Logo - Carl von Ossietzky University of OldenburgResearch activities in the fields of climate change, renewable energy, the environmentand sustainable development form a major and widely recognised research area at the University of Oldenburg including more than 200 researchers from various disciplines. Excellent fundamental and applied research with strong inter- and transdisciplinary collaborations are structured within a university-wide sustainability strategy. In the past 20 years, the university’s sustainability research focused on five research domains, namely energy research, climate systems and climate change, marine and coastal research, environmental economics and sustainability management as well as ecosystems and biodiversity research. The research interests of these domains cover the entire range from global to local and regional scales.

Institutions and Structures

In order to integrate all sustainability-related activities of the University of Oldenburg, the Centre for Environment and Sustainability (COAST) was formed in 2007. Five member institutions constitute the centre: ForWind studies the principles as well as scientific and technical options for the application of wind energy, both onshore and offshore. The Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM) is one cornerstone of German marine research activities focussing on coastal ecosystems, their dynamics and management. In the Centre for Environmental Modelling (CEM), interdisciplinary teams work on various models (e.g. process models, hydrological models on river catchments, ecosystem modelling for terrestrial and marine areas as well as decision support systems). In the Centre for Sustainability Economics and Management (CENTOS), economic and social-science approaches towards sustainability are developed, analysing public policy, corporate strategies and the relation between civil society and environmental degradation, climate adaptation, climate protection. Various groups working on spatial planning and regional management have pooled their interests and have recently founded the Centre for Sustainable Regional Development (ZENARiO).

Three lines of close collaboration provide the focus of COAST and the other institutions mentioned:

  1. climate research - from understanding of the climate system towards climate adaptation
  2. renewable energies – transforming energy societies
  3. teaching and studying sustainability

Since coastal regions are both highly dynamic and vulnerable in general and the University of Oldenburg is located within one of the World´s most prosperous regions with the world-famous large tidal ecosystem, coastal regions are considered in most of the research projects and study programmes.

Studying the dimensions of climate change

The MasterCluster Environment and Sustainability coordinated by COAST, is unique in Germany and attracts students from all over the world. It brings together lecturers and students from seven environment-related Master programmes.

With regard to the Climate Network, students and researchers participating in the collaboration and exchange activities will be involved in the MasterCluster. Foundations for climate adaptation management are offered in several topical modules to deliver solid business and economical knowledge with a detailed overview of fundamental ecological and social questions. The acquired skills will be used to implement sustainability in companies, governments or scientific and international institutions.

Climate Adaptation – Projects and Structures

The University of Oldenburg became a major hub for studies on climate adaptation in Germany recently. Large national and European transdisciplinary projects are located and are being synthesized within the COAST centre. A broad spectrum of approaches, methods and regional settings as well as international co-operation is considered within a suite of projects:

Logo - Climate Proof AreasLogo - Nordwest 2050
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Logo - KLIFF

International Collaboration and Internationalization

In 2007, the leadership of Oldenburg University and its key actors of internationalization decided to make North-South collaboration and scientific cooperation for development a strong focus within its internationalization strategy. Already existing North-South-links and cooperation projects in the educational and social sciences were to be extended to other teaching and research areas. Furthermore, North-South cooperation initiatives and links between single researchers and scientists especially in the natural and information sciences as well as economics were to be scrutinized and partly integrated into the new strategy. Since then, the University leadership has allocated funds to strengthen the North-South activities and bring together key actors at Oldenburg University - amongst others, the Centre for South-North Cooperation in Research and Teaching got funds to employ a coordinator. Starting with a DAAD funded fact finding mission to East and South Africa early 2008, an interdisciplinary team of researchers and scientists, especially in the field of sustainability sciences (natural sciences, economics), has since taken initiative to internationalize core activities especially in the North-South context under the roof of COAST.

The DAAD funded network and subject-related partnership Developing Sustainability (DevSus, 2009-2013) is the most visible outcome of this initiative. The DevSus network simultaneously is guiding in terms of interdisciplinary collaboration and transdisciplinary interaction on demanding fields on renewable energies, land use management or sustainable development.

The Climate Network partly builds on these activities and extends them to focus on climate research and education with two of the DevSus partners which have a significant competence, commitment and similar research and teaching structures / interests concerning climate issues like Oldenburg University.

Last Updated: Thursday, 17 January 2013 10:49