Climate and biodiversity research

• Remote Sensing Centre for Earth System Research (RSC4Earth)
  The centre is a joint institution of Leipzig University and the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ). The RSC4Earth brings together Leipzig’s research activities in the field of remote sensing in earth system sciences and biodiversity research. In particular, researchers study the dynamics of ecosystem and water resource dynamics in the context of global change across spatial and temporal scales.
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• German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
  Spokesperson at Leipzig University: Professor Martin Quaas (Faculty of Economics and Management Science)
  In collaboration with the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU), the Friedrich Schiller University Jena (FSU) and Leipzig’s Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), our university is currently home to the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig. Since 2012, researchers from more than 30 nations have been investigating the largely damaging influence of human activity on fauna and flora, developing a scientific basis for the sustainable stewardship of our planet’s biodiversity.
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• CRC/Transregio 172: Arctic Amplification
  Spokesperson: Professor Manfred Wendisch (Faculty of Physics and Earth System Sciences, Institute for Meteorology)
  With CRC/Transregio 172, we are conducting systematic large-scale research in the field of Arctic climate change (AC)³ for the first time in Germany. Applying a variety of different methods, the aim of the wide-ranging research alliance with the University of Bremen, the University of Cologne, the Alfred Wegener Institute and the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research is to observe climatic changes in the Arctic over long periods of time. On the basis of observations of measuring instruments on satellites, aircraft, airborne balloon platforms and research vessels, but also the results of selected ground-based monitoring stations, the researchers are improving the reliability of models for predicting the warming already recorded in the Arctic.
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• Research Training Group 2939: Economics of Connected Natural Commons: Atmosphere and Biodiversity (ECO-N)
  Spokesperson: Professor Martin Quaas (Faculty of Economics and Management Science and iDiv)
  RTG 2939 is developing an integrative perspective on the sustainable use of natural commons in the areas of atmosphere – namely aerosols, regional climate and urban air – and biodiversity – namely forests and soils. 
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• Research Training Group 2324: Tree Diversity Interactions (TreeDi)
  Spokesperson: Professor Helge Bruelheide (Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Institute of Biology and iDiv)
  Based at the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, IRTG 2324 is investigating together with the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS) in China, how tree-tree interactions in local neighbourhoods relate to the observed positive tree species richness effects on key ecosystem functions. The international qualification programme provides for intensive Chinese-German cultural exchange during a six-month research stay in the partner country. There is also a joint doctoral candidate advisory committee with Chinese and German project leaders and close cooperation with leading figures of biodiversity research.
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• Research Unit 5000: Biotic Interactions, Community Assembly, and Eco-Evolutionary Dynamics as Drivers of Long-Term Biodiversity–Ecosystem Functioning Relationships
  Spokesperson: Professor Nico Eisenhauer (Faculty of Life Sciences and iDiv)
  The central aim of FOR 5000 is to find out what mechanisms influence the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functions in the short and long term. To this end, it is applying new experimental and analytical methods in one of the world’s longest-running biodiversity experiments: the Jena Experiment. Professor Nico Eisenhauer leads the research group, which is an interdisciplinary team of ecologists, biochemists and microbiologists.
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• Priority Programme 1294: Atmospheric and Earth System Research with the “High Altitude and Long Range Research Aircraft” (HALO)
  Spokesperson: Professor Manfred Wendisch (Faculty of Physics and Earth System Sciences)
  SPP 1294 has been funded by the DFG since 2007. The HALO research aircraft is used to study atmospheric and geophysical processes. The focus is on answering questions of climate and environmental science.
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• Priority Programme 2361: On the Way to the Fluvial Anthroposphere
  Spokesperson: Professor Christoph Zielhofer (Faculty of Physics and Earth System Sciences, Institute for Geography)
  SPP 2361 explores the interactions between human societies and pre-industrial floodplains in Central Europe. The core research question of this Priority Programme is the extent to which humans have had an influence on changes to floodplains, and since when. Leipzig University, the University of Tübingen and the Technical University of Darmstadt developed the framework programme together. 
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• ERC Starting Grant: “Forest vulnerability to compound extremes and disturbances in a changing climate”
  Project director: Professor Ana Bastos (Faculty of Physics and Earth System Sciences, and iDiv))
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• SOLO – Soils for Europe
  Coordinator: Dr Carlos António Bastos de Morais Guerra (iDiv)
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Federal Ministry of Education and Research

• ZK-FA – Faktencheck Artenvielfalt 
  Project director: Professor Christian Wirth (Faculty of Life Sciences, Institute of Biology and iDiv)
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• ValuGaps – Comprehensive Valorization of Natural Capitals in Germany: Approaches and Methods for Dealing With Scarce Information and Uncertainties
  Project director: Dr Jasper Nikolaus Meya (iDiv)
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• ScaDS.AI – Center for Scalable Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Dresden/Leipzig
  Scientific coordinator: Professor Wolfgang E. Nagel (TU Dresden)
  Deputy: Professor Erhard Rahm (Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Institute of Computer Science)
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• marEEshift – Marine Ecological-Economic Systems in the Western Baltic Sea and Beyond: Generic Models, Coordination and Communication
  Project director: Professor Martin Quaas (Faculty of Economics and Management Science, Institute for Resource Management and iDiv)
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• T!Raum-Initiative: ReWass – Regional Development and Water Management Under Water Scarcity
  Project director: Dr Stefan (Faculty of Economics and Management Science, Institute for Infrastructure and Resource Management)
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• Junior research group: MultiplEE: Sustainable Deployment of Renewable Energies with Multiple Environmental impacts – Policy Strategies to Address Environmental Trade-Offs of the German Energy Transition 
  Project director: Dr Paul Lehmann (Faculty of Economics and Management Science, Institute for Infrastructure and Resource Management)
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Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection

• Lebendige Luppe – Promoting Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity Through Floodplain Revitalization in an Urban Context 
  Project directors: Professor Sylke Nissen (Faculty of Social Sciences and Philosophy, Institute of Sociology); Professor Christian Wirth (Faculty of Life Sciences and iDiv)
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• Leibniz ScienceCampus BioSmoke
  Spokesperson: Professor Ina Tegen
  The Leibniz ScienceCampus “Smoke and Bioaerosols in Climate Change (BioSmoke)” investigates the links between forest fires and climate change. Partners are the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS), the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), the German Biomass Research Centre (DBFZ) and Leipzig University.
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• VW Foundation Call for Proposals, Earth System Sciences – CASCADE
  Cascading impacts of climate extremes: new perspectives for interlinking Earth System Sciences in Leipzig
  Project directors: Professor Miguel Mahecha, Dr Mariana de Brito
  The overarching goal of CASCADE is to provide a systemic perspective on the spread of the societal impacts of floods and droughts in Europe. The project aims to investigate how the impacts of extreme weather and climate events are amplified and how domino effects take hold across different economic sectors and systems. This includes the impacts on forestry, health, tourism, agriculture and critical infrastructure. The main social and physical driving forces of these impacts will also be identified.

• Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize 
  Professor Nico Eisenhauer (2021)
• Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Prize
  Junior Professor Sebastian Sippel (2024)
  Professor Nico Eisenhauer (2014)
• Bernd Rendel Prize
  Junior Professor Sebastian Sippel (2017)
  Professor Miguel Mahecha (2008)
• Leipzig Science Prize 
  Professor Christian Wirth (2022)
• European Geosciences Union – Outstanding Early Career Scientist Award
  Professor Ana Bastos (2022)
  Junior Professor Judith Kretschmer (2022)
• Heisenberg fellowship 
  Professor Immo Fritsche (2011)
• Emmy Noether Junior Research Group
  Professor Nico Eisenhauer (2014)
  Professor Johannes Quaas (2004)
• European Research Council Grants
  Professor Ana Bastos (2022)
  Professor Nico Eisenhauer (2016)
  Professor Johannes Quaas (2012)
• Max Planck Fellow 
  Professor Christian Wirth
• Max Planck Minerva Fast Track 
  Professor Pöhlker (2018)