal perspective of these values into
the observation and management of social-ecological systems, not only can the knowledge
gained from natural sciences be linked to socioscientific findings but scientific and non-scientific expertise can be joined as well. The aim is to
integrate ecosystem services into an approach of
social-ecological systems in a way that the provision of society with ecosystem services can be
presented and analysed. Therefore, these services
are being further developed as an integrative
concept. Currently, the focus of research is on the
question of how human well-being that is expected by the use of ecosystem services can be
theoretically and conceptually captured. The aim
is to develop the concept in such a manner that
the complexity of the provision of benefits as
well as the values and assessments can be described in an adequate way.
Communication and transfer of
biodiversity knowledge
The integrative methods of a social-ecological
biodiversity research require a transdisciplinary
dialogue on biodiversity and the effects of societal activities on ecosystems. The according research is situated an area of various overlapping
scientific disciplines as well as at the interfaces
between science and society (inter- and transdisciplinarity). From this, the necessity of a knowledge transfer arises between the scientific disciplines and between science and society. The aim
is to develop the scientific bases for this knowledge transfer and to examine and generalize the
methods used therefor. In this context, knowledge
transfer is not just understood as the communication of results but mainly as joint learning that is
part of the problem orientated research process.
➜ www.bik-f.de
Contact person Thomas Jahn, [email protected]
Project partners Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural
History Museum, Frankfurt/Main; Goethe University Frankfurt
Funding Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung (SGN);
own project of ISOE
Methods used:
Empirical research
Target groups/lifestyles
Scenarios
Evaluation
Modelling
Impact assessment
Institutional analysis
Stakeholder processes
AGRION Global Network for Energy
and Sustainability
A Long-Term Biodiversity, Ecosystem
and Awareness Research Network
(ALTER-Net)
Working in Networks –
National and Worldwide
Deutsche UNESCO-Kommission (DUK),
Fachausschuss Wissenschaft
Deutsches Komitee für Nachhaltigkeitsforschung in Future Earth
European Platform for Biodiversity
and Research Strategy (EPBRS)
European Roundtable on Sustainable
Consumption and Production (ERSCP)
European Society for Ecological
Economics (ESEE)
German Water Partnership (GWP)
An important property of our work is a close collaboration and an intense exchange
with the different partners from science and society. Hence we carry out our research
in regional, national and international networks and cooperatives. We combine the insights gained from our transdisciplinary research, then use the result to support decision-making by policy makers, administrators, corporations or NGOs. In our work we
secure the integration of interests and expertise of the players involved, thus ensuring
that solutions are suitable and in fact accepted in practice.
Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)
International Association of Travel
Behaviour Research (IATBR)
International Network for Interdisciplinarity and Transdisciplinarity (INIT)
International Society for Ecological
Economics (ISEE)
International Union for the Scientific
Study of Population (IUSSP)
International Water Association (IWA),
Water Reuse Specialist Group
Network for Transdisciplinary
Research (Td-net )
Population-Environment Research
Network (PERN)
Ecornet – Ecological Research Network
Eight pioneering institutes in sustainability research have joined together to form the
“Ecological Research Network” (Ecornet), a network of non-university, non-profit German research institutes focusing on environmental and sustainability research. Their
common mission: to create a scientific foundation for the societal transformation to sustainability. The Ecornet institutes conduct applied research across the borders of scientific disciplines regarding ways to achieve a post-fossil and post-nuclear society.
Ecornet aims to open up the scientific disciplines to the social-ecological questions that
will characterize the 21st century. The network, founded in July 2011, includes eight research institutes that focus on transdisciplinary sustainability research:
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Scientists for Cycling Network of the
ECF (European Cyclists Federation)
n
SCORE! Sustainable Consumption
Research Exchange
n
Swiss National Research Fund,
Steering Committee of the National
Research Program 71
n
n
n
n
n
Ecologic Institute
Ifeu – Heidelberg Institute for Energy and Environmental Research
Institute for Ecological Economy Research
ISOE – Institute for Social-Ecological Research
IZT – Institute for Futures Studies and Technology Assessment
Öko-Institute – Institute for Applied Ecology
Independent Institute for Environmental Issues
Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy
micle – Climate Change,
Changes to the Environment, and Migration
SASSCAL – Water-related
Vulnerabilities and Risk in
Southern Africa
Semizentral – Infrastructure Systems for Cities Experiencing Rapid Growth
www.micle-project.net
www.sasscal.org
www.isoe.de/en/semizentral
West African Savannahs
as Social-Ecological
Supply Systems
Evaluation of the International Water Stewardship
Program (IWaSP)
IWRM in Isfahan –
Sustainable Water
Management in Iran
www.isoe.de/en/savannahs
www.isoe.de/en/iwasp
www.isoe.de/en/isfahan
CuveWaters – Integrated
Water Resources
Management in Namibia
OPTIMASS – Sustainable
Management of
Savannah-ecosystems
More than 100 research
projects in Germany/EU
www.cuvewaters.net
www.optimass.org
www.isoe.de/en/projects
Organization
Executive Board
Thomas Jahn (Spokesperson)
Diana Hummel
Engelbert Schramm
Science Coordination
Vanessa Aufenanger
Research Units
Water Resources and Land Use Stefan Liehr
Water Infrastructure and Risk Analyses Martina Winker
Internal Services
Energy and Climate Protection in Everyday Life Immanuel Stieß
Finance and Personnel;
Office Management and Publications;
IT, Organization and Library
Frank Schindelmann
Mobility and Urban Spaces Jutta Deffner
Biodiversity and People Marion Mehring
Transdisciplinary Methods and Concepts Alexandra Lux
Knowledge Communication
and Public Relations
Academic Cooperation and
Qualification of Young Scientists
Nicola Schuldt-Baumgart
Diana Hummel
Consultancy
Konrad Götz
Facts & Figures
Staff:
50
More than
125 research
projects
completed
Budget:
EUR 3.5 million
in 2014
2015
1989
Milestones
1989
1994 /95
2000
2006
2011
2012
2014
The Institute starts
its work: first projects
for the City of Frankfurt and Greenpeace
First transdisciplinary
projects on water and
mobility; first international project and a
milestone in the sustainability debate:
Sustainability as a
Concept in the Social
Sciences, conducted
on behalf of UNESCO
ISOE receives the
Swiss Transdisciplinarity Award for
excellent transdisciplinary research
projects
Publication of
the seminal book:
Social Ecology:
Outline of a Science
of Societal Relations
to Nature
ISOE further develops
the social-ecological
approach to climate
research: Start of the
projects “KlimaAlltag“
and “micle – Migration, Climate & Environment in the Sahel”
ISOE is co-initiator of
the memorandum on
the development of
Social-Ecological
Research in Germany
“Understanding –
Evaluating – Shaping.
Transdisciplinary
Knowledge for a
Sustainable Society”
ISOE celebrates its
25th anniversary;
ISOE-Conference
“Lost in the Anthropocene”
Transformations for
Sustainable Development
Publisher
ISOE – Institute for Social-Ecological Research
Editors
Nicola Schuldt-Baumgart (ISOE)
Layout
Harry Kleespies (ISOE)
Picture credits
Copyright
©iStockphoto.com: nomis_g (cover), artJazz (6), sebastian-julian (12),
Pingebat (12), kryczka (14);
©fotolia.com: Artco (5), S_E (8), Dron (8), electriceye (10), fdenb (14),
beltsazar (16), Les Cunliffe (16), PinkBlue (19);
ThinkStock (10); CuveWaters (6); juergenmai.com (portraits)
Institut für sozial-ökologische Forschung (ISOE) gGmbH
Print
Colour Connection GmbH, printweb.de, Frankfurt am Main
Date
October 2015
Transformations for
Sustainable Development
ISOE – Institute for Social-Ecological Research
Hamburger Allee 45, 60486 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Tel. 069 707 69 19-0, Fax 069 707 69 19-11
[email protected], www.isoe.de/en
https://twitter.com/isoewikom
Institute for
Social-Ecological
Research