Sakari Säynäjoki from the University of Helsinki is visiting flumen in Jena as a guest researcher from 31 March to 4 April 2025. He is working on a dissertation in the doctoral programme of the interdisciplinary environmental sciences, specialising in practical philosophy, and his topic is fossil civilisation from the perspective of critical social research. He discusses the topic of fossil mentalities with the flumen staff and also gave an online presentation entitled ‘Beyond Primary Energy Myopia’ on April 1st, 2025.
abstract: In our current fossil-fuelled civilization, energy transition and fossil fuel phase-out will obviously ential profound transformations of all parts of society. Yet, social thinking engaging with the issue — i.e., environmental social and political theory — more often than not equate fossil fuels with energy: the transition and FF-phaseout seem to be merely a shift between sources of primary energy. Hence, fossil fuels are usually understood simply as fuels, despite the fact that they occupy indispensable roles in the social metabolisms and cultures of contemporary societies. In my talk, I term this reductive way of thinking primary energy myopia and draft some outlines for a more realistic and qualitative affordance analysis of fossil fuels. Thinking in terms of affordances could help translate the qualitative uniqueness of fossil-based metabolism into socially relevant and applicable terms and, thus, aid us in going beyond primary energy myopia.
Abstract: The concept of ‘sustainable welfare’ conceptualizes welfare and wellbeing within planetary limits. Yet there is a lack of knowledge about possible social and political carriers of corresponding social-ecological transformations. For the promotion of the changes of societal core institutions that climate scientists deem necessary in the nearer future knowledge of which parts of the population are most likely to support these and which would resist such a political turn is crucial. This paper uses a Bourdieusian methodology to explore the field of the general public’s perceptions of social-ecological transformations in relation to their future orientations. We assume that an eco-social policy agenda capable of initiating transformational social and ecological change is most likely to receive critical societal support if it is close to people’s experiences and, especially, expectations and hopes in relation to the future. Applying Bourdieu’s relational approach, we investigate with survey data from Sweden how expectations of the future are linked to attitudes towards a transformational sustainable welfare agenda as well as to corresponding political actions and socio-economic factors.
Journal Publication: Martin Fritz (2025). Welche Bioökonomie wollen wir? Sozial-ökologische Mentalitäten und Vorstellungen von Bioökonomie in der deutschen Bevölkerung. Ökologisches Wirtschaften – Fachzeitschrift, 40(1), 34–39. https://doi.org/10.14512/OEW400134
Jana Holz, Philip Koch, Martin Fritz and former head of flumen Dennis Eversberg gave a presentation entitled “Tightened lines of conflict in the socio-ecological transformation? Mentalities and social structure in (de-)civilizing processes
6 am MST (BNOrth America) / 2 pm CET (Germany) / 3 pm EET (Finland)
Titel: „‘This is Nature Protecting itself’ – Forest Occupations Against Sand & Gravel Extraction in Germany”
Input by: Sebastian Garbe (Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Applied Sciences Fulda)
Presentation and discussion will be held online and in English.
About:
In recent years, forest occupations have become one of the most prominent and visible protest strategies within Germany’s climate justice movement. While some occupations have sought to protect forests from the expansion of open-cast lignite mining and the construction of motorways, a more recent occupation south of Frankfurt is resisting the expansion of a sand and gravel pit operated by a local company.
Departing from that occupation and building on ongoing ethnographic field research in the region, this talk takes up a variety of threads from this case study as an example of contemporary socio-ecological conflicts that revolve around protecting forests from sand and gravel exploitation. One thread points towards forest occupations as a protest strategy grounded in a distinct relational ontology of human-forest relationships. By focusing on sand and gravel as natural resources lying beneath forests, another trace explores the importance of introducing the conceptual framework of extractivism and the commodification of nature to contexts in the Global North. Finally, this case study also helps to showcase some of the effects of open-cast sand and gravel mining on local forests, the local population and the local climate justice movement.
Instead of presenting final research results, this talk invites the audience into ongoing ethnographic field research in the forests south of Frankfurt, following various threads laid by this case study.
Let’s sit, have a coffee and talk in the scientific café! The “Coffee Talks HFR” give room for open and relaxed discussions on current research subjects related to human and society relations to forests. It warmly welcomes all interested in forest-related research to join the online sessions.
Each session lasts 1,5 hours. It starts with a 20-30 minute presentation of a guest speaker. After the presentation, with coffee or tea at hand, participants have plenty of room for an open discussion and exchange.
The “Coffee Talks HFR” take place three to four times per term on Wednesdays at 6 am MST / 2pm CET / 3pm EET.
Guest speakers wanted!
If you are interested in contributing to the “Coffee Talks HFR”, please contact either jana.holz(at)uni-jena.de, jodie.asselin(at)uleth.ca or tuulikki.halla(at)uef.fi with info on your subject (title and short abstract) and a preferred date.
The interdisciplinary and international scientific “Coffee Talks HFR” have a long tradition. In 2021, a cooperation between the Finnish research project Human-Forest Relationships in Societal Change and the German research group Mentalities im Flux (flumen) launched and hosted the “Scientific Coffee Sessions HFR”. Since then, they hosted more than twelve sessions with speakers form interdisciplinary social science background and international participants. In 2024, the network broadened and the event got a new name: “Coffee Talks HFR”.
The “Coffee Talks HFR” are hosted by:
Human-Forest Relationship Research Club of the Finnish Society of Forest Science
The research group “Mentalities in Flux” (flumen) Research Project
Forest Anthropology Working Group on Europe and Beyond (FORAGE) FORAGE – WUR
Pathways to Sustainable Welfare critically examines how cities can address the dual challenges of climate change and sustainability while ensuring the welfare of their populations. Focused on three Swedish cities, it explores the integration of environmental and welfare concerns in local policies, urban movements and public opinions.
2025, 6 am MST (North America) / 2 pm CET (Germany) / 3 pm EET (Finland)
Title: “Forest Politics in Kenya’s Tugen Hills: Conservation Beyond Natural Resources in the Katimok Forest”
Authors: Dr. Léa Lacan (Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Cologne, Germany)
Abstract: Speaking from her recently published book of the same name, environmental anthropologist Léa Lacan will explore human-sylvan relations in the Katimok forest, Baringo highlands, Kenya, and aims to rethink the forest beyond questions of access and control of natural resources, as a habitat where forest politics and human lives are inextricably intertwined. Léa’s research shows, how – as with many forests in Africa – it has become constructed as a category and territory of nature under state control: an area both to be protected and turned into exploitable resources. For those living within and on the boundaries of the forest, this social-ecological transformation has had a significant impact. Despite now being settled outside Katimok itself, dispossessed by administrators heedless of local management practices, many former residents continue to maintain a close connection with the forest, not only to sustain their livelihoods, but also to maintain their intimate links with ancestral lands, where their stories and memories are materially inscribed and powerfully invoked.
Let’s sit, have a coffee and talk in the scientific café! The “Coffee Talks HFR” give room for open and relaxed discussions on current research subjects related to human and society relations to forests. It warmly welcomes all interested in forest-related research to join the online sessions.
Each session lasts 1,5 hours. It starts with a 20-30 minute presentation of a guest speaker. After the presentation, with coffee or tea at hand, participants have plenty of room for an open discussion and exchange.
The “Coffee Talks HFR” take place three to four times per term on Wednesdays at 6 am MST / 2pm CET / 3pm EET.
Guest speakers wanted!
If you are interested in contributing to the “Coffee Talks HFR”, please contact either jana.holz(at)uni-jena.de, jodie.asselin(at)uleth.ca or tuulikki.halla(at)uef.fi with info on your subject (title and short abstract) and a preferred date.
The interdisciplinary and international scientific “Coffee Talks HFR” have a long tradition. In 2021, a cooperation between the Finnish research project Human-Forest Relationships in Societal Change and the German research group Mentalities im Flux (flumen) launched and hosted the “Scientific Coffee Sessions HFR”. Since then, they hosted more than twelve sessions with speakers form interdisciplinary social science background and international participants. In 2024, the network broadened and the event got a new name: “Coffee Talks HFR”.
The “Coffee Talks HFR” are hosted by:
Human-Forest Relationship Research Club of the Finnish Society of Forest Science
The research group “Mentalities in Flux” (flumen) Research Project
Forest Anthropology Working Group on Europe and Beyond (FORAGE) FORAGE – WUR
22. January 2025, 6 am MST (North America) / 2 pm CET (Germany) / 3 pm EET (Finland)
Title: „The Black Man of Villavuori sits in that forest, guarding the village border.“ Sacred forest sites of folk belief in Southwest Finnish village landscapes.
Authors: Dr. John Björkman (University of Turku, Finland)
Abstract:
In his doctoral thesis in Nordic Folkloristics, John Björkman studied natural places which were considered sacred, meaning magical, supernaturally dangerous or inhabited by supernatural beings in 19th century folk belief in Southwest Finland. Based on recorded historic folklore, Björkman was able to identify and localize 120 such places in the region of Southwest Finland and studied them as part of their contemporary village landscapes. Currently, he works in a research project exploring the transformation of the Finnish ritual forest relationship from prehistoric to modern times by combining the methods of archaeology, folklore, geoinformatics and art. The aim of the project is to increase understanding of the forest relationship and the importance of the experience of sacredness for the forest relationship.
Let’s sit, have a coffee and talk in the scientific café! The “Coffee Talks HFR” give room for open and relaxed discussions on current research subjects related to human and society relations to forests. It warmly welcomes all interested in forest-related research to join the online sessions.
Each session lasts 1,5 hours. It starts with a 20-30 minute presentation of a guest speaker. After the presentation, with coffee or tea at hand, participants have plenty of room for an open discussion and exchange.
The “Coffee Talks HFR” take place three to four times per term on Wednesdays at 6 am MST / 2pm CET / 3pm EET.
Guest speakers wanted!
If you are interested in contributing to the “Coffee Talks HFR”, please contact either jana.holz(at)uni-jena.de, jodie.asselin(at)uleth.ca or tuulikki.halla(at)uef.fi with info on your subject (title and short abstract) and a preferred date.
The interdisciplinary and international scientific “Coffee Talks HFR” have a long tradition. In 2021, a cooperation between the Finnish research project Human-Forest Relationships in Societal Change and the German research group Mentalities im Flux (flumen) launched and hosted the “Scientific Coffee Sessions HFR”. Since then, they hosted more than twelve sessions with speakers form interdisciplinary social science background and international participants. In 2024, the network broadened and the event got a new name: “Coffee Talks HFR”.
The “Coffee Talks HFR” are hosted by:
Human-Forest Relationship Research Club of the Finnish Society of Forest Science
The research group “Mentalities in Flux” (flumen) Research Project
Forest Anthropology Working Group on Europe and Beyond (FORAGE) FORAGE – WUR
Together with Dr Martin Fritz and Dennis Eversberg, Linda von Faber has published the article “Mentalities in the energy and heat transition: A comparative study of German bioenergy villages.”
Abstract
Bioenergy villages (BED) cover a large part of their electricity and heat requirements with locally produced biomass. Particularly in the initial phase of their promotion around 20 years ago, there were hopes that a locally self-sufficient, decentralised and grassroots energy and heating transition could develop from this. The article analyses data from a Germany-wide representative survey and a postal survey of randomly selected BED residents across Germany in order to systematically 1) compare the social structure of BED with the cross-section of German villages and the overall German population for the first time, 2) determine the prevalence of types of socio-ecological mentalities in these three groups and 3) examine the attitudes of BED residents towards the transition process in their village and towards the energy and heating transition. The results show a combination of eco-social and conservative mentalities in BED, which offers potential for broadly supported local energy transition projects. However, more political support is needed for an expansion to other villages, as the conservative mentalities in rural areas are dominated by economic-calculative elements and the eco-social motivation is lower.
An article has been published on the science page of taz.die tageszeitung that introduces the Sociological Forest Research Network and places it in the context of current challenges in forest management and the social science approach to it. Flumen employee Jana Holz launched the network in 2023 with the first sociological forest symposium in Jena in cooperation with Anna Saave (University of Freiburg), Ronja Schröder (formerly University of Oldenburg) and Ronja Mikoleit (FVA Freiburg). The online mailing list now includes over 100 people and the third symposium is already being planned for 2025.
