Research and Teaching
Research
Our research focuses on shaping transformations towards sustainability. Through our transdisciplinary research, we aim to identify pathways for sustainable and equitable management of water, land, biodiversity, human settlements, and consumption.
Theoretical Foundations
Knowledge for transformations towards sustainability
Our research is rooted in Social Ecology, a field of science co-founded by ISOE scientists and known for its transdisciplinary approach.
Social Ecology explores the interactions between humans, society, and nature, focusing on ways to make these relationships more sustainable. Understanding and shaping are inseparably linked in this transformation-oriented science. Only by actively shaping and implementing alternatives can we uncover their transformative potential. By systematically connecting empirical research within our fields with theoretical work, we ensure that our research is both scientifically robust and practically relevant.
What is transdisciplinary research?
Combining scientific excellence with societal relevance
Transdisciplinary research brings together science and practice to jointly develop solutions for complex societal challenges. It integrates different forms of knowledge, thereby creating a solid foundation for sustainable transformation.
Transdisciplinary research is an approach designed to understand complex societal challenges and to shape sustainable transformations. Unlike purely disciplinary or interdisciplinary approaches, it combines scientific perspectives with knowledge and experience from practice. The aim is to jointly develop solutions that are both scientifically excellent and socially impactful.
At the core of transdisciplinary research is close collaboration between science and societal actors throughout the entire research process. It starts from real-world societal challenges, which are specified together with actors from politics, business, and civil society and translated into workable research questions. In doing so, different forms of knowledge – scientific knowledge as well as experiential, contextual, and practical knowledge – are systematically included and interconnected.
A central element is the co-production of knowledge. This process generates integrated insights that contribute both to scientific advancement (scientific impacts) and to concrete solutions for societal problems (societal impacts). At the same time, questions of epistemic justice, the inclusion of diverse perspectives, and the handling of ignorance and uncertainty are taken into account.
Transdisciplinary research is designed as an iterative process. It comprises several phases – from joint problem framing to integrative knowledge production, and on to the development and implementation of solutions. The focus is not only on generating knowledge, but also on its application and impact in society, policy, and practice. In addition, transdisciplinary research contributes to the development of methods, to reflecting on scientific roles, and to the transformation of the scientific system itself.
Transdisciplinary research is thus a central component of social-ecological sustainability research. It helps to better understand complex challenges and to develop pathways towards sustainable development together with societal actors.
The Transdisciplinary Research Process
Image: ISOE
![The figure illustrates a schematic flow of the transdisciplinary research process. In the upper left corner, “societal problems” are linked to “scientific problems” (upper right) through a shared research subject. This relationship leads to an exchange between “societal discourse” and “scientific discourse.” At the center of the diagram, the production of new knowledge is shown, supported by “transdisciplinary integration.” This process ultimately results in outcomes for societal practice (bottom left) and scientific practice (bottom right).]()
Research Methods
We conduct inter- and transdisciplinary research
ISOE scientists are among the pioneers of transdisciplinary sustainability research. Our core expertise lies in inter- and transdisciplinary research methods and designs.
We specialize in integrating approaches from the social sciences, natural sciences, technical sciences, and humanities. Through joint learning processes with societal actors, we combine diverse perspectives, problem perceptions, and practical knowledge with scientific questions and insights. To foster this integration and the co-production of new, critically validated knowledge, we continuously advance suitable transdisciplinary methods and concepts.
In doing so, we focus on conceptual and theoretical foundations, empirical case studies, and science policy issues with the aim of ensuring the quality and effectiveness of transdisciplinary research and strengthening its societal relevance. The professorship in “Social Ecology and Transdisciplinarity” at Goethe University Frankfurt also contributes to these efforts.
The transdisciplinary approach is indispensable to adequately address, critically analyze, and develop effective strategies for the complex social-ecological challenges and transformation pathways of our time. Through this research mode, we gain a more comprehensive understanding of interconnections, causes, effects, and options for action. Additionally, we design new future perspectives and develop innovative alternatives for action that are tailored to the needs of those affected. The insights gained support both societal transformation processes and scientific progress.
In addition to their extensive expertise in transdisciplinary research, our scientists possess a wide range of disciplinary methodological competencies. Depending on their academic background, they are skilled in qualitative and quantitative empirical social research, integrated modeling, multi-criteria sustainability assessment, forecasting, and scenario development.
Our Research Methods at a Glance
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Empirical Social Research
When developing measures and approaches for transformations towards sustainability, it is important to know and understand people’s perspectives.
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Modeling
To understand the effects of actions and the complex system interrelations of sustainable development, we create integrated models of the various influencing factors.
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Scenarios and Forecasts
In order to be able to make statements on the factors that are influencing coming developments, we use the scenario technique to establish reliable assumptions about the future.
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Evaluation and Impact Assessment
We conduct evaluations to gain insights into the effectiveness, success factors, relevance and acceptance of measures, interventions and offers.
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Integrated Assessment
As part of evaluations and impact assessments, integrated assessment methods are a crucial element in evaluating innovations and measures in terms of their sustainability and their contribution to socio-ecological transformations.
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Stakeholder Processes
General change processes as well as the impact of individual measures, depend on the interests and actions of various stakeholders, but in turn also have an impact on them. It is therefore crucial to involve the relevant actors in the research process from an early stage and thus enable a joint knowledge production.
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Real-world Laboratories
We use the transdisciplinary research approach of real-world laboratories to generate knowledge on how to shape social transformations towards greater sustainability and how to initiate them.
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Research Data Management
Responsible Handling of Research Data
Research data is a fundamental basis for generating new scientific knowledge. At ISOE, we place great emphasis on the responsible and scientifically sound handling of research data.
Our research data management ensures that data is processed, secured, archived, and made available over the long term in accordance with recognized standards. This approach aims to promote transparency, reproducibility, and reusability of results, thereby ensuring good scientific practice. We take into account the specific requirements of each scientific discipline.
Our research data management is guided by the FAIR principles: data should be Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable. Additionally, ISOE strives to make data available without access restrictions (Open Access) whenever possible.
Research Data Policy
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Guideline for the management, storage, archiving and publication of research data
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Dr. Florian Schneider
Ethics Committee
Integrity and Ethics in Our Research
The Ethics Committee supports ISOE researchers in upholding ethical standards during their empirical research. The committee operates in accordance with the recommendations of the German Data Forum (RatSWD).
Its members bring extensive expertise in the social, natural, and engineering sciences. Alongside internal and external scientists, ISOE's data protection officer is also part of the committee. As an independent advisory body, the Ethics Committee members are not subject to directives and act solely according to their conscience.
ISOE’s Ethics Committee is a member of the NEKS – Network of Ethics Committees in Social Research. The committee is represented in this network by its chair, Dr. Thomas Friedrich.
Members
Dr. Thomas Friedrich (chair)
ISOE, Research Units Sustainable Society, Biodiversity and People
Petra Hansen
ISOE, Data protection
Dr. Katja Brinkmann
ISOE, Research Unit Water and Land Use
Dr. Georg Sunderer
Zahlengrün, external member
Dr. Martina Winker
ISOE, Member of the Executive Board
Prof. Dr. Dennis Eversberg
Goethe University Frankfurt, external member
Stefanie Burkhart
ISOE, Research Units Transdisciplinarity, Biodiversity and People
Dr. Miriam Schad
ISOE, Research Unit Sustainable Society
Dženeta Hodžić
ISOE, Research Units Transdisciplinarity, Water and Land Use
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