The Institute

We are dedicated to sustainable development research that is comprehensive, scientifically solid, socially robust and practically relevant, covering environmental, social, institutional and economic sustainability. Our research is carried out in interdisciplinary teams with expertise across natural sciences, economics, social sciences and humanities, sourced from our network of collaborators. As the composition of teams is adapted to the project focus, this structure permits a flexible response with high quality personnel to a wide variety of research issues. Often SERI fellows hold their own academic or other professional positions, and get involved with a part of their working capacity in our projects. 

Next to research work SERI Germany is devoted to spread the word and to induce change in society. Thus, SERI Fellows are active in civil society organisations, from environmental and environmental justice organisations via trade unions to religious institutions. To facilitate broad outreach of our results and insights SERI Germany offers free access to all studies, publications and educational material we produce (as far as publishers’ restrictions permit doing so). We strongly support open access for all publications of research results. 

SERI Germany e.V. was founded in 2005 as a private, independent, not-for-profit research centre. Independent means that we do not receive core funding, neither from public nor from private institutions. SERI generates income exclusively from projects, mostly commissioned by public authorities and research institutions. If any (usually small) surplus emerges from projects, these it is spent on sustainable development activities, supporting research or civil society projects suggested by the SERI membership.