Research and Teaching

Projects

In our transdisciplinary research, experts from the natural sciences, technology, social sciences, and humanities collaborate to develop innovative solutions for real-world applications.

253 Ergebniss(e)

  • LIMO – Land Use and Integrated Modelling
    Land Use Biodiversity

    LIMO – Land Use and Integrated Modelling

    The research project investigates the dynamics of land use changes and their effects on ecosystem services and biodiversity.

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  • Transdisciplinarity in biodiversity research
    Biodiversity

    Transdisciplinarity in biodiversity research

    The project is developing new approaches to comprehensively research biodiversity, ecosystem services and human interventions on ecosystems.

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  • Biodiversity and Climate: Socio-ecological Biodiversity Research
    Biodiversity

    Biodiversity and Climate: Socio-ecological Biodiversity Research

    In cooperation with the Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), ISOE is investigating what reduced biodiversity means for the provision of ecosystem services to society.
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  • WaReNam – Water reuse strategy for Namibia
    Water

    WaReNam – Water reuse strategy for Namibia

    Um Rahmenbedingungen für die Umsetzung von Wasserwiederverwendung zu schaffen, integriert das Projekt WaReNam innovative Technologien, Wissenstransfers, adaptive Governance und Kapazitätsentwicklung auf verschiedenen Ebenen.

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  • Repack-network: sustainable food packaging
    Chemical Risks

    Repack-network: sustainable food packaging

    The project accompanies, supports and evaluates fourteen research projects that deal with measures to reduce plastic in food packaging. Social impact potentials are explored in particular. 

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  • transform-R – Shaping the energy and mobility transition as a socio-ecological transformation in the Frankfurt/Rhine-Main region
    Sufficiency Mobility Transformation

    transform-R – Shaping the energy and mobility transition as a socio-ecological transformation in the Frankfurt/Rhine-Main region

    The mobility transition requires cooperation between political, civil society and economic players. Innovative measures and social innovations are being tested in real-world laboratories.

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  • Business for Biodiversity: T-Labs for social-ecological change
    Biodiversity

    Business for Biodiversity: T-Labs for social-ecological change

    In so-called Transformation Labs, the project works with companies in the food industry to research how measures to promote biodiversity can be effectively designed and implemented.

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  • gwTriade – Integrative monitoring of groundwater quality
    Water Chemical Risks

    gwTriade – Integrative monitoring of groundwater quality

    The aim of the gwTriade project is to develop an integrated assessment concept for groundwater ecosystems based on ecotoxicological characterization, chemical analysis and the recording of faunal diversity. 

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  • LiveSewer – AI-based wastewater monitoring
    Water

    LiveSewer – AI-based wastewater monitoring

    In the research project LiveSewer, real-time wastewater data are processed and analyzed using AI-supported pattern recognition (machine learning). 

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  • Conflicts over the forest of the future
    Biodiversity Climate Adaptation Knowledge and Participation

    Conflicts over the forest of the future

    Forest conversion to mixed forest is intended to ensure the sustainability of forests threatened by climate change. Conflicts over their use are dealt with and negotiated in the “Forest of the Future” project through dialog formats such as round tables. 

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  • regulate – Sustainable Groundwater Management in Europe
    Blick auf See und Wald aus Vogelperspektive
    Water Land Use Climate Adaptation

    regulate – Sustainable Groundwater Management in Europe

    The junior research group regulate investigates challenges in the management of groundwater in Europe against the background of acute drought, conflictuality and the complexity of institutional frameworks. 

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  • Platform tdAcademy for transdisciplinary research and studies
    Knowledge and Participation

    Platform tdAcademy for transdisciplinary research and studies

    The tdAcademy platform promotes transdisciplinary research by generating knowledge for its effective design, evaluating new methods and formats and offering an international fellowship program.

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  • Training scientists for transdisciplinary research
    Knowledge and Participation Transformation

    Training scientists for transdisciplinary research

    In September, 2024 ISOE was commissioned by the Austrian Science Fund FWF to offer scientists training in transdisciplinary research.

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  • AQUA-Hub India – Water Innovation Hubs and Smart Water Monitoring
    Water

    AQUA-Hub India – Water Innovation Hubs and Smart Water Monitoring

    The AQUA-Hub project supports the establishment of Water Innovation Hubs in India, promotes technology transfer for water quality monitoring and strengthens SDG goals through pilot projects.

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  • WissTransKlima – Knowledge transfer for better climate adaptation in municipalities
    Climate Adaptation Knowledge and Participation

    WissTransKlima – Knowledge transfer for better climate adaptation in municipalities

    The three-year research project aims to investigate what kind of knowledge needs and barriers exist among municipal decision-makers and how the latter can then be addressed by means of better knowledge transfer. The intention is to support climate adaptation in Hessian municipalities.
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  • The current and future state of our water resources
    Water

    The current and future state of our water resources

    The project analyzes the state of scientific knowledge on global, European and German water resources in order to better predict their future changes. 

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  • SuPraStadt II – Quality of life, participation and resource conservation through social diffusion of sufficiency practices in urban neighbourhoods
    Sufficiency Transformation

    SuPraStadt II – Quality of life, participation and resource conservation through social diffusion of sufficiency practices in urban neighbourhoods

    In three real-world laboratories, SuPraStadt II is investigating how the needs of residents in the fields of housing, open space and mobility can be reconciled with the ecological requirements of sustainability.

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  • CapTain Rain – Capture and retain heavy rainfalls in Jordan
    Water

    CapTain Rain – Capture and retain heavy rainfalls in Jordan

    CapTain Rain develops climate services for forecasting and assessing heavy rainfall events. It also identifies measures to adapt to climate change and mitigate disaster damage.

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  • Social aspects of environmental policy
    Transformation

    Social aspects of environmental policy

    The project analyzes conflicting goals and synergies of socially just environmental policy and develops recommendations for sustainable and accepted measures.

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  • smyile – sustainable mobility for Waldenbuch
    Mobility Transformation

    smyile – sustainable mobility for Waldenbuch

    The smyile project is investigating sustainable mobility solutions in Waldenbuch, focusing on meeting demand with less traffic and integrating mobility and lifestyle research.

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  • PlaNE – Planetary Health and Sustainable Nutrition
    Transformation

    PlaNE – Planetary Health and Sustainable Nutrition

    The PlaNE project is developing practical approaches for municipalities such as Frankfurt and Marburg to sustainably transform food systems according to planetary health criteria.

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  • Everyday life in the neighborhood 4.0
    Transformation

    Everyday life in the neighborhood 4.0

    The project develops points of reference for those involved in neighbourhood development in order to better consider the opportunities and risks of the increasing digitalization of everyday life in planning processes.

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  • DINA – Diversity of Insects in Nature protected Areas
    Biodiversity

    DINA – Diversity of Insects in Nature protected Areas

    The aim of DINA is to test standardized monitoring of flying insects and to analyse factors that correlate with the drastic decline of insects in nature reserves. 

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  • ORYCS – Wildlife-based management strategies in Namibia
    Land Use Biodiversity

    ORYCS – Wildlife-based management strategies in Namibia

    ORYCS investigates the suitability of wildlife management strategies as a climate-friendly land use option. Together with stakeholders, it develops conflict-regulating approaches.

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  • Dilemmas of sustainability – Meta-criteria for sustainability
    Knowledge and Participation

    Dilemmas of sustainability – Meta-criteria for sustainability

    The project sheds light on the dilemmas of sustainability that arise from incompatible goals, interests and types of knowledge and develops guidelines for sound sustainability knowledge.

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  • Vision for Biodiversity
    Biodiversity

    Vision for Biodiversity

    The study examines the biodiversity awareness, attitudes and acceptance of measures of stakeholder groups in agriculture and forestry in order to achieve more effective nature conservation. 

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  • MORE STEP – Mobility at Risk: Sustaining the Mongolian Steppe Ecosystem (Phase I)
    Biodiversity Land Use Climate Adaptation

    MORE STEP – Mobility at Risk: Sustaining the Mongolian Steppe Ecosystem (Phase I)

    The MORE STEP research project investigates processes of change in the ecosystem of the Mongolian steppe and their socio-economic and ecological causes and consequences. The mobility of wild and domesticated herd animals plays a central role here.

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  • TRI-HP – Trigeneration systems based on multiple renewable sources
    Sufficiency Transformation

    TRI-HP – Trigeneration systems based on multiple renewable sources

    The EU project TRI-HP is investigating the social acceptance and requirements of innovative trigeneration systems in order to make renewable energy technology for residential buildings user-friendly and effective.

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  • TRAPA India – Transition pathways for solving urban wastewater problems in Indian cities
    Chemical Risks Water

    TRAPA India – Transition pathways for solving urban wastewater problems in Indian cities

    The aim of the BMBF project is to develop and evaluate resource-efficient wastewater concepts. ISOE is responsible for a fundamental institutional and stakeholder analysis, the sustainability assessment from a socio-ecological perspective and a final transfer potential analysis.

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  • s:ne – System Innovation for Sustainable Development
    Knowledge and Participation Transformation

    s:ne – System Innovation for Sustainable Development

    The central element of the s:ne transfer project is an innovation and transformation platform (ITP), which aims to facilitate cooperation with political, social and economic players as well as research institutions in the region.

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  • ENGAGE – Commitment to sustainable public welfare
    Transformation

    ENGAGE – Commitment to sustainable public welfare

    The ENGAGE project investigates the conditions under which the participation and commitment of citizens to sustainability can lead to “sustainable public welfare”.

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  • Transdisciplinarity in climate change adaptation research
    Knowledge and Participation

    Transdisciplinarity in climate change adaptation research

    Research findings must be combined with impulses for social change processes. In a study, ISOE explores transdisciplinarity as a research mode in the complex field of climate adaptation.

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  • Electromobility for the Darmstadt-Rhine-Main-Neckar Region
    Mobility

    Electromobility for the Darmstadt-Rhine-Main-Neckar Region

    The project is developing an electromobility concept for Darmstadt-Rhine-Main-Neckar, analyzing needs and potential greenhouse gas savings and integrating regional mobility services.

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  • SuPraStadt – Quality of life, participation and resource conservation through social diffusion of sufficiency practices in urban neighbourhoods
    Transformation Sufficiency

    SuPraStadt – Quality of life, participation and resource conservation through social diffusion of sufficiency practices in urban neighbourhoods

    The SuPraStadt research project is investigating in three real-world laboratories how the needs of residents in the fields of housing, open space and mobility can be reconciled with the ecological requirements of sustainability.

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  • Water demand forecast 2050 (base year 2020) for Hamburg
    Water

    Water demand forecast 2050 (base year 2020) for Hamburg

    For sustainable planning, ISOE is updating Hamburg's water demand forecast for 2020-2050, taking into account climate change, COVID-19 effects and innovations in water-saving technologies.

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  • LIRA 2030 – Fostering Transdisciplinarity in Africa
    Knowledge and Participation

    LIRA 2030 – Fostering Transdisciplinarity in Africa

    The program aims to promote the capacities of young scientists in Africa for transdisciplinary research and to support scientific contributions to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

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  • Environmental awareness in Germany 2020
    Sufficiency

    Environmental awareness in Germany 2020

    In a qualitative study, ISOE maps perceptions and attitudes in society towards climate change and climate protection.

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  • Societal impacts of research institutions: ARL Effectiveness Study
    Abstraktes Bild, Luftaufnahme Platz mit Menschen, die durch Linien verbunden sind
    Knowledge and Participation

    Societal impacts of research institutions: ARL Effectiveness Study

    The ARL – Academy for Territorial Development in the Leibniz Association works in an inter- and transdisciplinary manner. Our study highlights the added value of this approach.

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  • Knowledge transfer of the results of basic scientific research
    Knowledge and Participation

    Knowledge transfer of the results of basic scientific research

    The project identifies transfer potential within the framework of research at the Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung. Taking into account the knowledge needs of target groups, transfer products are identified and designed in collaboration with the relevant stakeholders.

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  • PlastX – Plastics as a systemic risk for social-ecological supply systems
    Chemical Risks

    PlastX – Plastics as a systemic risk for social-ecological supply systems

    The junior research group PlastX, led by ISOE, is examining the societal role of plastic and the associated environmental impacts. Within this framework, the team of social and natural scientists is attempting to find out how plastic might be used more sustainably.

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  • PlastX – Plastic waste in seas and oceans
    Water Chemical Risks

    PlastX – Plastic waste in seas and oceans

    The sub-project of the PlastX junior research group investigates the implementation process of management strategies to protect the seas and oceans.

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  • PlastX – Microplastics in bodies of running water
    Water Chemical Risks

    PlastX – Microplastics in bodies of running water

    In the sub-project of the PlastX junior research group, a concept is being developed to assess the environmental risks posed by microplastics in flowing waters.

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  • Cognitive integration and innovation
    Knowledge and Participation

    Cognitive integration and innovation

    The aim of the project is to dynamically integrate current advances in socio-ecological research in relevant scientific fields.

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  • PlastX – Packaging and sustainable consumption
    Chemical Risks

    PlastX – Packaging and sustainable consumption

    Under the leadership of ISOE, the PlastX junior research group is investigating the social role of plastics and their effects on the environment.

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  • Kommunikationskampagnen für nachhaltigen Konsum und gesellschaftliche Teilhabe
    Transformation Sufficiency

    Kommunikationskampagnen für nachhaltigen Konsum und gesellschaftliche Teilhabe

    In collaboration with students and lecturers from the Master's degree course in Communication Design at Mainz University of Applied Sciences, six communication campaigns were created to appeal to young people for sustainable consumption.

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  • EPoNa – Water Reuse in Northern Namibia
    Water

    EPoNa – Water Reuse in Northern Namibia

    The aim of the project is to improve the performance of wastewater pond facilities. To this end, ISOE is investigating aspects of governance and developing management structures and financial controlling procedures.

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  • BioFAVOR II – Low-tech recycling of faeces from decentralised sources
    Sufficiency

    BioFAVOR II – Low-tech recycling of faeces from decentralised sources

    The research network in the BioFAVOR II project demonstrates the technical feasibility of a novel low-tech process for converting faeces from composting toilets into products that are hygienically and ecologically safe.

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  • Gender equality as a contribution to successful climate policy
    Transformation

    Gender equality as a contribution to successful climate policy

    The aim of the project is to better anchor gender perspectives in climate policy. To this end, it is investigating the mechanisms of action between gender and climate policy.

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  • Environmental Risks and Pharmaceuticals: The Key Role of Pharmacies
    Chemical Risks

    Environmental Risks and Pharmaceuticals: The Key Role of Pharmacies

    In order to raise environmental awareness, the project team is working together with pharmacy practice partners to develop materials that will be used and evaluated on a pilot basis in training and further education.

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  • Proxies and Scenarios for the Development of Water Demand
    Water

    Proxies and Scenarios for the Development of Water Demand

    The project analyzes water withdrawals and return flows in German river basins in order to better assess the impact of human activities on the water balance.

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  • TransImpact – Effective Transdisciplinary Research
    Knowledge and Participation

    TransImpact – Effective Transdisciplinary Research

    The TransImpact project analyzes how and with which methods transdisciplinary research can achieve the desired social and scientific effects.

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  • Accompanying research for ‘Real-World Laboratories’ in Baden-Württemberg
    Knowledge and Participation

    Accompanying research for ‘Real-World Laboratories’ in Baden-Württemberg

    A consortium consisting of Leuphana University Lüneburg, ISOE and the Wuppertal Institute is carrying out the accompanying research for seven existing real-world laboratories in Baden-Württemberg.

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  • Ecodesign – ecological design as purchase criterion
    Transformation

    Ecodesign – ecological design as purchase criterion

    The project investigates how consumers perceive sustainable product characteristics and how companies can better design and communicate products.

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  • NiddaMan – Sustainable Water Resources Management in the Nidda Catchment Area
    Water

    NiddaMan – Sustainable Water Resources Management in the Nidda Catchment Area

    The aim of the joint project is the development of strategies for a sustainable management of the water resources in the Nidda catchment area. These strategies are to serve as a planning instrument for practical water management.
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  • Scientific coordination of the funding initiative „An environmentally and socially compatible transformation of the German energy system”
    Sufficiency

    Scientific coordination of the funding initiative „An environmentally and socially compatible transformation of the German energy system”

    Since 2013 a total of 33 collaborative research projects are dealing with various aspects of an “Environmentally and socially compatible transformation of the German energy system”. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has included this initiative into the funding priority Social-Ecological Research (SÖF) and has assigned the Öko-Institut together with the ISOE with the coordination of the funding initiative.
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  • Semizentral – Infrastructure systems for cities of the future experiencing rapid growth
    Water

    Semizentral – Infrastructure systems for cities of the future experiencing rapid growth

    Within the CLIENT joint project “Semizentral: Resource-efficient and flexible supply and waste disposal infrastructure systems for rapidly growing cities of the future – Phase 2” ISOE is supporting the implementation of a project that is testing the semicentral freshwater supply and wastewater treatment in a new district of Qingdao/China.
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  • Approaches to long-term effective power saving advice
    Sufficiency

    Approaches to long-term effective power saving advice

    Previously tested instruments for saving electricity are to be disseminated in the electricity-saving advice project and combined with advice services offered by local authorities and consumer organizations. 

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  • share – Electromobility in car sharing
    Mobility

    share – Electromobility in car sharing

    Using the car sharing service car2go, the project team is studying the environmental impact of electric cars compared to those with combustion engines.
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  • SASSCAL – Water-related vulnerabilities and risk in Southern Africa
    Water Land Use

    SASSCAL – Water-related vulnerabilities and risk in Southern Africa

    The project team is analysing to what extent water-related vulnerabilities and risks for the population and ecosystems are developing within the context of global change and how these might conceivably be reduced.
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  • Modernization of “Blue Angel”
    Transformation

    Modernization of “Blue Angel”

    On behalf of the UBA (Umweltbundesamt) the ISOE is developing a strategy to update the label with the aim to make the eco-label more modern and increase its attractiveness. The focus is on the renewal of the logo.
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  • Mobility Strategy for Hesse
    Mobility

    Mobility Strategy for Hesse

    The aim of the project is to develop elements of an integrated mobility strategy using the example of Hesse and to show ways in which a sustainable and social mobility culture can be shaped at state level.

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  • netWORKS 3 – Sustainable concepts for the municipal water sector
    Water Climate Adaptation

    netWORKS 3 – Sustainable concepts for the municipal water sector

    The goal of the research collaboration netWORKS is to develop innovative and sustainable solutions for the municipal water and wastewater sector. The netWORKS 3 project is designed to help municipalities adapt to the changing determining conditions in the water and wastewater sector.
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  • Climate CO2NTEST – Acceptance and impact of the competition in the Hanover region
    Sufficiency

    Climate CO2NTEST – Acceptance and impact of the competition in the Hanover region

    The competition “Climate CO2NTEST” has the goal to support local and regional climate protection activities of cities and communities. It also encourages private households to practice climate-friendly behavior in everyday life. ISOE is evaluating the project on behalf of the Climate Protection Agency Hanover Region.
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  • Power efficiency classes for households
    Sufficiency

    Power efficiency classes for households

    In the project, researchers from ISOE and the German Öko-Institut are developing new approaches to reduce power consumption in households. The new “power efficiency classes” label will be recording power consumption in households and assigning them an efficiency class.
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  • NaCoSi – Sustainability controlling of the domestic water management
    Water Chemical Risks

    NaCoSi – Sustainability controlling of the domestic water management

    The goal of the joint project is to develop a sustainability controlling for the domestic water management, thus minimising the risks that compromise sustainable development and improving the viability of the water sector.
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  • Noise Intermissions at Frankfurt Airport
    Transformation

    Noise Intermissions at Frankfurt Airport

    In the noise breaks project, the scientists are investigating how the new runway utilization concept at Frankfurt Airport, which is intended to lead to a reduction in noise, is assessed by the population.

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  • Sharing-Concepts for a Multi-Optional Mobility System in Frankfurt-Rhine-Main
    Mobility Transformation

    Sharing-Concepts for a Multi-Optional Mobility System in Frankfurt-Rhine-Main

    Using the Rhine-Main region as an example, ISOE and the Institute of Human Geography at Goethe University Frankfurt are investigating how new mobility services can be integrated into the public transport system and transport planning.

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  • CuveWaters – Sustainable Water Management in Namibia
    Water

    CuveWaters – Sustainable Water Management in Namibia

    The aim of CuveWaters is to support and improve Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in the northern Namibian Cuvelai-Etosha Basin. ISOE is supervising and co-ordinating this international joint project.
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  • Tracking down micropollutants
    Chemical Risks

    Tracking down micropollutants

    The project is studying how drug residue in the water cycle might be minimised with the help of technical and communications measures.
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  • Smartphone Instead of a Car?
    Mobility

    Smartphone Instead of a Car?

    In the empirical research project scientists of the ISOE are investigating the connection between the use of smartphones and attitudes towards mobility.
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  • Drugs for man and the environment?
    Chemical Risks

    Drugs for man and the environment?

    The aim of the project is to raise doctors' awareness of the environmental relevance of pharmaceutical residues in water by integrating the topic into their basic and further training.

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  • TransRisk – Pollutants as a risk to the water cycle
    Chemical Risks Water

    TransRisk – Pollutants as a risk to the water cycle

    Scientists in the TransRisk project are studying how to characterise, communicate and minimise the risks that ensue due to new pollutants and pathogens in the water cycle.
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  • KREIS – Innovative municipal wastewater system in ‘Jenfelder Au’
    Water

    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. ISOE is analysing the scheme in terms of user behaviour and sustainability.
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  • IndUK – Individual environmental action and climate protection
    Sufficiency

    IndUK – Individual environmental action and climate protection

    The IndUK project pools results from SÖF projects on climate protection and change, promotes knowledge transfer and develops practical strategies for climate-friendly behavior.

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  • Germany under Climate Change
    Transformation

    Germany under Climate Change

    The German Federal Environment Agency (UBA) has mandated the project partners to study the capability to adapt to climate change and ways into a climate-robust society in 2050.
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  • IWRM in Isfahan – Sustainable Water Management in Iran
    Water

    IWRM in Isfahan – Sustainable Water Management in Iran

    The team of the German-Iranian IWRM project in Isfahan is developing a concept for integrated water resource management (IWRM) in the region around the Zayandeh river.
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  • mobile2020 – Promoting Cycling in Central and Eastern Europe
    Mobility

    mobile2020 – Promoting Cycling in Central and Eastern Europe

    The goal of mobile2020 is to promote cycling as a mode of transport in Central and Eastern European countries. To this end, people in eleven countries are being trained as 'disseminators'.
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  • KlimaAlltag – low carbon lifestyles in the zero emissions city
    Sufficiency

    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.
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  • IMPACT – Corporate Social Responsibility in the EU
    Transformation

    IMPACT – Corporate Social Responsibility in the EU

    In IMPACT, 16 European research facilities are investigating how corporate social responsibility activities (CSR) contribute to the goals of the EU.
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  • SASSCAL – Research Infrastructure in Africa
    Water Land Use

    SASSCAL – Research Infrastructure in Africa

    In July 2010 the launch of the new BMBF initiative "Climate change and adaptive land management in Africa" took place. The goal is to build up a long-term research infrastructure in Africa via regional competence centres.
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  • Eliminating micropollutants in sewage plants
    Chemical Risks Water

    Eliminating micropollutants in sewage plants

    This project looks into how active drugs substances and micropollutants can be extracted via sewage plants. The part played by ISOE is to investigate how such inputs can be avoid.
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  • Intelliekon – Acceptance of Electricity Consumption Feedback
    Sufficiency

    Intelliekon – Acceptance of Electricity Consumption Feedback

    Within the Intelliekon project, ISOE, together with two Fraunhofer institutes (ISE and ISI) and nine energy suppliers, is investigating the impact of intelligent electricity meters.
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  • Expert report on the carbon balance of forests
    Biodiversity

    Expert report on the carbon balance of forests

    On behalf of the HSE Südhessische Energie AG, ISOE is involved in compiling an expert report on the carbon balance of carbon-offset forestry projects.
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  • EcoLux – Sustainable Building and Housing in Luxemburg
    Sufficiency

    EcoLux – Sustainable Building and Housing in Luxemburg

    In a social-ecological expertise, ISOE investigated ways in which the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg could reconcile its goals for climate, housing and social policy.
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  • Synergies between environmental and social policy
    Transformation

    Synergies between environmental and social policy

    On behalf of the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), the project partners are investigating the synergies arising from environmental and social policy measures. The aim is to be able to make better use of them and communicate them.

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  • Meta-Analysis of Gender and Research in Europe
    Transformation

    Meta-Analysis of Gender and Research in Europe

    A meta-analysis was used to collect existing pieces of research on scientific gender studies in Europe and establish research needs.
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  • Evaluation of the Cariteam Energy Saving Service
    Sufficiency

    Evaluation of the Cariteam Energy Saving Service

    ISOE evaluated the Cariteam-Energiesparservice of Caritas Frankfurt e.V. For this purpose, the team conducted empirical surveys of those households that received advice with a view to investigating satisfaction and acceptance.
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  • Analysis of Job Prospects in Energy Saving Advice
    Sufficiency

    Analysis of Job Prospects in Energy Saving Advice

    In the project, ISOE analysed the potential benefits for the labour market arising from the Cariteam-Energiesparservice (energy-saving service).
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  • Hertie-Studie FrankfurtRheinMain
    Mobility

    Hertie-Studie FrankfurtRheinMain

    The Hertie Study for FrankfurtRheinMain explored attitudes towards life in the region.
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  • Smart Home from a Customer's Perspective
    Sufficiency

    Smart Home from a Customer's Perspective

    In a market-research study, ISOE surveyed private and commercial customers to find out how they rate the benefits of Smart Home.
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  • Structural concept for Trinkwasserversorgung Magdeburg
    Water

    Structural concept for Trinkwasserversorgung Magdeburg

    In this project a structural concept for the future water supply was developed on behalf of the water utility Trinkwasserversorgung Magdeburg GmbH (TWM).
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  • Communication Strategies for the Handling of Pharmaceuticals
    Chemical Risks

    Communication Strategies for the Handling of Pharmaceuticals

    ISOE developed a communication strategy for the Federal Environmental Agency (UBA). It was intended to reduce the input of pharmaceuticals into water bodies.
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  • Demand-driven Life Cycle Management
    Mobility

    Demand-driven Life Cycle Management

    The demand-driven scheme for life-cycle management was developed and tested for municipalities on the basis of a target group model and other analysis tools.
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  • ZEM – Zero-Emission Mobility: Human Powered Mobility with Fun
    Mobility

    ZEM – Zero-Emission Mobility: Human Powered Mobility with Fun

    The project provided the basis for the "Kopf an – Motor aus" ("Brain on – engine off") campaign run by the Federal Ministry of the Environment to get people to dispense with the car for short-distance travel.
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  • Gender Mainstreaming in two Saxon Hospitals

    Gender Mainstreaming in two Saxon Hospitals

    The team developed a gender mainstreaming tool for two hospitals in Saxony in order to improve the reconcilability of work and private life for men and women.
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  • Leisure Traffic in Urban Areas in Switzerland
    Mobility

    Leisure Traffic in Urban Areas in Switzerland

    For urbanised areas in Switzerland, ISOE developed a target group model for leisure mobility. This consisted of measures to bring about more sustainable travel behaviour.
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  • Analysis of the Program "Bremer modernisieren"
    Sufficiency

    Analysis of the Program "Bremer modernisieren"

    ISOE was commissioned by Bremer Energie-Konsens GmbH to evaluate the "Bremer modernisieren" (Bremer modernise) funding initiative on energy-efficient building renovation.
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  • MOVILIZATION – toward accessible cities
    Mobility

    MOVILIZATION – toward accessible cities

    The project was set up to support eight cities in Latin America and Europe in implementing professional communication activities designed to boost cycle traffic.
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  • Efficient Advice on Electricity Consumption in Private Households
    Sufficiency

    Efficient Advice on Electricity Consumption in Private Households

    Efficient advice on electricity consumption in private households
    The project team developed an "informative electricity bill" for energy suppliers which it pilot tested in Heidelberg.
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  • demons – Supplying the Population

    demons – Supplying the Population

    The scientists of the demons junior research group examined links between demographic developments, needs and supply systems.
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  • Sustainability Performance in the Water Supply
    Water

    Sustainability Performance in the Water Supply

    In order to render the sustainability performance of German water utilities measurable and evaluable, the team identified operational figures which it compiled into a catalogue.
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  • Water demand forecast 2030 (base year 2005) for Hamburg
    Water

    Water demand forecast 2030 (base year 2005) for Hamburg

    In the Wasserbedarfsprognose 2030 project ('Water Demand Forecasting 2030'), ISOE and COOPERATIVE Darmstadt drew up a forecast for water demand in the area supplied by the Hamburg Waterworks (HWW).
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  • Sustainable Mobility Culture
    Mobility

    Sustainable Mobility Culture

    In this project, the scientists developed a concept to implement multi-optional mobility offerings drawing on the full range of transport available.
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  • Transdisciplinary Cognitive Integration

    Transdisciplinary Cognitive Integration

    Scientific staff at ISOE developed the Social Ecology research programme, and, after a process of critical reflection, published the results as a book.

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  • Knowledge Communication

    Knowledge Communication

    In the "Knowledge Communication" project, the team developed an essential basis for the effective and target-group-related communication of scientific findings at ISOE.
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  • Target Group Orientation and Gender Specific Design for Consumer Policies

    Target Group Orientation and Gender Specific Design for Consumer Policies

    ISOE, together with the Gender Institute of Saxony-Anhalt, advised the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs of the State of Saxony-Anhalt on how to devise a new consumer policy model. The focus here was on a gender- and target-group-specific perspective.
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  • netWORKS – Transformations in Network Related Infrastructure Sectors
    Water Climate Adaptation

    netWORKS – Transformations in Network Related Infrastructure Sectors

    The goal of the project group was to develop strategies and instruments that enable municipal decision-makers to take forward-looking action in the current process of transformation to the infrastructure systems.
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  • INVENT - Sustainable Management in the Tourism Sector
    Mobility

    INVENT - Sustainable Management in the Tourism Sector

    The INVENT project was dedicated to the development of innovative travel offers that promote sustainable tourism and slot easily into the mass- and high-volume markets.
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  • Evaluation of the "Brennpunkt Heizung" (Focus Heating) Campaign
    Sufficiency

    Evaluation of the "Brennpunkt Heizung" (Focus Heating) Campaign

    ISOE evaluated the "Die Alte muss raus" campaign run by the Bremen-based company Energie-Konsens GmbH. The team examined the motivational barriers and obstacles preventing the renewal of heating systems.
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  • Gender Mainstreaming in the National Park Eifel

    Gender Mainstreaming in the National Park Eifel

    The team provided scientific support and advice to the forestry commission in the Eifel National Park with introducing gender mainstreaming into its work.
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  • Food Change

    Food Change

    In this project, ISOE developed a typology of nutritional habits. From this it was possible to ascertain the need for action with regard to a "Food Change".
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  • Improving Energy-Efficient Refurbishment of Private Homes
    Sufficiency

    Improving Energy-Efficient Refurbishment of Private Homes

    On behalf of the German Energy Agency, the team developed a conceptual basis with which to promote the energy-efficient modernisation of detached and semi-detached houses.
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  • ecobiente - Designing Sustainable Goods more Succesfully
    Sufficiency

    ecobiente - Designing Sustainable Goods more Succesfully

    The project team of ecobiente accompanied businesses from the construction and housing sectors in developing products on the basis of ecological and target-group specific criteria.
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  • NahviS - Public Transport in the Black Forest
    Mobility

    NahviS - Public Transport in the Black Forest

    In the NAHVIS project, target-group-specific public transport offerings were developed for the rural southern region of the Black Forest.
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  • Gender Impact Assessement for the BMU

    Gender Impact Assessement for the BMU

    The team developed support materials for the introduction of a gender impact assessment (GIA) into the day-to-day workings of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Reactor Safety (BMU).
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  • Support for the Projects for Sustainable Economies

    Support for the Projects for Sustainable Economies

    ISOE provided support for the “Regional Approaches to Sustainable Economic Development” initiative funded by the Federal Ministry for Education and Research.
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  • Gender Impact Assessment for the City of Bremen

    Gender Impact Assessment for the City of Bremen

    ISOE examined the environmental funding programme of the of the Hanseatic City of Bremen’s Support Program for Applied Environmental Research using a gender impact assessment (GIA).
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  • Gender Impact Assessment in Radiation Protection and Environment
    Transformation

    Gender Impact Assessment in Radiation Protection and Environment

    By way of example, ISOE developed the instrument of a gender impact assessment (GIA) for the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Reactor Safety (BMU).
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  • Exploratory Studies on SÖF

    Exploratory Studies on SÖF

    The first phase of the "Social Ecological Research" (SÖF) funding programme of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) was concerned first and foremost with conducting exploratory studies. Innovative approaches from these studies were identified and collated for the funding programme. The interdisciplinary project group did a systematic evaluation of the findings from the exploratory projects in order to develop the funding programme further.
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  • Socio-Empirical Resarch on Leisure Mobility
    Mobility

    Socio-Empirical Resarch on Leisure Mobility

    The project team looked at how environmental pollution arising from leisure and tourism traffic can be kept in check. To this end, ISOE developed further its mobility style analysis for leisure mobility. Scientists established the leisure behaviour of different lifestyle groups and how the various lifestyle orientations impact on traffic patterns. Target-group-specific measures were developed for the different styles of leisure mobility, also depending on the emission profiles resulting from their leisure behaviour.
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  • Customer Potential for new Season Tickets in the RMV
    Mobility

    Customer Potential for new Season Tickets in the RMV

    ISOE was commissioned by the Rhein-Main Public Transport Association (RMV) to examine the attractiveness of different season ticket models. The aim was to develop new models for different target groups in the field of leisure and occasional services.
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  • Optimisation of the T-Net-Box

    Optimisation of the T-Net-Box

    On behalf of Deutsche Telekom, ISOE looked at ways of optimising the T-Net Box and its marketing. For this, existing and potential users were surveyed in intensive interviews. The Deutsche Telekom T-Net Box is a virtual net-based answering machine (with a PIN) that can be listened to, operated and configured from any telephone.
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  • Gender Impact Assessment of the EU-Programme "Enviroment and Sustainable Development"

    Gender Impact Assessment of the EU-Programme "Enviroment and Sustainable Development"

    The EU ordered the 5th Framework Programme for Research to be examined for gender-specific implications. As part of this process, ISOE carried out a gender impact assessment (GIA) within the sub-programme "Environment and Sustainable Development". The scientists began by developing evaluation criteria and scrutinising the main areas of research for gender-specific approaches. Finally, they ascertained the participation of women in institutions and petitions/applications. From this the team drew up recommendations as to how the participation of women could be improved and gender aspects taken up in environmental and sustainability research.
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  • Gender, Sustainable Consumption and Environmental Load

    Gender, Sustainable Consumption and Environmental Load

    The team working on this study explored existing research on gender-specific orientations and behaviour relevant to sustainable consumption. In doing so, it also analysed whether men and women are responsible for different types of pollution, respectively. Data from mobility research, for example, points to men being more inclined to drive larger cars and drive longer distances, thus contributing more towards climate change. The scientists also evaluated consumption data (e.g. water and energy consumption) from a gender perspective. On this basis, proposals were drawn up for gender-specific strategies to change consumer behaviour.
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  • Gender and Environmental Awareness

    Gender and Environmental Awareness

    The object of this study was to carry out a systematic investigation of the links between gender and environmental awareness and behaviour. For this purpose the authors evaluated the UBA survey "Environmental Awareness in Germany 2000" and the ISOE "Consumer Styles study" from a gender perspective. From the empirical results, the scientists then devised environmental communication strategies for the German Federal Environmental Agency (UBA). The findings are to be used to support environmental policy making with strategies that link ecological sustainability with gender fairness.
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  • Concept for the Framework Programme "Social-ecological Research" SÖF

    Concept for the Framework Programme "Social-ecological Research" SÖF

    The intention was to supplement the BMBF "Research for the Environment" programme with a new funding programme by the name of 'Social-Ecological Research". ISOE was commissioned to devise the conceptual framework. On this basis, 2000 saw the start of the 10-year funding period for all three funding programmes in three areas (integrated research, infrastructure funding, and the promotion of young scientists). It was the aim of this particular funding programme to strengthen Germany's expertise in social-ecological research and thus – taking special account of the potential available at non-university, independent research institutes – in transdisciplinary environmental and sustainability research as a whole.
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  • Forecasts of Social-Ecological Transformations

    Forecasts of Social-Ecological Transformations

    In the exploratory study, links between society, the supply system and Nature were examined. Scientists looked at how the uncertainty involved in forecasting complex interrelations could be reduced through the use of suitable models. In the modern water supply system, for example, natural and social processes are closely interwoven; in the language of physics, one would say they are "strongly coupled": for instance ecologically motivated savings by consumers, the falling away of water-intensive industries, or capacity problems in supply networks due to demographic change. Models can prove helpful in dealing with couplings of this kind.
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  • Improvement of Marketing Conditions for Green Electricity
    Sufficiency

    Improvement of Marketing Conditions for Green Electricity

    In a social scientific research study, the team examined how the Bremen-based company Energie-Konsens GmbH could improve marketing conditions for green electricity. Along the lines of a lifestyle oriented qualitative social research study, scientists at ISOE surveyed the attitudes of the electricity customers in the course of focus groups and qualitative face-to-face interviews.
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  • Sustainable Modernisation of Existing Buildings
    Sufficiency

    Sustainable Modernisation of Existing Buildings

    In conjunction with a housing association, a concept was developed for the sustainable renovation of selected housing developments built in the 1950s and 1960s. The pilot settlements are the Hans-Böckler housing estate with 368 residential units in Offenbach along with 241 residential units in the Bad Soden "Musicians' District", and a further 202 residential units on an estate in Bad Soden-Neuenhain.
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  • Privatisation in the Water Sector
    Water

    Privatisation in the Water Sector

    ISOE compiled this exploratory study for the "Social Ecological Research" funding programme of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The scientists ascertained research needs for sustainable development in water resource management.
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  • Sustainability Audit
    Transformation

    Sustainability Audit

    In collaboration with the Ökobank, ISOE penned some preliminary ideas for a sustainability audit. The “normal” EC Eco-Audit aims at process-driven improvements in a company's immediate environmental impact, for instance reduced consumption of paper and energy or a reduction in CO2 emissions. The sustainability audit combines the Eco-Audit with a social audit.
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  • Substitution of Environmental Relevant Flame Retardants
    Chemical Risks

    Substitution of Environmental Relevant Flame Retardants

    The team investigated the use of flame retardants in Germany on the basis of selected products. These included products from the categories of insulating material and polyurethane foam, construction materials for rail vehicles, printed circuit boards, basic materials for electronics housing, and mattress/upholstery fabrics.
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  • Knowledge Transfer for Ecological Innovations

    Knowledge Transfer for Ecological Innovations

    During the two years of research, a consumption-related "innovation probe" was developed, with which to utilise consumers' demands for ecologically innovative products and services. The "knowledge transfer" between consumer and manufacturer so far has to pass between the bottleneck of market research. A broader approach is called for if ecological aspects of relevance to everyday life are to be identified alongside purchase behaviour and market preferences.
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  • Scientific Back-Up for the Research Project EPSECC

    Scientific Back-Up for the Research Project EPSECC

    On behalf of the Öko-Institut Freiburg, ISOE examined which social groups have so far been excluded from climate protection policy. Background was the research project Environmental Policy, Social Exclusion and Climate Change (EPSECC).
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  • Social Dimensions of Sustainability

    Social Dimensions of Sustainability

    ISOE developed perspectives for the further specification and operationalisation of the social dimension of sustainability. To this end, scientists identified five core elements to be monitored. The team subsequently formulated rules for social sustainability. For each core element, they proposed a set of indicators to describe the respective stages of social (non-)sustainability achieved.
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  • CITY:mobil – Viable Ways of Urban Mobility
    Mobility

    CITY:mobil – Viable Ways of Urban Mobility

    Within the joint project, the scientists worked out concepts and strategies for sustainable traffic and mobility development in towns and cities. It was while working on this project that ISOE developed, tested and scrutinised the first empirically validated concept for mobility style analysis.
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  • Efficient Use of the Hessian Groundwater Fee
    Water

    Efficient Use of the Hessian Groundwater Fee

    The project tracked the deployment of funds from the Hessian groundwater fee in Hessian communities, evaluating it for efficiency. The interdisciplinary research group was able to ascertain overall success for the initiative within the funding criteria.
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  • Sustainability as a Concept in the Social Sciences

    Sustainability as a Concept in the Social Sciences

    In this project, representatives from 11 countries contributed jointly on the concept of sustainability in the social sciences. The aim was to initiate an international process of discussion and reflection. One aspect concerned how to go about formulating sustainability as a viable, transdisciplinary social science concept. The other main concern was the extent of reorientation required in the social sciences in order to conduct interdisciplinary, problem- and actor-related sustainability research.
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  • Water Cycle an Urban-Ecological Development
    Water

    Water Cycle an Urban-Ecological Development

    The project team investigated the connection between the social, technical and ecological aspects of a future approach to urban water usage. It focused its research on the water cycle in the cities of Dresden and Frankfurt am Main. The scientists came up with sustainable strategies to form a scenario capable of tackling the water-related problems and socio-ecological hot spots in urban industrial regions.
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  • Regional Sustainability in Water and Land Use
    Water

    Regional Sustainability in Water and Land Use

    Regional sustainability as a research topic raises many questions regarding methodology and subject matter. In this proprietary project, ISOE developed a concept for regional sustainability around the example of water.
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  • Material flows of environmentally relevant chemical substances: product line controlling
    Water

    Material flows of environmentally relevant chemical substances: product line controlling

    Using fire protection as an example, the project team investigated the possibility of implementing an ecological scheme to manage material flows along the value chain. In preventative fire protection, plastics are often treated with flame retardants containing problematic substances.

    Based on a product tree analysis, the potentials and restrictions of ecological innovations in the field of fire protection were examined. Personal computers and car seats were the product lines of reference here. At ISOE, actor-oriented studies were carried out to establish people's knowledge about substances, risk awareness, usage patterns and innovation routines.
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  • Stormwater Infiltration in Wiesbaden
    Water

    Stormwater Infiltration in Wiesbaden

    ISOE subjected parts of Wiesbaden city to an initial water management appraisal. Here, scientists categorised which surfaces were suitable for decentralised infiltration of precipitation. The surfaces were evaluated with a view to groundwater protection (pollutant input and filtering qualities of the soils) and their infiltration capability.
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