Department Environmental Social Sciences

ESS conducts social scientific research to advance knowledge related to broad themes of urban water management, biodiversity, climate change, public health or the management of aquatic ecosystems. It hosts a broad range of social scientific expertise in innovation and transition studies, decision analysis, environmental economics, environmental health psychology, inter- and transdisciplinary research, and policy and governance studies. By combining fundamental research in these fields with inter- and transdisciplinary research, ESS provides a unique resource to Eawag and the ETH domain. ESS researchers collaborate closely with the engineering and natural science departments at Eawag and with leading universities and research institutes in Switzerland and abroad.

Our research is divided into six research groups:

Sustainability Transitions and Innovation Studies (Cirus)
We analyse sustainability transitions and green innovation dynamics in the water, sanitation and related sectors.

Environmental Economics (EnvEco)
We study economic aspects of environmental problems and potential solutions by applying economic theory and methods.

Policy Analysis and Environmental Governance (PEGO)

We address questions of public policy and governance in the water sector and beyond, focusing on current complex environmental and societal challenges.

Decision Analysis (DA)
We analyze complex environmental decisions, focusing on multi-criteria decision processes (MCDA) and behavioral operational research.

Environmental Health Psychology (EHP)
We investigate the social acceptance of sustainable technologies and policies as well as behavioural change in the water sector.

Inter- and Transdisciplinary Research (ITD)
We lead and study integration processes in inter- and transdisciplinary research projects and programs focusing on societal challenges.

Contact

Dr. Manuel Fischer Department Head & Group Leader, Group: PEGO Tel. +41 58 765 5676 Send Mail

ESS projects related to Eawag's strategic themes

Biodiversity

The Re-Own projects researches the role of public participation and collective psychological ownership for the acceptance of restoration projects

Re-Own: Participatory interventions in river restorations
Social-ecological networks for biodiversity enrichment in Human dominated landscapes.

BlueGreenNet
Social-ecological networks to enhance biodiversity in urban green areas

GreenCityNet
Sustainable transformation of the Swiss agriculture to internalized negative external effects of pesticide use.

TRAPEGO - Transformation in Pesticide Governance
Improve Science-Policy Dialogue to tackle intricate societal challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss and the energy transition.

ENGAGE – Evidence-based dialogue on trade-offs in wicked societal problems
This accompanying research project derives lessons learned for engaging at science-society interfaces

INSIGHTS – Lessons learned for engaging at science-society interfaces
The project EXPLORE focuses on understanding how inter- and transdisciplinary integration occurs at the interface of research, policy, and practice, using the BGB Initiative as an empirical case study.

EXPLORE - Integration at the interface between science, policy and practice

Climate change

WaterReuseLab aims at analyzing how a new generation of decentralized water reuse systems could be developed in Bengaluru, India

WaterReuseLab Bengaluru
Preferences of Swiss households for renewable energy supply systems and demand-side flexibility options

SCENE WP6: Flexible low-carbon energy systems
The main aim of the project is to investigate the private provision of global public goods - carbon-neutral products and services - in the context of combating climate change

Demand for carbon-neutral products and services
Social-ecological networks for biodiversity enrichment in Human dominated landscapes.

BlueGreenNet
Social-ecological networks to enhance biodiversity in urban green areas

GreenCityNet
In the "Jurapark Aargau" Real-world Lab, researchers work together with the region's residents to find ways to strengthen and promote sustainable development locally.

Jurapark Aargau – Real-World Lab
This accompanying research project derives lessons learned for engaging at science-society interfaces

INSIGHTS – Lessons learned for engaging at science-society interfaces
The research project focuses on watershed management in Swiss mountain areas, aiming at increasing the resilience of mountain ecosystems and meeting societal needs regarding natural resource use and protection.

TREBRIDGE – Transformation toward resilient ecosystems

Public Health

WaterReuseLab aims at analyzing how a new generation of decentralized water reuse systems could be developed in Bengaluru, India

WaterReuseLab Bengaluru
Perceived distributive justice and acceptance of decentralised water and wastewater systems

Fair Wings: Fair distribution of Wings systems
Sustainable transformation of the Swiss agriculture to internalized negative external effects of pesticide use.

TRAPEGO - Transformation in Pesticide Governance
SHIVAGO analyzes valuation processes shaping global industry dynamics and sectoral transitions in view of grand societal challenges

SHIVAGO

Circular Economy

WaterReuseLab aims at analyzing how a new generation of decentralized water reuse systems could be developed in Bengaluru, India

WaterReuseLab Bengaluru
Perceived distributive justice and acceptance of decentralised water and wastewater systems

Fair Wings: Fair distribution of Wings systems
MULTITRANS entwickelt neue Ansätze zur Analyse von Nachhaltigkeitstransitionen, die nicht auf einzelne Orte, räumliche Skalen und Sektoren beschränkt sind

MULTITRANS
Efficient Technical Cycles project analyses potential future transition of the construction sector towards more sustainable techniques, materials, methods and procedures

SCENE WP5: Efficient Technical Cycles
In the "Jurapark Aargau" Real-world Lab, researchers work together with the region's residents to find ways to strengthen and promote sustainable development locally.

Jurapark Aargau – Real-World Lab
This accompanying research project derives lessons learned for engaging at science-society interfaces

INSIGHTS – Lessons learned for engaging at science-society interfaces