Vision

We live in a complex world within which we interact through socio-ecological dynamics. Their understanding in a long-term perspective is necessary to fully unravel the mechanisms of co-evolution between human societies and their environments. The humanities provide a unique framework to integrate historical trajectories in complex system research, and contribute to the challenges society is facing today. 

Mission

Stemming from the humanities, CaSEs aim to advance research by proposing new approaches for the study of social and ecological dynamics. Our mission is the development of research across disciplinary boundaries and to promote the strategic dissemination of results within and outside academy, to stakeholders at all levels, including the general public and policy makers. 

Objectives

The aim of CaSEs research group is the study of socio-ecological systems through a long term historical perspective through two major research themes:

1. Study relationships between human societies and their ecological settings within a long-term perspective.
2. Apply quantitative methods for the development of models in social dynamics.
3. Promote new transdisciplinary research for improving our understanding of cultural change.

We are devoted to learn about the various social and environmental processes that propel the historical and evolutionary trajectory of humankind. In order to know how people lived, adapted, organized themselves, exploited their environment, and how these aspects changed through time, we use a variety of theoretical approaches, and methodologies with an emphasis on quantitative methods. Our work is thus transdisciplinary and concerned with fundamental anthropological questions framed within a long-term perspective that view human groups as complex adaptive systems. Our work is conducive to instances of transfer of knowledge (TOK) and to contributions towards policy making.