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Societal transformation towards sustainable development

Profound transformations are needed for societies to become more sustainable. Such sustainability transformations are explored in the context of transformation research, transformative research, and related approaches. To lay the foundations for this, the project “Research on Sustainability Transformations” was launched by the Platform Science and Policy (SAP) of SCNAT.

For the year 2023, the project team dedicated itself to the following priority topic:

Reflecting on and discussing different roles of scientists in sustainability transformations

In 2022, the project pursued the following goals

Goal 1: Explain the uses of the term transformation and related research approaches.

The aim here is to offer guidance to SCNAT specialist audiences on how, in what context, and why to utilize the terms transformation research and transformative research, as well as how transformation is understood, how transformation processes occur, and the role science plays or could play.

Methods used: Survey and mini-Delphi approach among researchers belonging to the SCNAT network, desk research

Goal 2: Identify priorities and opportunities for action.
The aim here is to determine the tasks that emerge for SCNAT, and for the Academies overall, when discussing and engaging with sustainability transformations.

Methods used: Iterative development of priority topics in the project committee, workshop

Contact

Christian Preiswerk
SCNAT
Science and Society Division
House of Academies
Laupenstrasse 7
3008 Bern
Switzerland


The website on the topic

This website offers guidance on research into sustainability transformations. It explains terms and provides examples to aid understanding. Selected in-depth examples help to illustrate what constitutes research on sustainability transformations.

  • Karin Ammon
  • Sascha Ismail
  • Fabian Käser
  • Christoph Kull
  • Filippo Lechthaler
  • Urs Neu
  • Franziska Oeschger
  • Theres Paulsen
  • Christian Preiswerk
  • Ursula Schüpbach
  • Eva Spehn
  • Gabriela Wülser

In order to sharpen and deepen our understanding of research on sustainability transformations in the Swiss research landscape, we mobilized the network of the academies. We wish to thank the following for their inputs:

  • Philipp Aerni
  • Karin Ammon
  • Christian Binz
  • Basil Bornemann
  • Nadine Brühwiler
  • Mollie Chapman
  • Lisa Deutsch
  • Beatrice Durrer-Eggerschwiler
  • Olivier Ejderyan
  • Nikolina Fuduric
  • Sascha Ismail
  • Johanna Jacobi
  • Fabian Käser
  • Claudia Keller
  • Christoph Kueffer
  • Christoph Kull
  • Filippo Lechthaler
  • Federico Luisetti
  • Jochen Markard
  • Danièle Martinoli
  • Andreas Masuhr
  • Pete Messerli
  • Stephanie Moser
  • Gabriele Müller
  • Urs Neu
  • Franziska Oeschger
  • Iago Otero
  • Theres Paulsen
  • Christian Preiswerk
  • Felix Poelsma
  • Julianna Priskin
  • Lea Reusser
  • Caroline Reymond
  • Rebeca Roysen
  • Ursula Schüpbach
  • Eva Spehn
  • Marlyne Sahakian
  • Michael Stauffacher
  • Theresa Tribaldos
  • Bernhard Truffer
  • Gabriela Wülser
  • Anne Zimmermann