artec Research Centre for Sustainability

The artec Research Centre for Sustainability is an interdisciplinary research unit at the Institute of Technology and Education at the University of Bremen dedicated to the academic study of sustainability issues through the integration of social sciences, educational sciences, cultural studies, production technology, and the human and health sciences.

We build on a critical, interdisciplinary tradition at the University of Bremen and are guided by the principles of socially just and environmentally sustainable development, as set out in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The conceptual focus of our work lies in the fields of political ecology, industrial ecology and research into supply systems. Our research approach is transdisciplinary: we explicitly address societal problems and collaborate with groups and stakeholders outside the academic world. Through our research and support for early-career researchers, we aim to help identify strategies and viable pathways for a socio-ecological transformation of society, ranging from the local level to international projects.

Our current research relates to the University of Bremen’s research priorities (WSP) and key objectives. It has three thematic priorities: firstly, sustainable regional development with projects on climate, the coast and resources; secondly, research into resilient energy systems, including the technical and societal aspects of the energy transition; and thirdly, research into the cultures of sustainability, with particular reference to the themes of consumption, communication and organisation. Perspectives on environmental governance, gender relations and environmental justice form a cross-cutting conceptual framework for this work.