Welcome…
…to the BMBF junior research group “Mentalities in flux: imaginaries and social structure in modern circular bio-based societies”.
From a sociological and historical perspective, we study how people’s basic mindsets, attitudes, and common imaginations change through the rise of the bioeconomy. Our research explores the social consequences of energy and resource transformations that are moving societies away from the use of fossil fuels and other non-renewable resources and turning them towards a production based on biological materials and renewable forms of energy.
On the following pages we would like to introduce ourselves, provide some insights into our research, and inform you about our current work as well as upcoming events.
If you are interested in the topic or have questions about our research, you are welcome to contact us at flumen@uni-jena.de. You will find some more information about the project in our Flyer.
Our project is supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) under the program „Bioeconomy and Societal Change“. The website of the junior research groups provides information on the supported projects of this program.
flumen active
Latest Publications
Guest lecture
Sakari Säynäjoki:
“Beyond Primary Energy Myopia”
| 1 April 2025
Conference
Dr. Martin Fritz: “A Climate of (De-) Civilization? Shifting Dynamics between Nature and Society” | March 12-14 2025, TU Dortmund
Coffee Talks Human-Forest-Relationships
Dr. Sebastian Garbe: “‘This is Nature Protecting itself’ – Forest Occupations Against Sand & Gravel Extraction in Germany” | 2 April 2025
Review
Christoph Weischer: “Climate change and class issues” | 26 February 2025
Coffee Talks Human-Forest-Relationships
Dr. Léa Lacan: “Forest Politics in Kenya’s Tugen Hills: Conservation Beyond Natural Resources in the Katimok Forest” | 26 February 2025
Article
Prof. Dr. Dennis Eversberg, Dr. Matthias Schmelzer (2025): ‘The upper and middle classes are to blame’ | 20 February 2025
Interview
Prof. Dr. Dennis Eversberg in an interview with 3sat:
“Is the climate crisis out?” | 17 February 2025
Interview
Prof. Dr. Dennis Eversberg in an interview with the Süddeutsche Zeitung:
‘We are in a dilemma’ | 7 February 2025
Coffee Talks Human-Forest-Relationships
Dr. John Björkman: “The Black Man of Villavuori sits in that forest, guarding the village border.” | 22 January 2025
Lecture
Dr. Martin Fritz:
The new socio-ecological class conflict – clashes of mentality and interests in the dispute over transformation | 9 Dezember 2024
Interview
Social power relations in the socio-ecological transformation: interview with Dennis Eversberg, former head of flumen
Interview with Dennis Eversberg | 5 Dezember 2024
Coffee Talks Human-Forest-Relationships
Dr. Jodie Asselin (University of Lethbridge) and Dr. Agata Konczal (Wageningen University): “Exploring the Green Frontier: Patterns of Inequality in Europe’s Recent Forest Initiatives” | 13 Nov 2024
Scientific Coffee
Kristina Wirth (FVA Freiburg): “Creating understanding through artful connections“ | 9 October 2024
Conference
Jana Holz at the “European Conference: Towards a social-ecological bioeconomy” | 23-25 September 2024
Article
Dr. Martin Firtz (2025): “What have future generations ever done for us? Future expectations and present dispositions for social-ecological transformations” | May 2025
Journal Publication
Dr. Martin Firtz (2025): “Welche Bioökonomie wollen wir? Sozial-ökologische Mentalitäten und Vorstellungen von Bioökonomie in der deutschen Bevölkerung” | 5 March 2025
Article
Dr. Martin Firtz, Linda von Faber (2025): ‘Farewell to climate protection?’ | 21 February 2025
Publication
Prof. Dr. Dennis Eversberg, Jana Holz (2024): ‘Between imposition and confidence – transformation as a social project’
Publication
Kajsa Emilsson, Martin Fritz, Roger Hildingsson, Håkan Johansson, Jamil Khan and Max Koch (2024): ‘Pathways to Sustainable Welfare. Inertia, Emergence and Transformation in Swedish Cities’
Article
Linda von Faber, Martin Fritz, Dennis Eversberg (2024):
“Mentalities in the energy and heat transition: A comparative study of German bioenergy villages.“
Journal Article
Jana Holz and Anna Saave (2025): “Extractivist valorization in industrial forestry in the Global North – Elements of an analytical framework and illustration for the cases of Finland and Alberta, Canada.”
Journal Article
Kajsa Emilsson, Roger Hildingsson and Martin Fritz (2024): “The active, the sympathetic, and the reluctant: political action and eco-social attitudes among Swedish residents”
Research Report
Eversberg, Dennis / Fritz, Martin / von Faber, Linda /
Schmelzer, Matthias (2024): “The new socio-ecological class conflict. Conflicting mentalities
and interests in the dispute over transformation.”