Social Sciences and Globalisation: the role of sustainable

development

Prof. Dr. rer.nat, Dr. sci. Habil. Dr. h.c.

Walter Leal

Overview

i. Brief introduction to the work of TuTech in Hamburg

ii. Contextualising Social Sciences and Globalisation

iii. Some facts on Social Sciences and Globalization

iv. Linking Social Sciences, Globalisation and Sustainability

v. Some future trends

vi. Conclusions

Contextualising Social Sciences and Globalisation

• Globalisation offers a chance to the social sciences both by offering great opportunities and undermining entrenched traditions;

• We need a newly conceptualized global social science in which all the gains made by the disciplines and area studies can be understood in a transformed context;

• This also means opening it up to new fields such as sustainable development, an area with strong social roots.

Some facts on Social Sciences andGlobalization

• Depends on individuals/researchers but is influenced by government policies;

• Needs a favourable climate to flourish which is offered right now;

• Its understanding needs technical support (e.g. research, studies, events);

• Outputs can be long-term as opposed to short-lived;• Applying social sciences in a globalization context may

change (bad) habits/practices.

Linking Social Sciences, Globalisation and Sustainability

• Sustainable development is one of the top priorities in today´s globalised world;

• Social issues are one of the basis of sustainable development and a pre-condition for it;

• Applying social sciences and globalisation in a sustainability context may lead to concret(er) outputs.

Some future trends

a) The massive dynamics of globalization requires new alliances between disciplines;

b) Thanks to the strong social element of sustainable development in a globalised world, closer integration makes sense;

c) Cross-disciplinary cooperation will allow a more efficient handling of problems;

d) A new paradigma will build on the achievements of the Social Sciences during the recent past.

Conclusionsa) the promotion of clustering and co-operation among

social sciences in a globalised context and sustainability should be fostered;

b) the promotion of global/regional cooperation will help to yield common benefits to both areas of knowledge;

c) integration may strengthen the active institutions and open new new business opportunities for them;

e) integration may attract long-term funding and absorb it;f) research, development and innovation on social

sciences, globalisation and sustainability may go hand in hand .

Contact "European Reference Point for Technology Transfer for

Sustainable Development"

c/o TuTech Innovation GmbH

Harburger Schlossstrasse 6-12

D-21079 Hamburg

Germany

Coordinator: Professor Walter Leal (leal@tutech.de)

Assistant Coordinator: Jürgen Becker (becker@tutech.de) Assistant Coordinator: Ralf Erat (erat@tutech.de)

Tel.: +49 40 76629-6341 Fax: +49 40 76629-6349

E-mail: sd@tutech.de Internet: www.tutech.de/sd

Thank you! Aciu! Spasiba!Paldies!Danke!Tak!