Knowledge for sustainable development

ISOE is one of the leading independent institutes for sustainability research. For more than 30 years, we have been developing scientific bases and future oriented concepts for politics, civil society and the economy – regionally, nationally and internationally.

News

Ecornet

Flurina Schneider elected as new Ecornet spokesperson

Prof. Dr. Flurina Schneider, Scientific Director of ISOE – Institute for Social-Ecological Research, is the new co-spokesperson of Ecornet (Ecological Research Network). The network is an association of eight independent, non-profit environmental and sustainability research institutes in Germany.

ISOE Lecture with Lisen Schultz at the Goethe University Frankfurt

Social ecology for decision-makers

The earth is reaching its limits: In the Anthropocene, humans have changed the ecological foundations of life to such a fundamental extent that the planetary limits of several earth systems have been reached. The symptoms such as global warming, species extinction, and water scarcity are well known,...

CapTain Rain research project

How to adapt to heavy rainfall? Innovative solutions in Jordan

When it comes to extreme weather events, the impact of climate change is increasingly visible. As a result, effects such as flash floods caused by heavy rainfall have become more prominent in public awareness: not least the disastrous Ahrtal floods has led to an awareness of the dangers of heavy...

“Insectopolis”

ISOE – Institute for Social-Ecological Research awards art scholarship on the topic of insect diversity in the city

In order to halt the trend of global insect decline, insects must regain habitats, both in agricultural landscapes and in cities. This requires people to appreciate insects and their ecosystem services and be willing to contribute to insect conservation. To this end, the SLInBio research project,...

Biodiversity research

Threatened insect diversity in nature reserves – recommendations from the DINA research project

The decline in insect populations has been documented for decades. In German nature reserves, too, insects are generally becoming fewer and a notably receding biodiversity can be observed. The research team of the “DINA” project has investigated the underlying reasons and has been looking out for...

Abstraktes Netzwerk (©iStock.com/natrot)

Transdisciplinary research

Added value for science

Transdisciplinary research aims to make a contribution to the understanding and promotion of social change. These societal effects account for the popularity of the research mode that involves different scientific disciplines as well as non-scientific actors. But how does the transdisciplinary...

New research project KomKlAn

What is the state of municipal climate adaptation in Germany?

Heat, drought and heavy rain: The consequences of climate change have long been clearly noticeable. Cities and municipalities are particularly affected, since flooding or heat islands within cities represent a danger for residents as well as municipal infrastructures. However, municipalities are...

Landschaft mit Gewässer und Bäumen

Research network RobustNature

How the use of chemicals and biodiversity loss are connected

Science does not take a deep enough look at chemicals in the environment as one of the causes of the decline in biodiversity. Forty scientists in the RobustNature research network of Goethe University Frankfurt and collaborating institutes, which also includes ISOE – Institute for Social-Ecological...

Installation am Domplatz in Frankfurt (Computersimulation) © IMD – Institut für Materialdesign der  HfG Offenbach

Artistic installation for the preservation of biodiversity

The Insect Embassy – a diplomatic representation for insects in the city 

Insects are of central importance for our society and for our survival, a fact that is still all too often overlooked. With the “Insect Embassy”, an artistic installation, ISOE – Institute for Social-Ecological Research and IMD – Institute for Materialdesign at the Offenbach University of Applied...

Kleine Wellen mit Blick auf den steinigen Grund

Monitoring for sustainable groundwater management

How groundwater quality can be protected

Groundwater is the most important source of drinking water. Groundwater bodies are also of great importance because of their unique biodiversity and vital ecosystem services. But the quality of this valuable water resource is coming under increasing pressure due to climate change, overuse and...