Completed research projects dealing with sustainability
Completed research projects 2024
SUPER-G – Grassland systems and policies
The existence and management of permanent grasslands is key to the delivery of ecosystem services across Europe. However, due to various causes their maintenance and functions are under threat. The overall objective of the SUPER-G project is to co-develop sustainable systems and policies with farmers and policy makers that will be effective in optimizing productivity, whilst supporting biodiversity and achieving other ecosystem services.
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Contact
Prof. Dr. Johannes Isselstein
Faculty of Agricultural Sciences
Institute of Grassland Science
jissels@gwdg.de
Lignin2Wood - Bio-phenols from Lignin to Wood
This project aims to develop a wood modification technology which increases the durability and weathering performance of wood and is based on using resol type phenol-formaldehyde resin, where petroleum-based phenols will be partly replaced by mono-phenolic compounds from lignin, which are obtained by a pyrolysis process. The long-term goal is to better understand the different process parameters, since using lignin as a renewable resource could be a sustainable alternative to produce wood treatment resins.
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Kontakt
Prof. Dr. Holger Militz
Faculty of Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology
Department of Wood Biology and Wood Products
hmilitz@gwdg.de
KOOPERATIV – promoting Biodiversity at the landscape level
KOOPERATIV intends to promote biodiversity at the landscape level. Based on a landscape experiment with several farms, perennial flower strips will be implemented in different spatial arrangements and landscape proportions in the Northeim district. Ecological, economic and socio-ecological examinations will scientifically accompany the flower strip implementation. The project is funded in the Federal Program Biological Diversity by the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation with funds from the Federal Ministry of the Environment.
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Contact:
Dr. Stefan Schüler
Department of Crop Sciences – Functional Agrobiodiversity
Project coordinator KOOPERATIV
stefan.schueler@uni-goettingen.de
Ecological and Socioeconomic Functions of Tropical Lowland Rainforest Transformation Systems (Sumatra, Indonesia)
The aim of this project is to gain new insights on how the ecological functions of tropical rainforests and agricultural transformations systems can be maintained and improved on a landscape scale. Furthermore, human welfare needs to be improved as well as the integration of the agricultural land use and environment protection.
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Contact
Prof. Dr. Stefan Scheu
J.F. Blumenbach Institute for Zoology and Anthropology
sscheu[at]gwdg.de
Development of effective and close-to-nature regulation and eradication methods as a requirement for a sustainable and future-compliant forest management (ReBek)
Teilvorhaben 2: Volatilerfassung und -analyse zur Lockstoffentwicklung sowie Wahrnehmungs-bestimmung und Verhaltens-tests
ReBek deals with the development of efficient and nature-oriented regulation and control methods as a prerequisite for sustainable and future-oriented forest management. In subproject 1, new attractive volatile compounds are beeing searched to improve respectively enable bark beetle traps. In subproject 2, repellent fragrances are being searched to protect raw wood of the tree species Norway spruce (Picea abies), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica) from being infested by bark beetles.
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Contact
Prof. Niko Balkenhol
Faculty of Forest Sciences
Wildtierwissenschaften
nbalken[at]gwdg.de
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions in energy crop production by cultivating winter cover crops and permanent crops (TAWIRA)
Winter catch crops and permanent crops offer an un-used potential for greenhouse gas mitigation in energy crop cultivation. The TAWIRA research project therefore investigates the possibility of greenhouse gas savings through intelligent crop and crop rotation selection that take into account other important factors, such as economic targets. Therefore, the established index of relative cultivation suitability (IrA) is extended by the component "greenhouse gases" which hasn't been considered yet.
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Contact
Prof. Dr. Stefan Siebert
Faculty of Agricultural Sciences
Chair of Agronomy
stefan.siebert[at]uni-goettingen.de
IreWiNE - Indicators on regional knowledge transfer structures for sustainable development
This research project examines the importance of institutions that engage in knowledge transfer and dissemination and intermediaries for innovation processes between science, economy and the civil society. The aim is to make innovation activities related to sustainable development measurable, especially in regional innovation systems, and to investigate the significance of the structural characteristics of these actors in relation to sustainable innovation.
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Contact
Prof. Dr. Kilian Bizer
Faculty of Business and Economics
Chair of Economic Policy and SME Research
bizer[at]wiwi.uni-goettingen.de
SHui: Soil Hydrology research platform underpinning innovation to manage water scarcity in European and Chinese cropping systems
The overall aim of the Horizon 2020 project SHui is to deliver a suite of technologies and tools to empower individuals and stakeholder organizations to make informed decisions to manage water scarcity in European and Chinese cropping systems and consolidating an integrated research platform for the coming decade across EU and China.
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Contact
Dr. Elke Plaas
Faculty of Agricultural Sciences
Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development
elke.plaas[at]agr.uni-goettingen.de
CLICKdesign - Delivering fingertip knowledge to enable service life performance specification of wood
The knowledge of wood use is fragmented, localised, and in some cases difficult to analyse and use, especially by non-wood experts. CLICKdesign aims to put the knowledge at the fingertips of the wood user, in their language, in order for more designers, architects, engineers, and visionaries to meet their ambitions to deliver low carbon construction, through performance-based wood design.
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Kontakt
Prof. Dr. Christian Brischke
Faculty of Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology
Wood Biology and wood Products
christian.brischke[at]uni-goettingen.de
South African Limpopo landscape network (SALLnet)
SALLnet is an international and interdisciplinary network that focuses on important ecosystem services and the resilience of multifunctional landscapes in Southern Africa, especially with regard to food security, rural poverty reduction and biodiversity protection under the conditions of climate change. Six German and five South African partner institutions work together in SALLnet, involving various disciplines, such as agroecology, agronomy, soil science, agricultural economics, and agricultural systems modelling.
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Contact
Prof. Dr. Reimund Rötter
Faculty of Agricultural Sciences
Tropical Plant Production and Agricultural Systems Modelling
reimund.roetter[at]uni-goettingen.de
Enhancing productivity and nutrient efficiency in organic crop production by irrigation management (BÖLN)
The aim of the project is to evaluate strategies to increase the productivity of organic farming at crop species and system level (crop rotation) by optimizing water and nutrient supply. Factorial field trials will therefore be carried out on organic experimental and practical farms with targeted water and nutrient supply of red clover/grass mixture, faba beans and spring wheat. Specific emphasis is on optimizing pre-crop effects of the leguminous crops in the crop rotation.
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Contact
Prof. Dr. Stefan Siebert
Faculty of Agricultural Sciences
Chair of Agronomy
stefan.siebert[at]uni-goettingen.de
OXYFLUX – tracing the carbon and nitrogen cycles in terrestrial ecosystems
In this research project, the exchange of atmospheric oxygen (O2) between land and atmosphere is measured to trace the carbon cycle at local as well as global scales. In OXYFLUX we are developing a worldwide unique measurement infrastructure to detect continuously and in near-real time smallest changes in the O2 exchange of ecosystem components as well as the entire ecosystems at a forest and agricultural field site.
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Contact
Prof. Dr. Alexander Knohl
Faculty for Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology
Bioclimatology Group
aknohl[at]uni-goettingen.de
Establishment of a sustainable pedelec sharing system for small and medium-sized enterprises (PedShare)
The aim of this project is to establish and sustain an innovative and economically viable pedelec sharing system based on a digital sharing platform, which is specially designed to be used by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The project's novelty lies in the demand-oriented and efficient use of pedelecs, integrated within the operational mobility management of SMEs. Additionally, innovative scientific concepts will be integrated into the project to achieve a long-term change in behavior concerning the switch from cars to pedelecs.
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Kontakt
Tim-Benjamin Lembcke
Smart Mobility Research Group
Chair of Information Management
tim-benjamin.lembcke[at]uni-goettingen.de
Sustainable Trout Aquaculture Intensification (SusTAIn)
The project aims to use the genetic variability and the adaptability of trout to innovative feed to gain new insights into the development of a sustainably intensified as well as animal and environmentally friendly aquaculture.
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Contact
Prof. Dr. Bernhard Brümmer
Faculty of Agricultural Sciences
Department for Agricultural Economics and Rural Development
bbruemm[at]gwdg.de
Globalisation and Development
The microeconomic effects of globalisation on developing countries are the subject of this project. The scientist specifically research how economic globalisation (exchange of capital, technology and workforce) influences the individuals in these countries, which adaptation and reaction strategies result from this development and how these strategies retrospectively influence the people's behaviour.
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Contact
Dr. Sarah Khan
Faculty of Business and economics
coordination.glad[at]uni-goettingen.de
Crop sequences for optimized use of soil resources: combining allorhizous and homorhizous species for complementary root growth in topsoil and subsoil (MIKODU)
The primary goal of the project is to reduce yield gaps in organic farming by optimizing the mobilization of water and nutrients from the solid part of the soil. The basis for this is the promotion of extensive root systems by a soil structure favourable to soil microbiology and root growth. Among other things, root growth and nutrient acquisition are to be promoted.
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Contact
Prof. Dr. Stefan Siebert
Faculty of Agricultural Sciences
Chair of Agronomy
stefan.siebert[at]uni-goettingen.de
Optimizing forest management towards improved strength properties of softwood construction timber (FutureWood):
Teilvorhaben 4: Ecological evaluation of different silvicultural treatments based on 3D forest structure and biodiversity
The intention of the project is to investigate the influence of silvicultural treatment of economically important coniferous tree species on the quality of the resulting coniferous processed wood. This subproject focuses on the ecological evaluation of different silvicultural treatment concepts based on 3D forest structure and biodiversity.
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Contact
Prof. Dr. Christian Ammer
Faculty of Forest Sciences
Chair of Silviculture and Forest Ecology of the Temperate Zones
christian.ammer[at]forst.uni-goettingen.de
Diversity Turn in Land Use Science: The importance of social diversity for sustainable land use innovations, using the example of Vanilla farming in Madagascar
This project deals with a socio-ecological transformation process, which offers unique opportunities for a more sustainable development: the introduction of vertically integrated Vanilla harvesting in the North of Madagascar.
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Contact
Prof. Dr. Andrea D. Bührmann
Faculty of Social Sciences
Göttingen Centre for Diversity Research
andrea.buehrmann[at]uni-goettingen.de
Prof. Dr. Rainer Marggraf
Faculty of Agricultural Sciences
Division of Environmental Economics and Resource Economics
rmarggr[at]uni-goettingen.de
IMPAC³: Novel genotypes for mixed cropping allow for IMProved sustainable land use ACross arable land, grassland and woodland
Mixed crop stands are hardly common in highly productive plant production. It is argued that the production processes are too complicated and that the harvest time or other process steps cannot be planned optimally. In addition, the breeding of new crop varieties is based on pure stands and not on mixtures. However, mixed stocks offer many advantages. The IMPAC³ project investigates how an ideal combination of mixing partners can improve the productivity and stability of production systems.
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Contact
Prof. Dr. Johannes Isselstein
Centre of Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Use
jissels[at]gwdg.de
GlobeDrought: A global-scale tool for characterising droughts and quantifying their impact on water resources, crop productivity, trade in food products, and the need for international food aid
The aim of GlobeDrought is to develop a web-based, global information system for the comprehensive characterization of drought events. Within the project, a spatially explicit description of drought risks will be conducted by considering the components drought hazard, exposure and vulnerability. The effects of droughts on water resources, crop productivity, food trade, and the need for international food aid will be investigated. For the first time droughts will be systematically assessed distinguishing effects on rainfed and irrigated cropping systems and the water supply.
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Contact
Prof. Dr. Stefan Siebert
Faculty of Agricultural Sciences
Chair of Agronomy
stefan.siebert[at]uni-goettingen.de
Sustainability as an argument: Sufficiency, efficiency and resilience as parameters for anthropogenic actions throughout history
The negotiations and practices concerning ‘Sustainability’ in the pre-modern era are investigated by looking at relevant case studies. The Greek Antiquity is not only the researched period, but also functions as the reference model for further research projects that mostly concentrate on (Northern) Germany. Methodologically, this research is based within the field of cultural studies, but it also follows trans-disciplinary approaches of the natural sciences (biological, forest and agricultural sciences) and other technical methods. The tested thesis is that sustainability as a core idea of the always changing and yet constant human behaviour is detectable in all eras of time.
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Contact
Prof. Dr. Arnd Reitemeier
Institute for historical regional archaeological research
instlafo[at]gwdg.de
Animal Welfare in Intensive Livestock Production Systems – animal husbandry in the area of tension between animal welfare, economy and society
In the context of this PhD project, the different partial projects research conflicts, but also opportunities for innovation in the area of tension between intensive animal husbandry and animal protection. The different sub-disciplines follow different approaches and all research how the different target figures of agricultural production can be reached.
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Contact
Prof. Dr. Achim Spiller
Faculty of Agricultural Sciences
Division Marketing for Food and Agricultural products
a.spiller[at]agr.uni-goettingen.de
GRK 1666 GlobalFood
The researchers deal with the globalisation of the food sector. Around the globe, the dietary habits and consumer preferences are changing. Value-chains are increasingly integrated internationally and big supermarket chains are becoming more and more important, even in developing countries. This research-training group (RTG) investigates the effects these trends have on farmers, the agribusiness and consumers. A special focus of the research lies on issues concerning poverty and nutrition in developing countries.
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Contact
Prof. Dr. Matin Qaim
Faculty for Agricultural Science
Department for Agribusiness and Rural Development
mqaim[at]gwdg.de
Participative development of high quality tomatoes for a sustainable regional cultivation (PETRAq+n)
This project aims to form the scientific foundation for the cultivation of improved and optimally adjusted tomatoes that are suitable for sustainable regional and urban growing. Initial steps of the project are being tested in organic farming enterprises.
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Contact
Prof. Dr. Elke Pawelzik
Faculty of Agricultural Sciences
Department of Crop Sciences, Division of Quality of Plant Products
epawelz[at]gwdg.de
Potential for sustainable poultry production based on local chicken breeds and regional protein plants (PorReE)
The project aims at testing a poultry production system based on crossings of local chicken breeds and using regionally grown field bean (Vicia faba) as protein source, which also offers the chance to fatten the brothers of laying hens and therefore to refrain from killing male chicks.
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Contact
Prof. Dr. Henner Simianer
Faculty of Agricultural Sciences
Department for Animal Breeding and genetics
hsimian[at]gwdg.de
GRK1644: Skalenprobleme in der Statistik
The Research Training Group focuses on the development, extension and application of statistical methodology related to scaling problems. Challenges for statistical analysis that evolve from varying behaviour of different units of observation, such as spatial or temporal scales, are addressed by the research group.
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Contact
Dr. Thomas Kneib
Faculty of Business and Economics
Chair of Statistics
tkneib@uni-goettingen.de
Reducing Poverty Risk in Developing Countries
In this research group, Development and health economists as well as experimental economy researcher and statistics investigate how health and market risks influence households and companies in developing countries. Furthermore, political measures that could reduce those risks are researched.
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Contact
Prof. Dr. Stephan Klasen
Faculty of Business and Economics
Professor for Development Economics
sklasen[at]uni-goettingen.de
Elektromobilität vorleben – Development and demonstration of a regional (embedded in the smart grid) e-charging infrastructure concept for mobility provision in the transition from rural to urban areas
This research project aims at developing and implementing new business models for the use of electric mobility in establishing a sustainable mobility framework for lower Saxony. Within this context, the project puts special focus on the mobility needs of people living in rural areas.
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Contact
Prof. Lutz Kolbe
Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Fakultät
Professur für Informationsmanagement
lkolbe[at]uni-goettingen.de
Sustainable diet styles - Plant-based diet styles as the key to sustainability (NES)
The interdisciplinary collaborative project "Plant-based nutritional styles as a key to sustainability" investigates the very different (and sometimes novel) plant-based nutritional lifestyles from a comprehensive sustainability perspective, taking into account human health and performance. Furthermore, it is investigated whether consumers maintain these nutritional styles in the long term.
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Contact
Prof. Dr. Achim Spiller
Faculty of Agricultural Sciences
Marketing Research
a.spiller[at]agr.uni-goettingen.de
Contact - Green Office
Do you have questions or suggestions on the topic of sustainability in research? Would you like to find out more about sustainability in operations at Göttingen University? Do you have an idea concerning sustainability in your degree programme? Do you need information on international networking on sustainability? For these and general questions and suggestions, please contact us!Head of the Green Office
Marco Lange, Coordinator for SustainabilityPhone: 0551 39-21356
Email: marco.lange@zvw.uni-goettingen.de
Staff
Anna Lapa, Student of BiologyE-Mail: anna.lapa@zvw.uni-goettingen.de
Anna von Borcke, Student of Ethnology and Sociology
E-Mail: anna.borcke@zvw.uni-goettingen.de
Hannah Kalden, Student of Philosophy
E-Mail: hannah.kalden@zvw.uni-goettingen.de