The problem of sustainability has received serious attention since the Club of Rome pointed to the limits of growth in 1972. Addressing ecological, economic and social issues, it is still a major – perhaps the biggest – challenge humanity faces. The problem demands attention by actors from all social levels. On the micro-level, sustainable consumption is often regarded as the major way how individual consumers can contribute to sustainable development. By now a growing number of people are aware that many consumption habits have to be changed because they are in conflict with the goal of sustainable development. Yet, there is a gap between knowledge and action. Much research has been done in the last 30 years on sustainable consumption, exploring the motivations, practices, opportunities, and drivers for sustainable consumption from economic, psychological and sociological perspectives. Despite this multidisciplinary effort and the often interdisciplinary nature of research on sustainable consumption, there is room for broadening the perspectives further. In particular, the link between political participation and sustainable consumption as a political statement as well as the link between various forms and objectives of political consumption deserves more attention. Further, the impact of societal inequality on sustainable consumption has not gained much attention. Especially research on the interaction between inequality, issues of security and precariousness, political participation and consumption behavior is lacking.

In the special issue, we would like to discuss our topic in an adequately broad and interdisciplinary way. We are particularly interested in questions such as:

• Inequality (e.g., precariousness) and sustainable consumption
• Citizenship and consumption
• Sustainable consumption as a political statement
• Quantitative and qualitative empirical studies on these issues

This is not an exhaustive list.

Deadline
Full papers for this special issue of management revue must be submitted by July 31st, 2015. All contributions will be subject to a double-blind review. Papers invited to a ‘revise and resubmit’ are due October 31st, 2015. Please submit your papers electronically via the online submission system at http://www.management-revue.org/submission/ using ‘SI Sustainable Consumption’ as article section.

Hoping to hear from you!

Ortrud Leßmann, Helmut-Schmidt-University Hamburg (Germany)
Wenzel Matiaske, Helmut-Schmidt-University Hamburg (Germany)
Torsten Masson, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ Leipzig (Germany)
Simon Fietze, University of Southern Denmark

Oldenburg, 06. and 07. November 2015

Venue: Jade University of Applied Sciences, Oldenburg

Organiser: Science Shop Vechta/Cloppenburg University of Vechta together with the Science Shop (WiLa) kubus of TU Berlin, basis.wissen.schafft e.V. Berlin, WiLa Potsdam e.V., WiLa Bonn e.V., WiLa Wien, Wissensdialog, Technologie und Training e.V. in Zittau and Dresden as well as the knowledge transfer offices of the Jade University of Applied Sciences and the University of Applied Sciences Emden/

Contact: Sandra Werb

We would like to address all, who are interested in finding strategies on solving the major social and ecological challenges of our time, to submit contributions. Facing challenges like shortage of resources, urbanization, climatic and demographic change, the involvement of civil society actors and institutions in scientific processes is getting more and more important. Concerning this issue, following questions are rising: How can excellent science look like to put sustainable societal ideas into practice? How do universities open up to objectives from the society and their participation in the overall scientific process? How can transparency, equal opportunities and democracy be transferred into participating citizens and NGOs in research policy? How can concepts from community initiatives apart from the growing economy, from Fab-
Labs to urban gardening, be highlighted?

We would like to encourage a dialogue between actors of communities, universities, science shops and research policy. The conference promotes a platform for discussion and networking, with the aim to report from projects, to develop new project ideas and to strengthen cooperating partner beyond the conference.

We are particularly interested in sharing knowledge and growing together successfully.

Track 1: Citizen Participation in science and innovation: Methodological issues

Track 2: Participation in research policy: Equal opportunities and transparency

Track 3: Do it yourself and common creation

Track 4: What does social and ecological excellence for everybody mean?

Explanation of our tracks on www.wissnet.de/themen

Deadlines and submission:

The conference focuses on lively discussions. Therefore, the „classical“ presentation format will be restricted to the keynote talks in each track. Please assign your contribution to one of the tracks and define a presentation format. We made up a selection of formats on www.wissnet.de/formate. We also appreciate joint contributions and questions of community initiatives and scientists.

Conference contributions are expected to be in German as this will be the conference language. Unfortunately we will not be able to provide translation.

What to submit: Abstract (350 words) as *.odt, *.docx or *.pdf
When to submit: At the latest, 05. July 2015
Notice of acceptance: 05. August 2015
Opportunity to submit accepted revised abstracts until: 15. August 2015
Please submit your contribution to idee@wissnet.de

Contact:
Sandra Werb
Science Shop Vechta/Cloppenburg, University of Vechta
Bahnhofstraße 57
49661 Cloppenburg
04471-948 154

Current information will be found on www.wissnet.de/konferenz