Transdisciplinary Socio-Environment Research
Rapid global environmental change and social upheaval require deep societal transformation. Using transdisciplinary research in cooperation with actors from policy and practice, Freiburg's geography researchers are developing societal solutions with direct relevance for application, thus supporting civil society and public administration in proactively shaping transformation.
The complex manifestations and problem constellations of Global Change require fundamental rethinking of existing policies and planning approaches in order to facilitate social transformation and to avoid or mitigate negative effects. Freiburg's geographers engage with actors from policy, civil society and other scientific disciplines in order to develop effective and practical approaches that contribute to social transformation. Research projects investigate, for example, the impact of climate change on healthcare systems and co-creative urban planning approaches and their transformation potential.
Research Interests related to Transdisciplinary Socio-Environment Research
- Municipal Transformative Communities for Local Economies Beyond Growth (MUTUAL)Project ManagerSchmid B (Projektleitung), Chardon C (Team)Start/End of Project01.01.2024 until 31.12.2026DescriptionThe MUTUAL project explores how municipalities can develop pathways to move beyond growth as an objective and institutionalized principle. We are conducting research in two municipalities—Grenoble in France and Freiburg in Germany—to investigate strategies for fostering growth autonomy and resilience in real-world settings.MUTUAL is a three-year research project funded by the German Research Foundation and based at the University of Freiburg's Institute of Environmental Social Sciences and Geography. The project is guided by three research questions: (1) What measures implemented by municipalities potentially decrease the importance of economic growth for local development, and how? (2) What institutional and cultural conditions support or hinder growth autonomy, and how are these conditions navigated, negotiated, and modified by different stakeholders? (3) How can spatial concepts – such as place, territory, and scale – aid in understanding post-growth transformations at the municipal scale? for more information please visit: mutual-project.comContact PersonDr. Benedikt Schmid
Phone: ++49(0)761 203-3566
Email: benedikt.schmid@geographie.uni-freiburg.de