Our understanding of research

A key focus of the Social Research Center's work is active participation in social and technological innovation processes. Improving the ability of people and their organizations to shape, reflect and learn is central in our work. This is the case, because we are convinced that the active participation of the people affected in each case is an indispensable component in the sustainable management of change and innovation processes.

At the Social Research Center Dortmund, the examination of new forms of knowledge generation, in which the potential users or "customers" do not appear as final consumers of the innovation. Instead they are woven into complex communication networks as equal co-producers. This understanding of research in our institute led to the development of a new type of projects and established an intensive examination of networks as engines of modernization and innovation, which entailed considerable consequences for the social science's self-understanding and its methodology. The institute has developed a specific research profile that combines scientific quality with active participation in shaping processes of change and innovation.

Key topics

Projects

Research areas

Publications

Location & approach

Arrival by car

A2:
Exit 13 (Kreuz Dortmund Nord-Ost), direction Derne/Schwerte (B236), 1st exit direction Dortmund-Eving, next traffic lights turn right (Kemminghauser Str.), after 2.7km turn left (Evinger Str./B 54), after 1.1km traffic lights turn left (Deutsche Straße), after 500m on the left is the Evinger Platz.

A40/B1/A44:
From the Bundesstraße 1 (extension A40 or A44) to the intersection B1/B236 direction Lünen, 3rd exit direction Dortmund-Eving.

A45:
Exit Dortmund Hafen, turn left until the intersection Münsterstraße (B54), direction Eving, after about three kilometers turn into Deutsche Straße.

You can download an enlarged general map here

Arrival by plane

From Dortmund Airport, it takes just about 20 minutes to get to Dortmund Central Station by AirportExpress and from there to the university by subway (U-Bahn) 41. The stop is "Zeche Minister Stein". A wider range of international flight connections is offered by Düsseldorf Airport, about 60 kilometers away, which can be reached directly by S-Bahn from the university station. From there, you can get directly to Dortmund Central Station.

Arrival by public transport

From Dortmund Central Station, take the U 41 light rail (direction Brambauer / Brechten). The stop is "Zeche Minister Stein". The Minister Stein Center is located on the right in the direction of travel of the streetcar.

You can find an overview map here.