Research group Resources Management

Head of the department: Prof. Dr. Claudia Pahl-Wostl

Staff members | Publications

The chair for Resources Management was established in October 2001 and first funded by the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt. Since October 2006 the chair is integrated in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Osnabrück.

Innovative concepts for managing transformation processes towards sustainability are developed with an emphasis on an improved understanding of dynamics and management of actor networks and the development of flow based indicators for environmental, economic and social sustainability. We develop new concepts for participatory model development and management strategies. Activities proceed in close exchange with industry and public authorities and other stakeholder groups.

One focus is to improve the representation of the human dimension in integrated models and management processes. A promising method is agent based modelling. In this context, agents are autonomous software systems that describe the behaviour of social entities (individuals, organizations). A big advantage of this method is that it allows a more realistic representation of social and cognitive processes. In turn, this allows for exploring the complex spatio-temporal dynamics of human-technology-environment systems and thus the development of the basic foundations to manage transformation processes in such systems. In particular, agent based modelling is very well suited for participatory model development and application in processes of social learning with different stakeholder groups. The goal is to increasingly couple tools from network analysis to calculate sustainability indicators with agent based models representing the dynamics.

The main area of application is water resources management at different scales and the implications of the new European Water Framework Directive for river basin management in Europe. New integrated concepts for water resources management need to take into consideration the human dimension more explicitly. Adaptive integrated management concepts are more appropriate to deal with the complex resource management problems society faces nowadays.

Another important area of research is the development of general concepts for interdisciplinary work and integrative systems approaches. To strengthen innovative approaches in inter- and transdisciplinary research activities in international scientific networks is of paramount importance.

Funding:

Project: ASEM WaterNet - Water resources management by focussing on the five main issues: river basin management, water use efficiency in agriculture, floods, pollution, governance
Sponsor: European Union / 6th Framework program
Duration: September 2005-August 2009

Project: AquaStress - Mitigation of Water Stress through new Approaches to Integrating Management, Technical, Economic and Institutional Instruments
Sponsor: European Union / Integrated Project with 6th Framework program
Duration: February 2005-January 2009

Project: NeWater - New Approaches to Adaptive Water Management under Uncertainty
Sponsor: European Union / Integrated Project with 6th Framework program
Duration: January 2005-Decemeber 2008

Project: GWSP – Global Water System Project 
Sponsor: German Ministry of Education and Research
Duration: July 2004-December 2010

Vorhaben: PartizipA - Participative Modelling, Actor and Ecosystem Analysis in Regions with Intensive Agriculture
Förderer: Ministry of Education and Research (Germany)
Laufzeit: October 2003 bis March 2007

Project: WADEMED – WAter DEmand management in the MEDiterranean
Sponsor: European Union / 5th Framework program
Duration: May 2003-April 2007

Project: Harmoni-CA – Harmonizing Modelling Tools at Catchment Scale
Sponsor: European Union / 5th Framework program
Duration: October 2002-September 2007

Project: Harmoni-COP – Harmonising Collaborative Planning
Sponsor: European Union / 5th Framework program
Duration: October 2002-September 2007