The Social Transitions Research Group

The Social Transitions Research Group (STR) investigates the social conditions and dynamics of sustainable transformations, and how these can be researched and supported. We study culture-sensitive and context-relevant pathways of transformation that lead to greater social justice and quality of life while remaining within the ecological capacities of our planet.

We explore successful cases and promising approaches to sustainable transformations and their insertion within broader societal changes. We focus on normative orientations, institutions, policies, and practices relating to diverse areas, including mobility, consumption, and food. We investigate how processes shape and are shaped by spaces and systems.

STR is committed to rigorous and responsible social science research. Bridging theory development and future-oriented problem solving, our work is based on a pluralistic approach that combines social science research with transdisciplinary methods. In our teaching and consultation activities, we experiment with interactive formats that promote transformative societal learning.