RW develops knowledge on the transformation of the world into a post-fossil fuel era. It examines this epoch-making shift as a whole for the first time and investigates, from a global perspective, how people embed raw materials – their production, use and circulation – within social and cultural contexts and turn them into elements of social order. The aim is to understand the requirements of this transition and to identify horizons for socio-ecological transformation. The guiding principle is the assumption that change will only succeed if it builds on resource-related meanings, promotes cultural change and finds resonance in everyday practices and institutions, whilst taking fears of change seriously.
RW connects the humanities and social sciences at the University of Kassel with the
- Centro de Estudios Latinoamericanos (CELA),
- Kassel Institute for Sustainability,
- the documenta Institut. A dedicated Transfer|Forum fosters dialogue with regional stakeholders, civil society, schools, and artistic communities. In cooperation with the SDG+ Lab (funded under the BMFTR program Innovative Hochschule) and other partners, we develop formats such as CitizenLabs, public debates, artist talks, and experimental knowledge exchange.
Image: Generated by AI