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The extraction and use of natural resources, their conversion and the use of chemicals, as well as the handling of recyclable or renewable commodities, are in many cases at the centre of environmental problems.
The cause of the resulting social conflicts are mainly technologies that satisfy existing needs but also cause environmentally relevant emissions or do not seem to be sufficiently resource-efficient.
The analysis, evaluation and modification of such technologies and the development of sustainable alternatives are therefore essential tasks of the environmental sciences. In addition to the purely technological aspects e.g. with regard to efficiency or emissions, questions about the effects on people and the environment, social acceptance as well as participation, involvement and justice are highly relevant.
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In our work, we focus on technologies, especially in the fields of environmental technology, production and energy.
Therefore, we will question, analyse and disclose their scientific and technical foundations as well as look at the processes from development to implementation.
The processes will be mapped and evaluated with the help of mathematical and agent-based modelling.
Questions concerning the acceptance of new technologies will also be dealt with using qualitative methods such as interviews. In this way, competences from the fields of environmental, process and energy technology as well as the natural sciences are combined with insights about influencing factors from the cultural and social sciences.
