Normativity of Methods

The research agenda of the Quantitative Methods of Sustainability Science Group revolves around the central theme of development, transfer and application of quantitative methods to sustainability-related problems with the aim of creating novel knowledge and solutions.

Since our agenda is naturally an interdisciplinary endeavor, our group comprises a wide array of disciplinary backgrounds ranging from the natural to the social sciences, including biology, ecology, economics, environmental science, geography, human ecology, psychology and physics. What unites us is our belief in the idea that disciplinary knowledge is helpful, yet an interaction of disciplines can create new pathways.

We work on a wide array of model systems that we focus on in order to apply methods and generate novel knowledge. These model systems include the urban, rangelands, agricultural landscapes, and protected areas. Frequently, we aim at generating a larger overview on specific topics building on systematic reviews. In particular, research foci at the group include ecology, economics and the effects of land-use change on dryland rangelands, as well as the methodology and conduction of systematic literature reviews.