Glossary
Our research concept is both inter- and transdisciplinary and is anchored in media cultural studies and environmental humanities on the one hand and in the evaluation of science communication on the other.
Here we briefly explain some of the most important terms.
ENVIRONMENTAL HUMANITIES
Under the term “Environmental Humanities”, various humanities and social science disciplines are coming together to respond to the global ecological crisis and to seek new ways of working together with the natural and environmental sciences. In the conviction that interdisciplinary co-operation with the natural and environmental sciences offers an opportunity, the ways in which this co-operation can be strengthened and made fruitful are being tested.
EVALUATION RESEARCH
As a sub-area of empirical research, evaluation research deals with the assessment of measures or interventions. It uses social science methods to assess an object of evaluation, taking into account the relevant stakeholder groups on the basis of specific evaluation criteria such as acceptance, effectiveness, efficiency or sustainability. It is committed to the principles of scientific rigour and scientific ethics.
INTERDISCIPLINARTIY
Interdisciplinarity is a form of scientific work in which representatives of different disciplines jointly research a topic or subject. The interplay of different scientific perspectives and methods enables synergy effects and new knowledge. A sustainable and cooperative process of understanding across disciplinary boundaries is essential for successful interdisciplinary collaboration.
MEDIA CULTURAL STUDIES
Media cultural studies is dedicated to analysing and discussing media content and considers media such as images, writing, numbers and sound as cultural phenomena. In addition to film, it analyses a broad spectrum of media phenomena using methods from the humanities and social sciences, in particular various cultural and media theories, including media aesthetics, media discourse analysis and media ecology, as well as film and image studies and sound studies.
SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainability is a term that has been defined in different ways. In our research, it refers to the responsible and mindful use of acquired knowledge as well as natural and social resources to ensure that future generations also have a healthy basis for their food, energy and health. For individuals and entire societies, it is about taking responsibility for their own actions and their local, global and future impact.
SUSTAINABILITY EXPERIMENT
A sustainability experiment (often also referred to as a real-life experiment) is a scientific method in which scientists work together with practice partners to address socially relevant issues in terms of sustainable development. These experiments are located in concrete, real-world contexts (temporal, spatial, social). Scientists intervene in the course of the experiment, simultaneously accompanying and reflecting on this process and its results.
PARTICIPATION
The aim of activating participation in our research concept is to enable participation in discussions with experts, focus groups and workshops. The feedback of research results to local partners and audiences invites open dialogue and the opportunity to actively participate in our film selection and research.
TRANSDISCIPLINARITY
Transdisciplinarity arises from the challenge of social and ecological issues that transcend disciplinary knowledge. Social and scientific stakeholders work together to combine local and academic knowledge and find solutions together. The participants work together as partners and discuss motivations and interests transparently.
ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY
Environmental history is the history of the interaction between humans and nature – the various attempts to define this historical sub-area can be reduced to this brief and general denominator. Both sides of this interrelationship, man and nature, are given their own status, even if they are considered to be inextricably linked.