TRA 'Individuals, Institutions and Societies'
© Fotografien @A. Haag; Apollon/Justitia: GDJ @pixabay, bearb. v. A. Haag
TRA 'Individuals, Institutions and Societies'
© Fotografien @A. Haag; Apollon/Justitia: GDJ @pixabay, bearb. v. A. Haag
TRA 'Individuals, Institutions and Societies'
TRA 'Individuals, Institutions and Societies'

Transdisciplinary Research Area 'Individuals, Institutions and Societies'

Logo_UBo_TRA_Ind&Soci_Sekundaerlogo.png
© Bialek/Uni Bonn

Each of us is part of society. But how do we, as individuals, affect society and how does it influence us in our own actions? What does this look like for institutions? How can institutions be designed to sustainably ensure equal opportunities and social cohesion in the age of globalization and digitalization?

These are questions that fall within the transdisciplinary research area (TRA) "Individuals, Institutions and Societies". The scientists in this TRA are investigating key influences on our social and economic decisions: Resource conservation, protection of art and cultural assets, morality and ethics, and determinants of human agency and motivation.

Eine Wissenschaftlerin und ein Wissenschaftler arbeiten hinter einer Glasfassade und mischen Chemikalien mit Großgeräten.
© Raul Varzar on unsplash, bearb. v. M. Bongiovi

About the TRA 4

Learn more about goals and the organization of the transdisciplinary research area.

Eine Wissenschaftlerin und ein Wissenschaftler arbeiten hinter einer Glasfassade und mischen Chemikalien mit Großgeräten.
© Markus Winkler on unsplash

Research

Read here about the research profile, topics and funded projects of our TRA.

Eine Wissenschaftlerin und ein Wissenschaftler arbeiten hinter einer Glasfassade und mischen Chemikalien mit Großgeräten.
© Jordan Ladikos on unsplash

Offers

Information on offers, funding opportunities and events of our TRA can be found here.

Eine Wissenschaftlerin und ein Wissenschaftler arbeiten hinter einer Glasfassade und mischen Chemikalien mit Großgeräten.
© Fabio Bracht on unsplash

Network

Here you can learn more about our network, our members and about our cooperation partners.

Funding opportunities of TRA 4 'Individuals & Societies'

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© Management TRA 1; bearb. v. Management TRA 4

We support your third-party funding application from the idea to networking, start-ups and service to the application:

  • Idea: Use TRA-specific calls, programs and events
  • Network: find cooperation partners, develop & discuss ideas in workshops
  • Start-up: launch projects & apply for (financial/ideal) funding for start-ups or events
  • Service: Application consulting for TRA and third-party funds
  • Application: project support and contact to specific consulting and service institutions
© geralt @pixabay, bearb. v. A. Haag

Members area

Click here to go to the member area of TRA individuals, institutions and societies

Here you will find:

Membership application: Become a member!

Portrait photo: Change your portrait photo!

Change your data: Request a change to your data! 

Member directory

Financing & Funding opportunities

High Profile Professorships

The establishment of high-caliber professorships is a central measure of the University of Bonn within the framework of its excellence strategy. To ensure institutional renewal and the further dynamic development of our university, we have established Hertz, Schlegel and Argelander Tenure Track Professorships aimed at strengthening the Transdisciplinary Research Areas (TRAs) as well as the faculties. More information on each program can be found here.

Renowned reinforcement for the University of Bonn: Ethicist Christiane Woopen, agricultural economist Matin Qaim and theologian Klaus von Stosch fill new professorships of excellence. With the first High Profile Professorships financed by Excellence funds, three top-class scientific personalities are coming to the University of Excellence to open up new fields of research and provide important impulses in various disciplines.

Namhafte Forschende besetzen neue Exzellenzprofessuren der Universität Bonn

Bild © Universität Bonn / YouTube

Professorships of the TRA Individuals & Societies

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© Bernadett Yehdou

 Hertz Professorship in 'Life Ethics'

 Prof. Dr. med. Christiane Woopen

Mink, Julia_G. Huebl_Uni Bonn
© Gregor Hübl / Uni Bonn

Argelander Professorship in Environmental Economics, Sustainability and Inequality

 Jun.-Prof. Dr. Julia Mink

Lorenzen, Jacqueline_C Gregor Huebel_Uni Bonn
© Gregor Hübl / Uni Bonn

Argelander Professorship in the Law of Sustainability and Ecological Transformation

Jun.-Prof. Dr. Jacqueline Lorenzen

Schlegel professorships of the participating faculties

Phone: +49 228 73-7679

E-Mail: martin.kessler@uni-bonn.de

Address: An der Schloßkirche 2-4, 53113 Bonn

For more information please visit:

Phone:  +49 (0) 228 73-62160

E-Mail: stosch@uni-bonn.de

Address: Kaiserplatz 7-9, 53113 Bonn

For more information please visit:

Phone:  +49 228 73-5572

E-Mail: muenkler@jura.uni-bonn.de

Address:  Lennéstr. 37, 53113 Bonn

For more information please visit:

Phone:  +49 228 739232

E-Mail: lehrstuhl.hwang@jura.uni-bonn.de

Address: Adenauerallee 24-42, 53113 Bonn

For more information please visit:

Phone:  +49 228 739232

E-Mail: birke.haecker@uni-bonn.de

Address: Adenauerallee 24-42, 53113 Bonn

For more information please visit:

Press releases
© Photo: Gloria Sindermann
Will customers accept a little in their cafeteria meals?
We eat too much meat in Germany and this not only has a negative impact on health but is also damaging for the environment and climate. Cafeteria owners are increasingly open to the idea of serving smaller portions of meat – especially for cost reasons. But how do you encourage their customers to choose smaller portions of meat? Researchers at the University of Bonn have been investigating this question at a cafeteria in a rehabilitation clinic. The desired effect was the biggest when the team at the cafeteria simply served smaller portions of meat and only topped them up when this was requested by customers. This approach was also largely accepted by patrons. The results have now been published in the journal “Environment and Behavior.”
Sep 18, 2024
© Collage: Gregor Huebl
Seven ERC Starting Grants for the University of Bonn
There have never been so many ERC Starting Grants at once at the University of Bonn: no fewer than seven researchers have been successful with their applications in the highly competitive European Research Council (ERC) funding process. With their funding of some €1.5 million each, the researchers from the fields of ethics, mathematics, economics, soil science, computer science and astronomy will be able to realize their projects over the next five years.
Sep 05, 2024
© Photo: Justin Gedikoglu
Immersing Ourselves in New Worlds: Where Theology Meets Cognitive Research
What happens when we look at a late antique image? In what order does our gaze wander over the individual elements? Where does it linger? What bodily reactions do such images or early Christian narratives trigger in us? Attempts to answer questions like this are going well beyond merely interpreting early Christian works. A research project embarked on by the University of Bonn together with the University of St Andrews is now bringing Ancient Studies and Cognitive Science together. One key theme is immersion, a concept usually associated more with the world of gaming. 
Jul 05, 2024
© Photo: Volker Lannert/University of Bonn
University of Bonn Secures Two New Research Groups
The German Research Foundation (DFG) has given its approval for a new Centre for Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences and a Research Unit at the University of Bonn. In the Finance and Inequality Centre for Advanced Studies, the researchers led by Professor Christian Bayer and Professor Carsten Burhop are looking at the relationship between the growth of the financial sector and inequality from a historical angle. In the field of mathematical physics, meanwhile, Professor Claude Duhr is the speaker for a new Research Unit for particle physics. The DFG will be funding the two projects to the tune of several million euros over the next four years. 
Jul 05, 2024

Contact

André Beauducel

+49 228 734151

Spokespersons of the TRA 'Individuals and Societies'; Department for Psychology

Prof. Dr. Hans-Martin von Gaudecker

+49 228 739357

Spokespersons of the TRA 'Individuals and Societies'; Institute for Applied Microeconomics

Johanna Tix

+49 228 73 54468

Manager TRA 'Individuals & Societies'; Strategic Development and Quality Assusrance

Dechenstraße 3-11

53115 Bonn