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netWORKS

The work of netWORKS research association aims to develop concepts for innovative and sustainable solutions in the fields of water supply and sewage disposal. On the basis of practical experience, netWORKS develops decision-making aids for municipalities responsible for defining and providing basic public services, and the (municipal) supply and waste management companies and plants which perform these services. The theoretical foundations of the research lie in social ecology, i.e. sciences which explore the relationship between society and the environment.

The research group was initiated by the German Institute of Urban Affairs (Difu) and the Institute for Social-Ecological Research (ISOE) and is backed by various research institutions. The research association engages academics in the fields of economics, sociology, law, spatial science, municipal engineering and ecology. The composition of representatives from each institution or field of expertise varies from project to project.

Cities and their utility companies participate in netWORKS' research as so-called practice partners. Municipalities simultaneously represent the empirical field, exert a corrective influence on the study and benefit from its findings. Moreover, numerous experts from municipalities, the water supply and sewage disposal industry, municipal advisory, financial services, management consultancies, associations and ministries provide critical input on the research work.

netWORKS research association projects

• Social-ecological Regulation of Network-Related Infrastructure Systems: Trial with Water (November 2002 – March 2007)
• Transition Management to Promote Sustainable Water Management. Municipal Examples of Sustainable Water Supply and Waste Disposal Management Systems (July 2007 – December 2009)

Contact:

Jens Libbe (coordination)
Deutsches Institut für Urbanistik (Difu)
Straße des 17. Juni 112
10623 Berlin
Tel.: 030/39001-115
E-Mail: libbe@difu.de

PD Dr. Thomas Kluge (coordination)
Institut für sozial-ökologische Forschung (ISOE)
Hamburger Allee 45
60486 Frankfurt
Tel.: 069/7076919-18
E-Mail: kluge@isoe.de

netWORKS research association's projects are funded in the context of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research's “Socio-ecological Research” funding focus.