Project: Modelling Nature Society Systems

Project Head: Florian Keil Project Team: Egon Becker Thomas Jahn Florian Keil Thomas Kluge Stefan Liehr   Cooperation: Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt: Prof. Dr. W. Püttmann (geo sciences/geography) Prof. Dr. A. Wakolbinger (mathematics) Prof. Dr. J. Oehlmann, Prof. Dr. B. Streit, Dr. D. Metzler (biology and computer sciences) Funding: Ministry for Science and Art of the State of Hesse Duration: 03/2003 – 12/2004 finished   Field of research   about the Institute

Completion of the installation phase Core objective of the project funded by the Hessen State Ministry of Higher Education, Research and the Arts (HMWK), was the installation of an interdisciplinray research network between the Goethe University Frankfurt on the Main and the ISOE for modelling nature-society systems. The thematic reference point during the installation phase of the research network MOMUS was the analysis of the dynamic interrelations between nature and society, considering as example tangible social-ecological problems in the context of water quality and water supply. The main task was the creation of structures for the development and implementation of concepts integrating the different disciplinary methods and knowledge bases of the natural and social sciences. The integration process was to be explicitly extended to the knowledge and constraints of action of the different stakeholders. The main results were the establishment of interdisciplinary cooperative structures between the university deparments of Biology, Geography/Geosciences and Mathematics on the side and the social-ecological research areas of the ISOE on the other as well as the conception and application of the joint research project INTAFERE. On the basis of a positive evaluation by renowned external referees INTAFERE is funded by the HMWK since January 2005. The concept of the three year project incorporates the results of the installation phase on the areas of the hydrochemical and biological assessment of small rivers, the socio-scientific analysis of the anthropogenic causes for pressures on theses waterbodies, the development of methods for an integrated modelling of the problem dynamics and stakeholderparticipation. In parallel to the implementation of INTAFERE, MOMUS is enhanced as a regional network of competence, that develops and implements innovative methods for an integrative environmental research. The rseearch reults of MOMUS and the ongoing project activities will be accessible soon on www.momus-network.de.