The interdisciplinary Leibniz-Junior Research Group URBNANCE develops and tests the novel conceptual account "urban human-nature resonance" as a potential lever for sustainability transformations. In an era characterised by exceeded planetary boundaries and rapid urbanization, the material and immaterial (re-)connection of human and nonhuman nature is crucial to secure a good and care-oriented life in and outside of cities for all. Surprisingly, little is known so far about the types and qualities of human-nature connections in urban contexts and with a view to sustainability transformations.

The junior research group will develop the conceptual account "urban human-nature resonance" for 1) describing urban human-nature connection integratively, 2) assessing human-nature connection depth in terms of responsive human-nature relationships and 3) exploring human-nature connection impacts on sustainability transformation.

The interdisciplinary approach is based on relational values of ecosystem services, on the theory of resonance describing responsive human-nature relationships and on deep ecology. The project hypothesizes that resonating human-nature relations foster sustainability transformation by acknowledging that human wellbeing is depending on healthy ecosystems.

Four contextual research questions are in the focus of the project:

1) Which types of human-nature relationships can be found in cities?

2) How do human-nature relationships influence urban human-nature resonance?

3) To what degree does urban human-nature resonance have an impact on a respectful human-nature relationship in contrast to mute human-nature relationships?

4) Which responses support a respectful human-nature relationship?