Mission and Goals

DLGS provides exceptional PhD candidates from around the world with opportunities and support in the field of spatial sustainability science. It serves as a nurturing environment for the development of innovative ideas, closely intertwined with all IOER research areas and their long-term interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research. DLGS welcomes projects from diverse scientific disciplines, recognising the unique insights they bring and the value of different perspectives in addressing the spatial challenges of the Anthropocene.

In addition to advancing knowledge in spatial sustainability science, DLGS recognizes the importance of the doctoral research as a critical period for personal and professional growth. This phase serves as a unique career development opportunity, allowing candidates to acquire and refine essential leadership qualities. A key objective is to cultivate an appreciation for the crucial role of leadership in driving spatial sustainability transformations. The programme aims to develop specific qualities associated with transformative leadership, such as system thinking, vision articulation, co-creation, reflexivity, and the cultivation of core values like integrity and accountability. Therfore, DLGS aims to act as a catalyst for scientific innovations within IOER, aspiring to enable transformative change. It strives to motivate its graduates to assume leadership positions both within the scientific community and in society at large.

Since its inception in 2008, DLGS has engaged with a wide range of topics, with its focus evolving over time—often centred on demographic change, climate change, and sustainability. Its current scientific profile was established in 2021 as part of IOER’s mission statement (Leitbild).