Knowledge transfer between universities and society, as well as the social commitment of universities ('third mission'), are coming increasingly into the focus of public attention and of science policy (section 2). The central role of universities in supporting search and learning processes in...

A Great Transformation from fossil-based unsustainability to post-fossil sustainable development is on the horizon. This article provides an introduction to the research and debate on the sustainability transformation, with a special focus on the spatial dimension. Examples of current approaches...

This article critically examines the new guiding concept of transformation in the spatial sciences with regard to its underlying narrative - namely the Anthropocene. Without such an examination, spatial science research might contribute to apolitical, spatially undifferentiated and Eurocentric...

Limiting the anthropogenic environmental impact as part of the 'great transformation' is one of the central challenges of our time. However, ambitions to broaden sustainable ways of living are at odds with the consumeristic self-image of Western societies. In order to initiate a transformation,...

This article uses research in relation to the provision of public services and infrastructures to support the thesis that primarily one particular perspective on space - namely a material or quantifying perspective - is reflected in current empirical research. The article thus proposes the use...

The positive impact of socio-cultural diversity on innovation and economic prosperity has been widely discussed. Yet, there is a lack of a clear quantitative indicator of sociocultural diversity. Most empirical works are limited to small case studies that follow various methods. This gap in the...

The three interrelated factors of knowledge, learning and innovation are regarded as the key components of the knowledge economy (OECD 1996). In the past decades, attempts have been made to describe the systematic impact and correlation of these three factors by means of various concepts in...

At the conference on 'Spatial Transformation: Processes, Concepts and Research Designs', a number of local and regional case studies from spatial research were presented alongside research papers about transformation processes conducted in the so-called Global South. This short article offers a...

This article summarises the results and findings of a study of young people in the slums of Nairobi based on participatory research methods. The study investigated the engagement of these young people, as a civil society that is growing in strength, and their contribution to a spatial...

The economic/ecological double crisis has long since reached China. In order to stabilise the growing economy, access to new markets and resources is indispensable. At the same time, the associated environmental damage is steadily increasing, causing public pressure on the government in Beijing....