Project: Evaluation and Synthesis of Social-Ecological Exploratory Projects

Project Head at ISOE: Engelbert Schramm Project Team: Doris Hayn Engelbert Schramm Cooperating Institutions: A. Daschkeit, Institute of Geography, University of Kiel (Head of Overall Project) G. Bechmann, ITAS Karlsruhe K.-H. Simon, Scientific Center for Environmental Systems Research, University of Kassel gsf-Projektträger Umwelt- und Klimaforschung Funding: Federal Ministry of Education and Research Duration: 10/ 2001–06/2002   Field of research   about the Institute

A Contribution to the Further Development of the Support Priority (Förderschwerpunkt) : Social-Ecological Research The new instrument, “exploratory projects,” has the ability to determine, in a scientific, controlled and transparent manner, future social-ecological research needs. This unusual approach can also be used to quickly elucidate new social-ecological topic and research fields. The interdisciplinary project group systematically evaluated the results of the exploratory projects from the first support phase for use in further developing this support priority. The group checked to see, among other things, whether the requirements and expectations found in the framework concept could be met. Also clarified was whether, and how, content, requirements and expectations within social-ecological research should be modified and further developed. The project group’s goal was to safeguard the innovative and creative ideas and approaches developed in the exploratory projects, thereby contributing to the further development of this priority area. The evaluation of the exploratory projects was carried out by using reports and publications, and by interviewing participants. Exploratory projects represent, according to the evaluation, a new and innovative instrument for research policy. For, with their help it is possible, in a time and resource efficient manner, to identify important contributions to the further development of a “learning support priority.” In short time a series of new research areas were opened. For example, it was shown that making gender relations a specific theme can also be very helpful when investigating the research area, “Biodiversity.” At the same time “old” social-ecological themes such as water were studied under new perspectives. Moreover, approaches were presented that were promising candidates for further treatment from a social-ecological point of view (e.g., the governance approach). Although there is presently still no final agreement within the research field as a whole concerning social ecology as an independent approach, a part of the exploratory project was dedicated to working on the theoretical and conceptual further development of basic concepts. For example, various characteristics of the concept of “societal relations to nature” (also as used outside of ISOE) were sketched. In addition, the Ministry of Research and project supporters received tips concerning the organization of concomitant research and for further procedures (such as assessment procedures) within the support priority, something which becomes increasingly necessary in the second support phase.