GiB_Raum

Strategic pilot project for the systematic and permanent integration of gender aspects into the research structures and processes of the Leibniz Institute for Ecological Urban and Regional Development (IOER) and the Academy for Territorial Development in the Leibniz Association (ARL).

The relevance of gender and intersectionality perspectives has been increasingly recognized in spatial sustainability and transformation research, however a structural anchoring of corresponding approaches in research institutions rarely takes place. Even though gender functions as an "eye-opener" to make injustices in spatial transformations visible. The joint project GiB_Raum therefore uses the findings of gender-oriented and intersectional sustainability and transformation research to develop a structural concept for the systematic and long-term integration of gender aspects into the research practices of IOER and ARL (project lead). Furthermore, the cooperation will create the basis for networking and knowledge transfer within the Leibniz Association during the implementation phase.

The concept development is organized into three phases:

1. Phase I "status analysis": How are gender aspects taken into account in the current research of IOER?
   A systematic presentation of how gender aspects are taken into account in current research projects will be elaborated.
2. Phase II "target concept": Which content-related and structural goals are to be achieved for and through the development of gender-sensitive research at IOER?
   A target concept for gender-sensitive research in spatial sustainability and transformation research at IOER will be developed.
3. Phase III "implementation concept": How can gender aspects be systematically taken into account in the entire research process of the IOER in the future, both in terms of content and structure?
   A structural concept will be developed that contains concrete content-related and structural measures as well as instruments for the implementation phase (including project outline).

In addition to the cooperation with ARL, a working group (WG) will be established at IOER to raise awareness for the relevance of gender aspects in the institute's research and to initiate a dialog process for the development of the structural concept. Accordingly, this is an endeavour impacting the entire organization and involving the institute's entire staff.

For IOER, the project represents an important catalyst: Already since 2013 continuous efforts have been made at the Institute to draw attention to the importance of gender-differentiated research as well as to anchor gender aspects in the research of the Institute. With the help of the joint project, these steps can now be deepened, differentiated and consolidated with regard to spatial sustainability and transformation research.