Environment and sustainability
Department for Research and Transfer
Dr Beate Grünberg
International visibility and awareness
Dr Janna Just
European research funding; Groningen/Netherlands; EU funding programmes, Ministry of Science and Culture (MWK) funding programmes
Dr Anne Clausen
Non-European research funding; Nelson Mandela University/South Africa, German Federal Ministries, DAAD, Humboldt Foundation
Environment and sustainability
Combining the main topics of biodiversity and marine science, sustainability and energy of the future, projects under the umbrella of Environment and Sustainability bring together questions and methods from the natural, social and societal sciences. The goal is to develop pioneering solutions for a conscious, responsible and efficient use of our earth’s resources.
Ocean Floor – The Ocean Floor, Earth’s Uncharted Interface (EXC)*
The joint cluster of excellence of the universities of Oldenburg and Bremen “The Ocean Floor – Earth’s Uncharted Interface” (Ocean Floor) investigates the ocean floor as a dynamic interface at which geological, chemical, physical and biotic processes are intertwined. The aim is to quantify the carbon and material transport between seawater and sediments, to understand the reaction of benthic ecosystems to environmental changes and to make the climate archive within the ocean floor usable for forecasting in a “warmer world”.
Funding: excellence strategy of the German Federal Government and the States
Contact: team
CoastCarb – Climate change resilience in subantarctic coastal ecosystems
The CoastCarb network is dedicated to interdisciplinary research into the effects of climate change on the coastal regions of the Beagle Channel and the West Antarctic coast. This unique network consists of over 100 experts from Europe, South and North America and develops solutions for the sustainable use of marine resources. The project promotes global climate research and its findings contribute to the protection of biodiversity in marine ecology.
Funding: Marie Curie RISE Programme of the EU (H2020-MCSA-RISE 872690)
Contact: https://coastcarb.eu/
Darker Sky: Supporting municipalities and ports to protect nature with the implementation of light reduction solutions
Darker Sky is an Interreg North Sea Project funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). It aims to reduce light pollution and increase biodiversity and ecological connectivity in the North Sea region (France, Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark). To do so, municipalities and ports will be provided with innovative methods for measuring, monitoring and implementing environmentally friendly and energy-efficient light reduction measures, which are beneficial for biodiversity and the surrounding communities.
NDC – International Cooperation for Climate Action and Biodiversity in Tanzania
The project “Promoting Participatory Processes to Implement NDCs through Nature-Based Solutions in Tanzania” brings together partners from Germany, Tanzania and international organisations such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Through the expertise gained in the project, the implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) will be scientifically monitored and evaluated, based on the example of Tanzania. The project’s participatory approaches make it a model for other countries worldwide: local communities, NGOs, governmental agencies and international experts work together to find solutions through workshops, training and joint research projects on knowledge transfer and capacity building. The partnerships promote communicative exchange between the areas of science, politics and civil society.
Funding: International Climate Initiative of the Federal Government (IKI)
Contact: PRO-NDC-ACT // University of Oldenburg
NORSAIC – Working together for a sustainable and resilient future in the North Sea region
Norsaic is a four-year (2021-2025) EU-funded project belonging to the Interreg programme. Its aim is to make the North Sea region more resilient. It deals primarily with the climate resilience of the coasts. The project develops and implements strategies to protect coastal communities and ecosystems from climate effects and promotes sustainable, environmentally friendly approaches such as wetland restoration, dune reinforcement and green infrastructure. The networking of stakeholders (governments, companies, researchers and communities), with the goal of jointly developing and scaling adaptive solutions, is essential to the success of the project.
PPRE: International Master in Renewable Energies (SuRE and EMRE)
The degree programmes SuRE (Sustainable Energy) and EMRE (European Master in Renewable Energy) are MSc programmes that provide researchers and engineers with a broad knowledge base in renewable energies. With a strong focus on international collaborations and a worldwide network, the programme offers two career paths: either a practical or a scientific orientation. Through partnerships worldwide, the degree programmes provide a unique combination of interdisciplinary research and global practical experience. The programme contributes directly to achieving global climate goals by training professionals for the energy transition.
Funding: Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) Climate-KIC.*
Contact: https://uol.de/en/ppre
TREASURE: Targeting the REduction of plAStic oUtflow into the noRth sEa
Our European consortium consists of regional authorities, water management offices, research institutes, companies and non-governmental organisations from five countries. The large amount of marine litter entering the sea via inland waters poses a serious threat to the environment and to human health. The long-term goal of the project is to reduce the amount of macroplastic waste entering the North Sea from inland waters.
Where is RV SONNE? – Research vessel SONNE
The research vessel SONNE has been at the forefront of marine research for over ten years. As a floating research laboratory on the world’s oceans, the SONNE contributes, among other things, to gaining insights into climate change, advancing the protection of marine ecosystems and investigating the use of marine resources. As a deep-sea research vessel of the Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment with locations in Oldenburg and Wilhelmshaven, the home port of the SONNE, the ship is of great importance for the Ocean Floor joint cluster of excellence with the University of Bremen.
SONNE, Research Vessel - Details and current position - IMO 9633927 - VesselFinder
Contact: RV Sonne // University of Oldenburg