Since January 2015, the working group on collective and sustainability research at the Institute of Sociology of the University of Münster publishes the digital journal “Soziologie und Nachhaltigkeit – Beiträge zur sozial-ökologischen Transformationsforschung” (SuN) (in English: Sociology and Sustainability – contributions to social-ecological transformation research). The journal focuses on strengthening sustainability research in the social sciences and on connecting different perspectives. In particular, the SuN aims to combine traditional theories with current theoretical discourses in the sustainability context. The journal addresses scientists and practitioners in the field of sustainability.

The Working Group on Collective and Sustainability Research was founded in 2013/2014 at the Institute of Sociology of the WWU Münster in order to concentrate and extend already existing research and teaching activities. At first, both collective- and socio-ecological socialization research and urban and regional research constituted the main research topics. Both topics’ merging as well as the making of contacts to other disciplines and relevant communities will furthermore strengthen the focus on inter- and transdisciplinary transformation research.

In recent years, the human-animal relationship has increasingly become the focus of social and scientific debates due to ecological crises, species extinction, and a growing awareness of how humans treat animals. The DFG network “Verbunden in Gott" (translatable as Connected in God), led by ZIN members Prof. Asmaa El Maaroufi and Dr. Cornelia Mügge, builds on these debates and addresses questions of animal theology and animal ethics from an interreligious-theological perspective. The goal is to analyze the Jewish, Christian, and Islamic theological traditions regarding God-human-animal relationships in terms of their differences and commonalities and to develop a shared, interreligiously viable theological perspective on animals.