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
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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. |