We talked to TRA Manager Johanna Tix, who gave some interesting insights into the TRA Life and Health and its offers.
Could you share what you consider to be the most pressing topics or challenges currently addressed within the TRA?
Researchers within the TRA Individuals and Societies investigate the complex relationship between individuals, institutions and societies – including markets, law and culture. The aim is to develop a new perspective on micro-phenomena (e.g., development of personality, competences, individualization) as well as macro-phenomena (e.g., world society, globalization). One of their central research goals is identifying key factors that influence social cohesion, equal opportunities, resource protection and the development on individual skills in the modern world. Currently addressed topics are, e.g. “the social, economic and administrative challenges of climate resilience” and “the possibilities of an appropriate perception, description and interpretation of the (crisis-like) experience of world-societal transformation processes (such as […] increased mobility and migration, digitalization and AI, biotechnology, democracy and governmentality)”.
How many members are involved in the TRA and what subject areas do they represent?
In order to ascertain the wide spectrum of research questions in the context of the TRA many perspectives need to be taken into account: economical questions crossover with legal, political, psychological, sociological and religious questions etc. Currently, we have 185 members from all faculties who are mainly located in the Faculty of Arts, the Faculty of Law and Economics, both the Faculty of Protestant and the Faculty of Catholic Theology as well as in several central research units, e.g. Center for Life Ethics, Forum Internationale Wissenschaft and many others. We also have a strong connection to ECONtribute, the only cluster of excellence in economics and neighbouring disciplines.
To encourage collaborative research, the TRA is engaged in a bottom-up process. This initially resulted in two thematic focal points: “Digitalization/AI” and “Reconciliation”. Furthermore “Ethics” as a third research focus and cross-cutting theme has a high relevance for various of our researchers and their projects (e.g. “Autonomy and Autonomous Systems” and “Digitalization, Law and Economics”) as well as for novel topics, e.g. public health or social consequences of the pandemic. With this cross-sectional topic, we foster connections between the life sciences (Medicine, Philosophy, Theology, Ethic, Law etc.) and societal contexts (e.g. education, culture, market, politics) in an essential way. Further focal points of our members include topics of “(ecological) sustainability from an individual, institutional and social perspective” as well as “social cohesion / social cohesion and social media”.
What makes the TRA particularly interesting for early-career researchers, and how might they benefit from being involved?
The TRA Individuals, Institutions and Societies offers multiple opportunities for inter- and transdisciplinary networking and exchanges for researchers at all career levels – early-career researchers are also very welcome to join and participate. In addition, we offer special events for early-career researchers, e.g. the networking event "Change Agents for Sustainable Transitions: How can Individuals, Societies, Institutions, Technologies and Innovations bring knowledge into action?”, hosted in May 2025 in collaboration with the TRA Sustainable Futures at the IMPULSE.
If early-career researchers would like to learn more about the TRA and how to join, when and where can they meet you directly?
A first step to get in touch with the TRA is our website where you can learn more about the goals and organization of the TRA, our research profile, topics and funded projects, offers and events as well as funding opportunities. We also have a member’s area where you, e.g. can apply for membership, which is very simple: all you have to do is fill in the online form.
You can meet us directly at internal university events, e.g. the Science Festival, Sustainability Days and Postdoc Days, at public events, e.g. the Science Night organized by the city of Bonn, and naturally, at events of the TRA.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the TRA-Management, the TRA-Spokespersons as well as our members. Since we are an open-minded network, contacts and suggestions are always welcome!