News
News
Prof Dr Bernd Siebenhüner reappointed to the DKN
Prof Dr Bernd Siebenhüner has been reappointed to the German Committee for Sustainability Research (DKN) by the German Research Foundation (DFG).
The German Committee for Sustainability Research (DKN) at the German Research Foundation (DFG) advises science and politics on central questions of sustainability and promotes interdisciplinary exchange in this field of research.
With his work at the professorship for Ecological Economics at the University of Oldenburg, he stands for research that addresses the central challenges of our time, from climate adaptation and international environmental policy to transformation processes for sustainable development.
We look forward to the impulses to come!
New Publication: Unpacking adaptation lock-ins: Explaining the persistence of the adaptation gap
Despite growing attention to climate adaptation, the so-called adaptation gap continues to widen. This article analyzes why existing measures often remain incremental and fail to keep pace with increasing climate risks. It focuses on the concept of “adaptation lock-ins”—self-reinforcing mechanisms in politics, institutions, and infrastructures that block transformative adaptation pathways. The article develops a conceptual perspective on these lock-in dynamics, discusses methodological approaches to their identification, and identifies starting points for targeted “unlocking” strategies to overcome structural barriers and enable more sustainable adaptation pathways.
Sophie Berg and Hendrik Wolter win teaching award
Sophie Berg and Hendrik Wolter were once again awarded the Teaching Prize in 2025 for their course: “Decisions under uncertainty: experiencing sustainability dilemmas in a playful way.” The innovative concept combines serious games with reflective discussions and teaches students complex decision-making processes and important soft skills—with lasting success.
Here, the award winners introduce themselves and their course:
New publication in the anthology on LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® in university teaching
The LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® (LSP) method harbours great potential for innovation and creativity at universities: it supports, for example, the development of ideas, reflection on roles and expectations or the formation of teams. From individual teaching units to larger change processes, LSP can be used for a wide variety of occasions at universities.
Thefirst part of the volume "The LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® method at universities: Introduction and practical examples" provides a compact introduction to the basics of the LSP method and explains the special features that need to be considered when working with it at universities. The second part is dedicated to practice: 44 examples from different university departments and subjects show the variety of possibilities for working with the method. The authors explain the framework conditions, objectives and procedures for each example so that they can be easily transferred to new contexts.
Hendrik Wolter and Sophie Berg have published their practical experiences from university teaching here with an example of "self-reflection in research processes".
New Publication: Crossing Borders, Blending Perspectives: Trilateral Wadden Sea Explorations
What if we viewed a landscape not as a line on a map, but as a living narrative - a story told, shaped and sustained by many voices? This question took centre stage at the book launch of Crossing Borders, Blending Perspectives, which was held simultaneously in Groningen, Wilhelmshaven and Bredebro on June 6, 2025.
The book was written by researchers from universities in the Wadden Sea region, and offers a transdisciplinary perspective on the Wadden Sea region, shaped through a journey along the coast by international researchers and conversations with local stakeholders. Its editors include Cormac Walsh (Ecological Economics) and Ingo Mose (Applied Geography) at University of Oldenburg. The book touches upon topics of rural livability, sustainable tourism, nature conservation, coastal management, climate change adaptation, and offers insights into interactive transdisciplinary teaching perspectives. In light of the consequences of gas extraction, increasing tourism pressures, and climate adaptation challenges, this book offers a timely perspective on one of Europe’s most ecologically and culturally significant coastal regions.
Crossing Borders, Blending Perspectives emerged from the TriWadWalk project, a two-part journey undertaken in 2022. Over ten days and more than 570 kilometers, a group of university lecturers and students from six universities in Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands travelled the Wadden Sea region. Along the way, they engaged with local stakeholders, learning from the landscape.
The book deliberately brings together diverse voices. Rather than treating the Wadden Sea as a single, homogenous ecosystem, the book celebrates its diversity—of landscapes, governance practices, and human-nature relationships. Crossing Borders, Blending Perspectives illustrates what can be achieved through transdisciplinary cooperation. It is the product of years of cross-university collaboration and a shared commitment to bridging education, research, and practice.
Most importantly, it gives voice to those often overlooked in the conservation and environmental management dialogue: students, citizens, local stakeholders and communities, whose knowledge and lived realities are essential to shaping the future of the region. As one example, young people in the Wadden hinterlands speak of a deep sense of belonging to the landscape, but also of frustrations tied to limited access to services and opportunities. Their stories highlight the need to reimagine regional development through the lens of cultural identity and quality of life — key factors in keeping younger generations rooted in the area. The book features many such local perspectives, each shedding light on how sustainability is lived, questioned, and reimagined on a daily basis.
Mose, I. Liburd, J. Walsh, C., Trell, E-M., Sijtsma, F. (2025) Crossing Borders, Blending Perspectives: Trilateral Wadden Sea Explorations, Groningen University Press, Groningen University Press, https://books.ugp.rug.nl/ugp/catalog/book/225 (open access pdf and in hard copy).