Our Vision
Through its high-level research, the University of Bonn will act as an agent of change, helping to lay the foundations for transformation processes affecting the whole of society. Many of our researchers are studying sustainable development issues, thus establishing a valuable knowledge base for debates, political and personal decision-making, and answering pressing social questions. In particular, we are supporting inter- and transdisciplinary research and promoting the transfer of research findings into day-to-day work and society.
We are formulating our sustainability strategy in a continuous participatory process as part of the University’s own sustainability platform, known as BOOST (Bonn Program for Sustainable Transformation). Strategic objectives and measures for research are being developed in a dedicated working group.
Listen in now: our Cluster of Excellence PhenoRob in the Podcast "Excellent Explained"
Rainforest protection is not only good for biodiversity and the climate – it also noticeably improves the health of humans who live in the corresponding regions. This is the conclusion drawn by a current study by the University of Bonn and the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais in Brazil. In this, the researchers show that measures to combat slash-and-burn techniques significantly reduce the concentration of particulate matter in the air. The number of hospital stays and deaths due to respiratory diseases thus also decreases. The results have been published now in the journal Nature Communications, Earth & Environment.
The UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku (Azerbaijan) from November 11 to 22, 2024 will also address the sensitive issue of financing adaptation strategies. Prof. Dr. Lisa Schipper from the Department of Geographical Development Research at the University of Bonn and Dr. Aditi Mukherji from CGIAR, warn in the journal Science against misusing the alleged lack of measurability of climate change adaptation strategies to cut funding. Both scientists were involved in the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Researchers at the University of Bonn and University of Montreal have developed a new type of catalyst and used it in their study to produce methane out of carbon dioxide and water in a highly efficient way using electricity. Methane can be used, for example, to heat apartments or as a starting material in the chemical industry. It is also the main component of natural gas. If it is produced using green electricity, however, it is largely climate neutral. The insights gained from the model system studied by the researchers can be transferred to large-scale technical catalysts. The system could also be used to produce other important chemical compounds. The study was recently published in the prestigious journal “Nature Chemistry.”
We eat too much meat in Germany and this not only has a negative impact on health but is also damaging for the environment and climate. Cafeteria owners are increasingly open to the idea of serving smaller portions of meat – especially for cost reasons. But how do you encourage their customers to choose smaller portions of meat? Researchers at the University of Bonn have been investigating this question at a cafeteria in a rehabilitation clinic. The desired effect was the biggest when the team at the cafeteria simply served smaller portions of meat and only topped them up when this was requested by customers. This approach was also largely accepted by patrons. The results have now been published in the journal “Environment and Behavior.”
High-Level Inter- and Transdisciplinary Research
6 Clusters of Excellence
How can technologies unlock sustainable crop production? How do policy instruments impact social and economic inequality? These and other questions are being addressed by researchers from various disciplines in the University of Bonn’s six Clusters of Excellence.
The Robotics and Phenotyping for Sustainable Crop Production cluster, or PhenoRob for short, is Germany’s only Cluster of Excellence in the agricultural sciences.
6 Transdisciplinary Research Areas (TRAs)
The University maintains six Transdisciplinary Research Areas in which researchers from all its faculties are studying cross-cutting issues together. This transdisciplinary approach is producing innovative research that reflects a variety of perspectives.
Sustainability issues also play a major role in terms of content here, such as in the Innovation and Technology for Sustainable Futures TRA.
Research in collaborative projects
As a University of Excellence, the University of Bonn is among the universities with the strongest track records for research in Europe. It is known for its high-level research, which is underpinned by an international network and an innovative and cosmopolitan research culture.
The University conducts research into sustainability issues as part of numerous collaborative projects funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG), the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the European Union (EU) and other third parties.
Selected Institutions
Center for Development Research (ZEF)
The Center for Development Research is an institute at the University of Bonn that conducts trans- and interdisciplinary research. The researchers at the ZEF devise scientifically sound answers to questions of development policy. Doctoral students, researchers and partner institutions from all over the world come together at the ZEF to work toward solving global challenges.
Klein-Altendorf Sustainability Campus
The Klein-Altendorf Campus (CKA) is one of the Faculty of Agriculture’s three off-site laboratories. It hosts numerous tests and experiments by the University’s institutes and partner research institutions.
Issues connected with crop production are its main focus.
Sustainable AI Lab
Outstanding researchers from various disciplines are working together in the Sustainable AI Lab to study the environmental, social and economic consequences of designing, developing and using artificial intelligence (AI).
The laboratory is the brainchild of AI ethicist Prof. Dr. Aimee van Wynsberghe, Director of the Institute of Science and Ethics at the University of Bonn.
Networking and Transfer
Partnerships for meeting sustainability targets
The University of Bonn collaborates with a wide range of partners in order to advance sustainability research at a local, national and global level and transfer research findings to the economy and society. We make the most of the unique advantage that Bonn offers us as a UN city.
enaCom Transfer Center
The enaCom Transfer Center sees itself as an intermediary, translator and catalyst between science and other stakeholders whose purpose is to make research findings available for the benefit of society.
Part of Research and Innovation Services, the enaCom Transfer Center is the first port of call for any questions about knowledge and technology transfer.
Bonn Alliance for Sustainability Research
With its six partner institutions, the Bonn Alliance combines basic and applied research conducted by both universities and non-university institutions. It takes account of the complexity of the problems and issues presented by the sustainability landscape by adopting an interconnected approach to science and research. Its common aim is to provide scientific support to the implementation of the UN’s Agenda 2030 on every level from the local to the global. The Bonn Alliance for Sustainability Research was set up at COP23 in November 2017 under the overall leadership of the University of Bonn.
Research networks
The universities of North Rhine-Westphalia have joined forces in the Humboldtn network in order to share responsibility for sustainability issues of relevance to the future.
The University of Bonn is also an active member of other German and international sustainability networks, including the German Association for Sustainability at Universities (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nachhaltigkeit an Hochschulen, or DG HochN) and the International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN).
since 1819
Sustainability research at the University of Bonn
1934
Foundation of the Faculty of Agriculture
2017
Founding of Bonn Alliance for the Sustainability Research in context of COP23
Work in progress
This web page will be added to gradually.