Many women experience a decline in the complex and analytical tasks they perform at work after having a child, particularly if they reduce their working hours. This is demonstrated by a study conducted by the Universities of Oldenburg and Bremen.

Judiciaries in a number of countries are increasingly under attack from populist parties. Political scientist Philipp Köker explains the strategy behind the trend – and how to counter it.

150,000 households recently received some unusual mail. They are invited to become participants in the "Lower Saxony Panel" and actively take part in research themselves - for example that of political scientist Jan Sauermann.

A new study shows: The birth of a child has little overall influence on parents' concerns about environmental and climate issues – however, mothers and fathers show different developments in their concerns after the birth.

Two projects in the fields of hearing research and political science have received funding from the state of Lower Saxony. The focus is on the influence of bilingualism on listening comprehension and the construction of social groups by political parties.

The first coronavirus lockdown was imposed five years ago. A new study by sociologist Gundula Zoch shows that political trust has changed significantly during the pandemic years – in some cases with long-term consequences.

What opportunities does our society offer, which factors exacerbate inequality and how are people’s attitudes and views affected by crises? Social scientist Gundula Zoch analyses thousands of data to answer these questions.

Matheus Silveira Mendes has been awarded the 2024 DAAD Prize for Outstanding Achievements by International Students. Beyond his academic achievements, he is also involved in many activities at the Institute for Social Sciences.

The energy transition cannot succeed without local acceptance. Social scientist Jannika Mattes has researched the conditions that lead to the success of wind energy projects in various regions.

The Basic Law was promulgated on 23 May 1949. 75 years later, what is the status of human dignity, which is enshrined as a fundamental norm in the very first article? A guest article by political scientist Tonio Oeftering.

Our democracy is under pressure and must defend itself against its opponents. The Basic Law plays a central role in this, writes political scientist Christina-Marie Juen in her guest article on the 75th anniversary of the constitution.

Despite family policy reforms, mothers still do more unpaid family work than fathers. Sociology professor Gundula Zoch explains why this is the case and why flexible working models are important for change.

Right-wing extremist attitudes are on the rise, trust in democracy appears to be fragile. In an interview, political educationalist Tonio Oeftering talks about democracy as a way of life and when universities need to take a stand.

With Europe Day on 9 May, the European Union celebrates its unity. Here, social scientist Martin Heidenreich talks about the role of the EU for peace in Europe and the prospect of accession as a means of EU foreign policy.

According to human geographer Jennifer Turner, the military past of prison facilities and prison staff shapes the entire penal system. At the Institute for Social Sciences she explores the connections between prisons and the military.

The way families live together has changed over time. A team of researchers led by Oldenburg social scientist Dr Kai Willführ is using historical data to investigate the impact of family structures on the life of individual family members.

Anna Katharina Schliehe is interested in experiences of incarceration. The human geographer has been awarded a fellowship by the prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme.

The pandemic has plunged societies around the world into a crisis - and thrown a spotlight on the relationship between the state and the population. Social scientist Gesa Lindemann explains what has changed and what has not.

The people of Lower Saxony have elected their local councillors and city leaders. Political scientist Michael Jankowski talks about election information and digital election campaigns, populist rhetoric and the influence of the federal trend.

Political education often leads a niche existence. The German reunification offers a good opportunity to demonstrate the achievements of democracy, says Tonio Oeftering, expert for political didactics, on the occasion of the 3rd of October.