Research Object: Nature-Society Systems
The example of continuously rising costs in the water
supply and distribution services as a consequence of
investments in ever new treatment techniques as a
protection of the natural water resources against the
invasion of ever new chemical substances clearly
demonstrates: Environmental problems are always also
societal problems. The pressure on the environment
resulting from socio-technical progress is returned to
humans via ecosystems which are marred in their central
supply functions. Society responds to perceived changes
in these systems by adjusting their environmentally
relevant behaviour. Analytically, this means: Natural
and social processes are coupled inextricably through
feedback loops. The development of sustainable
strategies for handling anthropogenic environmental
stress demands a fundamental understanding of these
feedback loops. Not isolated social and natural
subsystems are the basic research objects but rather
coupled nature-society systems. This brings the
complexity of manifold interactions between ecologic,
social and economic processes into focus. In this
context models and computer simulations are important
tools.
Research Approach: Integrative Environmental Research
This approach
necessitates the development of an integrative,
social-ecological perspective in environmental research.
The interdisciplinary network of competence MOMUS
between the Goethe University Frankfurt on the Main and
the ISOE takes up this challenge. The objective of MOMUS
is to establish innovative methods for an integrative
environmental research by working on concrete problems
taken from the core topics of water supply and water
quality. In doing so, fundamental insights about the
dynamics of nature-society systems and guiding knowledge
for practice shall be generated simultaneously. In terms
of the network idea MOMUS considers itself an open
structure: Running a continuous long-term process of
inter-linking with new co-operators the expertise and
variety of topics is expanded. The carrying capacity of
this structure rests upon the foundation of an
interdisciplinary knowledge and communication basis as a
starting point and dedicated task of the collective
research process.
Dedicated Tasks: Cognitive and Social Integration
Heading for an integrative environmental research,
two main integration tasks are to be tackled. On the one
hand, a problem specific synthesis of knowledge and
methods across the different natural and social sciences
is to be achieved. The knowledge established and
currently generated in single disciplines has to be
merged in an explicit, interdisciplinary research
process. On the other hand, it is essential to link
“theory” and “practice”. Scientific results have to be
translated in such a way that options for societal
agency in dealing with urging social-ecological problems
are opened up. This calls for integrating the knowledge
and the needs of societal actors and stakeholders from
the very beginning of the research process. Only if
these two problems of integration are explicated,
conceptually accounted for and practically handled,
progress in solving real world social-ecological
problems might be achieved.
Research Method: Modelling and Simulation
As an instrument of cognition different types of
models play an indispensable role in analysing complex
nature-society systems. However, they can as well help
in solving the two problems of integration. The formal
character of models enforces the agreement on a common
language and thereby the explication of expert
hypotheses and assumptions. This allows for the
verification of their mutual compatibility. Within the
conceptual framework of a model, cognitive differences
can thus be bridged methodically soundly.
Simultaneously, they can facilitate the integration of
the particular societal realities into the research
area. In introducing stakeholders and their specific
perceptions and interests already into the modelling
process the transparency and acceptance of the
scientific results derived can be enhanced.
Participatorily developed models can then be used
effectively as decision support tools in environmental
issues.
Current research projects in the framework of MOMUS:
staff members
Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt on the
Main:
Institut für Atmosphäre und Umwelt, Arbeitsgruppe
Umweltanalytik
Institut für
Informatik, Arbeitsgruppe Bioinformatik
Institut für physische Geografie, Abteilung Hydrologie
Institut für Stochastik und Mathematische Informatik
Zoologisches Institut, Abteilung Ökologie und
Evolution, Arbeitsgruppe Evolutionsökologie
Zoologisches Institut, Abteilung Ökologie und
Evolution, Arbeitsgruppe Ökotoxikologie
Institute for Social-Ecological Research ISOE
Further information at
http://www.momus-network.de/englishf.htm
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