Elmar Buchner

Professor Dr. habil. Elmar Buchner serves as Vice President for Research and Research Career Development and Head of the HNU Doctoral Centre at Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences. His academic career spans multiple institutions including extensive work at the University of Stuttgart's Institute of Planetology from 1997 to 2013, where he later became a Privatdozent in Geology.

Dr. Buchner's research focuses on the interface of Earth and Health Sciences, with particular expertise in:

• Impact Geology and Crater Studies
• Structural Geology and Tectonics
• Sedimentology and Paleoenvironmental Reconstruction
• Geothermal Energy and Social Acceptance
• Healthcare Technology and Digital Ethics

His groundbreaking work primarily centers on the Ries and Steinheim impact structures in Germany, where he has challenged the long-held belief that these were formed by a binary asteroid impact. Through detailed stratigraphic and seismic analysis, Buchner and colleagues have presented compelling evidence for two independent impact events separated by approximately 0.5 to 1 million years. This research has significant implications for understanding impact cratering processes on Earth and other planetary bodies, with applications to Martian geology through terrestrial analog studies.

His publication record reveals an evolving research trajectory that increasingly bridges geological sciences with health applications. While his core expertise remains in impact cratering and structural geology, recent work extends into geothermal energy social acceptance studies and the ethical dimensions of digital healthcare technologies, demonstrating his commitment to applying geological knowledge to contemporary societal challenges.

With 231 publications, over 66,000 reads, and 1,471 citations, Professor Buchner has established himself as a leading researcher in impact cratering studies. His collaborative work spans multiple international institutions and research teams, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of modern impact crater research.

As Head of the HNU Doctoral Centre, Professor Buchner oversees doctoral training and research career development at Neu-Ulm University. His leadership in research administration complements his active research program, demonstrating his commitment to fostering the next generation of scientists while maintaining his own cutting-edge research in Earth sciences.