Prof. Dr. Klaus-Holger Knorr is a Professor of Hydrology at the University of Münster's Institute of Landscape Ecology, where he leads the Ecohydrology and Material Cycles research group. His academic journey includes a Diplom in Geoecology (2005) and a Dr. rer. nat. (2008) from the University of Bayreuth, followed by postdoctoral work and habilitation (2017) in biogeochemistry. He became a professor in 2018 after serving as an Academic Councillor at Münster. Knorr's research focuses on biogeochemical processes in wetland ecosystems, with emphasis on: Carbon and greenhouse gas dynamics in peatlands and lake sediments Redox-controlled organic matter transformations Hydrological-biogeochemical coupling in restoration contexts Impacts of climate change on wetland biogeochemistry His publications predominantly explore methane/CO 2 production pathways, peat decomposition controls, and ecosystem responses to disturbance, using approaches spanning field monitoring to isotopic tracing. He has secured significant research funding including multiple DFG projects like ReDOCs (DOC mobilization), ReVersal (peatland restoration), and SPURT (peatland resilience). Awards include the Bernd Rendel-Preis (2007) and Humboldt Society recognition. He leads laboratory facilities for ecohydrological analysis and mentors doctoral researchers in wetland biogeochemistry.
Prof. Dr. Dieter Trautz is a retired professor at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Landscape Architecture at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences. His career includes academic roles at Christian-Albrechts University Kiel (1982-1988), TU Berlin (1988-1989), and the Kirgizian Agrarian Academy (1998-2000). He focuses on sustainable agriculture, organic farming systems, and precision farming technologies. Education: Studied Agricultural Sciences at Christian-Albrechts University Kiel (1976-1982), PhD in 1987. Research spans crop quality, organic-mineral fertilizers, intercropping, and climate change impacts. He has collaborated internationally in over 20 countries, including projects in Russia, China, and Uganda. Key research areas include: Sustainable intensification of farming systems Organic cultivation of cereals, soybeans, and potatoes Precision farming technologies for organic agriculture Climate-resilient urban agriculture Technology transfer between conventional and organic practices Projects include the MuP project (reducing fertilization in water protection areas) and HerbfreiErbAB (sensor-based mechanical weed control). Active in international research networks and capacity building in developing regions.
Prof. Dr. Christian Lippert is a Professor at the University of Hohenheim's Department of Production Theory and Resource Economics. He specializes in agricultural economics, resource management, and sustainable farming systems. His research focuses on organic agriculture, risk analysis in farming, and climate change impacts on agriculture. He leads projects such as the NOcsPS and ReBioBW initiatives and collaborates with institutions in Bhutan and Colombia. Research interests include crop portfolio optimization, yield stability, organic conversion strategies, and social networks in farming communities. His work combines economic modeling with field trials to address production risks and sustainable practices. Major publications include studies on Bhutan's organic sector, pesticide use alternatives, and climate change adaptation in German agriculture. He teaches courses in farm economics, environmental resource economics, and value chain development at the M.Sc. and B.Sc. levels. His team includes researchers like Dr. Tatjana Krimly and Dr. Isabell Pergner. Advising and grants focus on organic farming transitions and resource optimization. He leads a research group exploring lignocellulosic perennials and Ricardian climate impact analyses. His office is located at Containerbau südlich des Biogebäudes in Stuttgart.
Karl Schmid is a W3 Professor of Crop Plant Biodiversity and Breeding Informatics at the University of Hohenheim's Institute of Plant Breeding, Seed Science and Population Genetics within the College of Agricultural Sciences. His research integrates evolutionary genetics, population genomics, and machine learning to address agricultural challenges. Ph.D. in Biology, University of Munich (1996) Postdoctoral Research, Cornell University (1997-1999) Emmy-Noether Research Group, Max Planck Institute of Chemical Ecology (2000-2006) Group Leader, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics (2006-2008) Professor of Genetics, Swedish Agricultural University (2008) His research focuses on crop biodiversity conservation, evolutionary genetics of plant pathogens, and breeding informatics applications. Current work leverages deep learning for phenotyping (quinoa panicles, barley genomics) and analyzes pathogen evolution (Exserohilum turcicum in maize). His team actively develops computational tools like GGoutlieR for geo-genetic pattern detection. Recent publications demonstrate strong trends in applying AI to agricultural genomics, particularly in quinoa improvement and pathogen surveillance. His group leads the EU H2020 INVITE project on molecular markers in plant variety protection and organizes international symposia like the 2024 Quinoa Symposium at Hohenheim. Head of Crop Biodiversity and Breeding Informatics Group Principal Investigator, EU H2020 INVITE project Organizer, International Quinoa Symposium 2024
Prof. Sean Gallen is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geosciences at Colorado State University (CSU), USA. He holds a Senior Humboldt Research Fellowship at the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, where he collaborates with Prof. Jean Braun's team in the Earth Surface Process Modeling section. His research integrates fieldwork, numerical modeling, geochronology, and GIS to study landscape evolution, tectonics, and natural hazards. Gallen earned his Master's (2008) from Western Washington University and PhD (2013) from North Carolina State University, followed by a Turner Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Michigan. Research Focus: His work examines climate-landscape interactions, subduction zone dynamics, and extreme event impacts on erosion. Notable projects include studying Colorado Front Range topography using cosmogenic nuclides and modeling climate effects on volcanic island landscapes. His interdisciplinary approach addresses topics like tectonic uplift quantification, silicate weathering feedbacks, and landscape-fish coevolution. Awards: Recipient of the NSF CAREER Award (2021) and Senior Humboldt Fellowship (2024). His research has been supported by NSF grants focusing on critical zone dynamics and subduction zone hazards. Current Projects: Investigating climatic controls on river incision in hotspot volcanoes and quantifying glacial erosion impacts on fault slip in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Collaborates internationally, including with Tribhuvan University (Nepal) on coseismic landslide studies.
Franz Krause is a Professor of Environmental Anthropology at the University of Cologne's Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology and Co-Director of the Multidisciplinary Environmental Studies in the Humanities (MESH) since 2024. He holds leadership roles in the European Association of Social Anthropology’s Environment and Anthropology Network and the German Association of Social and Cultural Anthropology. Krause’s research focuses on water’s sociocultural roles, combining ethnography with environmental history and science studies. His work spans river deltas (e.g., Mackenzie Delta, Canada), Finnish Lapland, and Estonia, examining themes like climate change, colonialism, and hydrological dynamics. Key projects include the DELTA Junior Research Group (2016–present), exploring global delta lifeworlds through ethnographic and satellite methods. Education: MA (Berlin, 2006), MSc (Manchester, 2004), PhD (Aberdeen, 2010). His doctoral research on the Kemi River’s socio-ecological relations became his 2023 monograph Thinking Like a River . Recent work addresses water crises in colonial contexts and seasonal rhythms in environmental management. Research interests include fluvial anthropology, hydrosocial systems, and climate justice. His publications analyze Arctic communities' resilience, delta ecologies, and the intersection of cultural practices with hydrological change. Krause collaborates internationally, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to environmental challenges.
Prof. Dr. Lena Noack is a Professor of Planetary Geodynamics at the Institute of Geological Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin. She leads the Planetary Geodynamics research group, focusing on geodynamics, mineral physics, and planetary processes. Her work explores mantle convection, crust formation, and atmospheric evolution, with a particular emphasis on exoplanets and habitability. Dr. Noack holds prestigious grants such as the ERC Consolidator Grant (DIVERSE project) and has received awards including the Paolo Farinella Prize (2021) and the Teaching Award from her institute (2019). Education: PhD in Planetology (University of Münster, 2012), Diplom in Mathematics (Humboldt University Berlin, 2008). Research interests span planetary interior dynamics, exoplanet habitability, and the interplay between geology and climate. Key projects include modeling volcanic outgassing, mantle redox states, and thermal evolution of rocky planets. She collaborates on missions like PLATO and LIFE, advancing exoplanet detection and characterization. Her work on TRAPPIST-1 planets and induction heating mechanisms has been widely recognized. Current grants include leadership in ISSI workshops and ERC-funded research. Students and advisees include over a dozen doctoral researchers studying topics like mantle evolution and planetary atmospheres.
Hauke Schmidt is a Group Leader in the Department of Climate Physics at the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology (MPI-M) in Hamburg, Germany. He leads the 'Global Circulation and Climate' research group and serves as Deputy Director of the 'Atmosphere in the Earth System' department. His work focuses on climate modeling, atmospheric circulation, and climate sensitivity, using tools such as the ICON-Sapphire storm-resolving model and idealized radiative-convective equilibrium models. His research interests center on understanding how atmospheric circulation influences Earth's climate response to forcings, particularly equilibrium climate sensitivity (ECS). He investigates processes in the upper tropical troposphere, pattern effects, and the vertical structure of climate models. His work spans atmospheric dynamics, chemistry-radiation interactions, solar and volcanic forcing, climate engineering, and adjoint modeling for sensitivity analysis. The recent publications highlight a strong focus on high-resolution climate modeling (ICON-Sapphire), radiative feedbacks, stratospheric aerosol effects, volcanic and solar forcing, and model development. His work bridges theoretical atmospheric dynamics with practical Earth system modeling, contributing significantly to CMIP and GeoMIP intercomparisons. Scientific Awards and Honors: Contributing Author, IPCC AR5 WG1 (Chapter 7: Clouds and Aerosols) Advising and Grants: Hauke Schmidt has advised numerous PhD and Master’s students, including Helene Glöckner, Abisha Gnanaraj, Moritz Günther, Paul Keil, Clarissa Kroll, and Sally Dacie. He has led and participated in multiple major research projects funded by DFG, BMBF, and EU programs, such as VolImpact, CELARIT, ComparCE, EUTRACE, and IMPLICC. These projects focus on volcanic impacts, climate engineering, and solar variability. Labs and Teams: He leads the 'Global Circulation and Climate' group within the Department of Climate Physics at MPI-M. He is actively involved in the development and application of the ICON and ECHAM/HAMMOZ family of models. He has contributed to the UA-ICON extension for middle atmosphere simulations and the konrad radiative-convective model.
Johann Jungclaus is a Senior Scientist and Group Leader in the Department of Climate Variability at the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology (MPI-M), Hamburg. He leads the Director's Research Group (CVR) and has been a key contributor to the development of Earth System Models such as MPI-ESM and ICON-ESM. He has coordinated MPI-M’s contributions to CMIP6 and PMIP, and is actively involved in high-resolution climate modeling using ICON-Sapphire. PhD in Physical Oceanography, Hamburg University, 1994 Diploma in Physical Oceanography, Hamburg University, 1989 His research focuses on climate variability across decadal to centennial timescales, particularly the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and Atlantic Multidecadal Variability (AMV). He investigates ocean-atmosphere interactions, the effects of volcanic eruptions on climate, and near-term climate predictions. His work integrates paleoclimate modeling with modern observations and high-resolution simulations to understand long-term climate evolution. His recent publications span topics such as tropical ocean mixing, Holocene climate variability, land heat uptake, and high-resolution climate modeling. The articles reflect a strong trend toward integrating observational data with advanced Earth System Models to improve climate projections and understand past climate dynamics. Johann Jungclaus has not been listed with any formal scientific awards in the provided text. He has supervised numerous PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, though specific names are not listed. He has been involved in significant research grants through international programs such as CMIP6, PMIP, and FAFMIP, and has contributed to major modeling initiatives funded by the Max Planck Society and international collaborations. He is part of the Director's Research Group within the Department of Climate Variability and contributes to the MPI-M’s modeling efforts, including the ICON and MPI-ESM frameworks. His work is closely tied to the institute’s focus on Earth System Modeling, paleoclimate simulations, and high-resolution climate dynamics.
David Bermbach is a Full Professor at Technische Universität Berlin , leading the Scalable Software Systems group since 2023. His research focuses on distributed systems, serverless computing, and benchmarking, with significant work on edge and fog computing architectures. He is affiliated with the Einstein Center Digital Future and co-chairs interdisciplinary projects like SimRa for bicycle traffic safety. Full Professor, Scalable Software Systems (2023–present) ECDF-Professor, Mobile Cloud Computing (2017–2023) Postdoctoral Researcher (2014–2017) Education : Diploma in Business Engineering (2010) – Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) PhD in Computer Science (2014, summa cum laude) – KIT Research Interests span distributed systems with emphasis on cloud, edge, and fog computing, serverless architectures, IoT platforms, and benchmarking frameworks. His work addresses consistency-performance trade-offs, resource placement, and interdisciplinary applications in urban mobility and satellite edge computing. Article Trends show a focus on serverless computing (12/15), edge-cloud integration (9/15), and benchmarking methodologies (7/15). Key themes include optimizing function placement, federated learning architectures, and low-earth orbit computing systems. Scientific Awards Best Paper Award – ShutPub (2024) Best Workshop Paper – A Research Perspective on Fog Computing (2017) Best Paper Runner Up – Benchmarking Eventual Consistency (2014) Summa Cum Laude PhD Thesis (2014) Advising & Grants include mentoring students like Tobias Pfandzelter and Trever Schirmer, leading funded projects through the Einstein Center Digital Future, and contributing to 6G network research. His team works on cloud federation, serverless optimization, and real-world IoT applications.
Raul Wood is a Research Fellow at the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), specifically within the Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF) in Davos. He operates in the Snow and Atmosphere Unit under the Hydrology & Climate Impacts in Mountain Regions Group, focusing on climate-hydrology interactions in alpine environments. His research centers on extreme hydroclimatic events, with emphasis on precipitation extremes, flood/drought dynamics, and climate change impacts in mountainous regions. Wood employs global climate model ensembles and hydrological modeling to dissect internal variability versus forced responses, particularly across European and Alpine domains. His work bridges theoretical climate science with practical water resource management challenges. Analysis of Wood's publication record reveals consistent focus on multi-scale extreme event analysis, compound hazards, and ensemble-based uncertainty quantification. His recent work increasingly addresses societal impacts through urban flood resilience and population exposure metrics, while maintaining technical rigor in statistical downscaling and hydrological modeling. Wood actively contributes to three major research initiatives: SynFire (synchronous forest fires in Europe), Hydro-SMILE (hydrological ensemble for Swiss droughts/floods), and upXdown (upstream-downstream drought cascades in the Alps). These projects demonstrate his commitment to solving complex climate-water challenges through collaborative, interdisciplinary approaches with European partners.
Ana Bastos is a Professor of Land-Atmosphere Interactions at the Institute of Earth System Science and Remote Sensing, University of Leipzig, since May 2024. She has previously held positions as a Research Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry (2020–2024), Research Assistant at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (2018–2020), and PostDoc at the Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement in France (2015–2018). Her academic journey began with a PhD in Geophysics and Geoinformation Sciences from the University of Lisbon (2015) and an MSc in Energy and Environmental Engineering (2011). Her research focuses on understanding interannual to long-term variability in the global carbon cycle, integrating atmospheric science, ecology, and biogeochemistry from both observational and modeling perspectives. She investigates the links between internal climate variability and ocean-atmosphere-land teleconnections, as well as the impacts of climate extremes on ecosystem functioning and disturbance regimes. Her work often employs Earth observation data and multi-scale modeling to reconcile carbon budgets and improve climate projections. Recent publications highlight her expertise in carbon cycle dynamics, climate extremes, and ecosystem resilience. Key topics include compensatory effects in climate models, deforestation impacts on drought vulnerability, and regional greenhouse gas budget assessments. Her projects, such as ForExD and NextGenCarbon, address forest vulnerability and Earth's carbon balance under climate change. Early Career Scientist Award, Biogeosciences Division, European Geosciences Union (2022) ERC Starting Grant (2022) Elected President of EGU's Biogeosciences Division (2024) Prof. Bastos teaches courses like "Climate and Water" (BSc), "Earth System Components" (MSc), and "Earth System Modeling" (MSc). She is actively involved in initiatives promoting diversity, inclusion, work-life balance, and mental health in academia.
Dr. Yun Qian is a distinguished Earth Scientist and Lab Fellow at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), where he leads the Earth System Modeling Group with over 80 scientists and staff within the Atmospheric, Climate, and Earth Sciences (ACES) Division. He joined PNNL in 2000 and has established himself as a renowned expert in climate modeling, particularly in regional climate systems, aerosol-climate interactions, and urban climate effects. Dr. Qian is also an AMS Fellow with significant contributions to understanding human influences on the Earth system. Dr. Qian received his academic training in China: Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science from Nanjing University, Nanjing, China B.S. in Atmospheric Science from Nanjing University, Nanjing, China Dr. Qian's research focuses on advancing our understanding of climate systems through sophisticated modeling approaches. His work spans regional and global climate modeling, aerosol-climate interactions, snow and glacier impurities and their climatic impacts, land-atmosphere-water interactions, urban and coastal environment modeling, and uncertainty quantification in climate modeling. His pioneering work on Asian aerosols revealed their dominant role in shaping climatic trends in East Asia, while his research on snow and ice impurities provided new insights into changes in snowpacks in the western United States and the Himalayas. Dr. Qian has also made significant contributions to understanding how atmosphere-land-water interactions modulate the influence of human activities on the environment. Analysis of Dr. Qian's recent publications shows a strong focus on urban climate effects, regional climate modeling, and the impacts of human activities on climate systems. His work increasingly incorporates advanced computational methods including machine learning for weather pattern identification. There's a clear trend toward studying the interactions between urban environments and climate systems, with particular attention to heat stress, precipitation patterns, and regional warming effects. His research also shows growing interest in extreme weather events and their changing patterns under climate change scenarios. Dr. Qian has received numerous prestigious awards and recognitions: Fellow of American Meteorological Society Chair of AMS Coastal Environment Committee Program Chair for Annual AMS Coastal Environment Symposium Editor of JGR-Atmospheres, Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, and Advances in Atmospheric Sciences Director of international workshop on Uncertainty Quantification in Climate Modeling and Projection Member of Scientific Steering Committee for IPCC CMIP6 Global Monsoons Modeling Inter-comparison Project NSR 2020 Best Paper AAS Esteemed Review Paper Award PNNL Exceptional Contribution Program Award PNNL EBSD Mentor of the Year Editors' Citation for Excellence in Refereeing at AGU (2015, 2019) Contributing Author of IPCC Assessment Report Fellowship Award of International Council for Science (ICSU), 1997 Xue-Du-Feng-Zheng Award in Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1998 With over 200 peer-reviewed articles and 20,000 citations (h-index of 74), Dr. Qian has made substantial contributions to climate science. His work has garnered significant media attention, with features in top-tier scientific publications like Nature and Science, as well as major news outlets including the Associated Press, New York Times, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, and NPR. He has served as chair of the AMS Coastal Environment Committee, Program Chair for the Annual AMS Coastal Environment Symposium, and as a member of the Scientific Steering Committee for the IPCC CMIP6 Global Monsoons Modeling Inter-comparison Project. Dr. Qian has also directed international workshops on uncertainty quantification in climate modeling and served as an editor for three prestigious journals. Dr. Qian leads the Earth System Modeling Group at PNNL, which comprises over 80 scientists and staff. His team focuses on developing and applying atmospheric and land surface models to advance understanding of human influence on the Earth system. The group's work spans regional climate modeling, aerosol-climate interactions, snow and glacier impurities, land-atmosphere-water interactions, urban and coastal environment modeling, and uncertainty quantification. Their research has significant implications for understanding climate change impacts and developing adaptation strategies.
Prof. Markus Meier is a leading academic in physical oceanography and climate modeling, affiliated with the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research (IOW) and the University of Rostock. He holds a professorship at Rostock and leads the Department of Physical Oceanography at IOW. His work focuses on numerical modeling of the Baltic and Arctic Seas, climate change impacts, and biogeochemical cycles. Key roles include Head of the Oceanographic Research Unit (2006–2015) and adjunct professorships at Stockholm University (2006–2015). Education highlights include a Ph.D. in theoretical oceanography from the University of Kiel (1996) and extensive postdoctoral research at the Rossby Centre (SMHI). His research spans sea ice modeling, saltwater inflows, and hypoxia dynamics, with a focus on regional climate system interactions. Key research interests include: numerical ocean modeling, climate variability, Baltic Sea ecosystem dynamics, and deoxygenation processes. Recent studies address future climate projections, marine heatwaves, and the impact of anthropogenic and natural drivers on marine systems. Publications highlight contributions to understanding Baltic Sea oxygen depletion, Atlantic climate influences, and coupled climate system modeling. He chairs major initiatives like Baltic Earth, advancing interdisciplinary Earth system research in the region.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jochen Linßen is a Professor at the Institute of Climate and Energy Systems (ICE) , specifically within the Jülich Systems Analysis (ICE-2) group at the Research Center Jülich GmbH. His work focuses on advancing energy systems modeling, renewable energy integration, and hydrogen technology. Key research areas include the techno-economic analysis of energy transition pathways, hydrogen cost-potentials, and the interplay between energy systems and transportation networks. His expertise spans climate policy, infrastructure planning, and the development of frameworks for long-term mobility demand modeling. He has contributed to high-resolution assessments of renewable energy resources and the evaluation of green hydrogen’s role in decarbonizing industries. Recent work emphasizes AI-driven risk mitigation in energy systems and the impact of natural hazards on energy infrastructure resilience. Research Interests: Modeling of energy systems and hydrogen networks Renewables integration and curtailment challenges Transportation electrification and hydrogen fueling infrastructure Climate policy and decarbonization strategies Key Projects: ETHOS. MODE. regional framework for mobility demand analysis Global assessments of wind and solar power potentials Hydrogen supply chain optimization for Germany and Europe His collaborative approach bridges engineering, economics, and environmental science to address systemic challenges in energy transitions. Ongoing efforts include participatory mapping of green hydrogen potentials in sub-Saharan Africa and analysis of automated driving’s impact on road networks.
