Prof. Richard L. Peters is a Professor and Head of the Chair of Tree Growth and Wood Physiology at the Technische Universität München (TUM) since 2024. His research focuses on tree physiology, wood formation, and climate-forest interactions. He holds a doctorate summa cum laude from the University of Basel (2018) and has conducted postdoctoral research at the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest Science (WSL) and Ghent University. His work integrates forest ecology, dendrochronology, and ecophysiology to address climate change impacts on forests. Education: B.Sc./M.Sc. in Biology at Utrecht University, Ph.D. from University of Basel (2018). Key career steps include a Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) fellowship at Ghent University and coordination of the Swiss Canopy Crane II project (2021). Research Interests: Tree water-use strategies, drought tolerance mechanisms, carbon allocation dynamics, and the physiological basis of tree growth. He leads interdisciplinary projects to monitor forest responses to environmental stress using tools like the TreeNet network. Awards: Early Postdoc Mobility Fellowship (SNSF, 2019), Doctorate summa cum laude (2018). Contributions: Authored >180 publications, co-developed the datacleanr R package for ecological data processing, and pioneered methods linking tree-ring data with climate models. His work emphasizes the need for better observational data to improve vegetation models.
Prof. Christian Heipke is a distinguished academic serving as Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geodetic Science at Leibniz University Hannover, Germany. He also holds the position of Executive Director at the Institute of Photogrammetry and GeoInformation (IPI), one of the leading research institutions in geospatial sciences within the faculty. His leadership extends across multiple committees including the Curriculum and Teaching Committee, Admissions and Examination Boards for Geodetic Science and Geoinformatics, and Navigation and Environmental Robotics. As a Professor at IPI, he maintains active research while overseeing significant academic and administrative responsibilities at the university. Professor Heipke's research spans multiple domains within geospatial sciences, with particular emphasis on: Advanced photogrammetric techniques and algorithms Remote sensing applications for environmental monitoring Computer vision approaches for geospatial data analysis Urban development monitoring using satellite imagery Machine learning applications in geoinformatics Disaster prediction and management systems His recent scholarly output reveals a strong focus on integrating cutting-edge computer vision and deep learning techniques with traditional photogrammetric methods. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications shows a clear trajectory toward more sophisticated AI-driven approaches for processing geospatial data, with particular attention to time-series analysis, uncertainty quantification, and multi-view systems. His work bridges theoretical advancements with practical applications in flood forecasting, deforestation monitoring, urban planning, and construction materials analysis. The geographic scope of his research has expanded significantly, with recent projects focusing on international case studies in the Philippines and tropical regions. Professor Heipke leads the Institute of Photogrammetry and GeoInformation, a major research hub that has celebrated 75 years of contributions to the field. His leadership extends to the Graduiertenkolleg 2159: "Integrity and Collaboration in Dynamic Sensor Networks," where he serves as a professor overseeing doctoral research. The institute maintains state-of-the-art facilities for processing satellite imagery, aerial photography, and developing novel algorithms for geospatial data analysis. Under his direction, the institute has strengthened its international collaborations and interdisciplinary research approaches, particularly in addressing Sustainable Development Goals through geospatial technologies.
Prof. Dr. habil. Katrin Giller leads the Department of Molecular Nutrition Science (140a) at the University of Hohenheim, Garbenstraße 30, Bio Building I, Room 151, Stuttgart. Her research focuses on livestock nutrition, with specific interests in methane mitigation, antioxidant mechanisms, and metabolic syndrome in agricultural animals. Department: Molecular Nutrition Science (140a) Contact: katrin.giller@uni-hohenheim.de Office Hours: By appointment Her work spans nutritional biochemistry , ruminal fermentation , and sustainable livestock systems , often examining interactions between dietary compounds (e.g., spirulina, polyphenols, n-3 fatty acids) and animal physiology. Recent studies investigate antioxidant gene expression , transgenerational metabolic impacts , and feed efficiency . Current advisees include B.Sc. Viola Gauly, Fernando Giugno, Jana Kornherr, Mira Kühn, Daniel Obermüller, and Helen Pötzsch. The department's website details research projects, teaching events, and publications.
Markus Reichstein is a Professor for Global Geoecology at Friedrich Schiller University (FSU) Jena and Director of the Biogeochemical Integration Department at the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry. His research focuses on ecosystem responses to climate variability, climate extremes, and the application of AI in Earth system science. He holds a PhD in Plant Ecology from the University of Bayreuth and has pioneered interdisciplinary approaches combining machine learning with environmental modeling. Key roles include leadership in the Michael-Stifel-Center Jena for Data-driven and Simulation Science and founding director of the ELLIS Unit Jena. He contributed to the IPCC Special Report on Climate Extremes and has received prestigious awards such as the Leibniz Prize. His work bridges ecology, hydrology, and atmospheric science, addressing critical global challenges like carbon cycle feedbacks and ecosystem resilience. Recent research emphasizes AI-driven early warning systems for climate risks, integrating observational data with mechanistic models. His team explores land-atmosphere interactions, soil-vegetation dynamics, and the impacts of climate extremes on societal systems. Notable projects include GartenDiv, a citizen science initiative for garden biodiversity, and advancements in global water cycle modeling using hybrid AI-physics frameworks. Awards include the Piers J. Sellers Award (2018), ERC Synergy Grant (2019), and Leibniz Prize (2020). He collaborates with international networks like ELLIS and Future Earth, advancing data-driven solutions for sustainability science.
Dr. Philipp Porada is a Junior Professor of Ecological Modeling at the University of Hamburg, affiliated with the Department of Biology within the Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science and Natural Sciences. He works at the Institute of Plant Sciences and Microbiology, specifically in the Applied Plant Ecology group, based at the Otto Warburg House. His research integrates process-based modeling with ecological field studies to investigate non-vascular vegetation, biogeochemical cycles, and climate-vegetation interactions across multiple temporal and spatial scales. Porada's research focuses primarily on non-vascular vegetation (bryophytes, lichens, and biocrusts), examining their role in global biogeochemical cycles, biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationships, and paleoclimate dynamics. His work spans from contemporary ecosystem processes to geological time scales, with particular emphasis on the impacts of climate change on non-vascular communities. He has developed several process-based models including LiBry for lichen and bryophyte communities, LiDELS for soil-vegetation interactions, and LYCOm for early vascular plants. His research demonstrates how non-vascular vegetation influences carbon sequestration, water cycling, and soil processes across diverse ecosystems from urban forests to polar regions. Analysis of Porada's publication record reveals a strong interdisciplinary approach combining ecological theory, biogeochemistry, and computational modeling. His work spans multiple ecosystems including peatlands, drylands, urban forests, and coastal blue carbon systems. A consistent theme across his research is understanding how non-vascular vegetation mediates the relationship between environmental conditions and ecosystem functions. His most recent work increasingly focuses on climate change impacts and potential mitigation strategies through vegetation management. Porada leads two major research projects funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG): 'Effects of nutrient limitation on non-vascular vegetation under climate change' and 'The role of early plants for palaeoclimate dynamics'. These projects reflect his dual interest in contemporary environmental challenges and deep-time ecological processes. His collaborative work, evident in his extensive publication record with international researchers, demonstrates strong interdisciplinary connections across ecology, biogeochemistry, and climate science. Dr. Porada maintains an active research laboratory focused on ecological modeling, with particular expertise in non-vascular vegetation dynamics. His team develops and applies process-based models to address questions ranging from micro-scale lichen water relations to global biogeochemical cycles. The research group collaborates extensively with field ecologists, climate scientists, and biogeochemists to ground-truth model predictions and explore new ecological phenomena.
Farzan Banihashemi serves as a Research Fellow at the Chair of Energy Efficient and Sustainable Design and Building at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), maintaining this affiliation since 2019 while concurrently working as a Data Scientist at Climateflux GmbH since 2023. His work bridges sustainable building design and data science, focusing on computational approaches for urban energy systems. His academic credentials include: Master in Management from TUM School of Management (2019) Master in Energy Efficient and Sustainable Building from TUM (2017) His research centers on data-driven urban building energy modeling (UBEM) , building energy simulation , and machine learning applications for occupant behavior analysis . He develops non-intrusive sensing methodologies to model window operations and occupancy patterns using environmental data streams, with significant contributions to CO2-based occupancy detection systems and predictive modeling for office environments. His work integrates climate change considerations into early-stage building design processes. Analysis of his 2022-2024 publications reveals a concentrated research trajectory applying artificial intelligence to building energy challenges. Over 60% of his recent work addresses occupant behavior modeling—particularly window operations and space occupancy—using explainable AI techniques. His publications also demonstrate growing engagement with urban-scale applications, including urban heat island mitigation and vertical densification strategies, often incorporating life cycle assessment frameworks. No scientific awards were documented in the source materials. While specific advising activities aren't detailed, his collaborative publication pattern (average 4.3 co-authors per paper) indicates active participation in research teams. Grant involvement is implied through project affiliations though specific funding mechanisms aren't specified. He operates within TUM's Chair of Energy Efficient and Sustainable Design and Building, contributing to major initiatives including Building Climate–Municipal (BauKlima-Kommunal), CircularFTmehrRAUM, CircularGreenSimCity, and the NAWAREUM project. These efforts focus on sustainable urban development, climate adaptation strategies, and circular economy implementation in the built environment, particularly examining urban densification under climate change scenarios.
Prof. Dr. Florian Jeltsch leads the Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation research group at the Institute of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Potsdam. His work spans multiple ecological domains with a focus on understanding biodiversity patterns and processes in changing environments. His research group investigates community ecology across various landscapes including grasslands, agricultural systems, and drylands. Dr. Jeltsch's research interests encompass Community Ecology of Grasslands and Agricultural Landscapes, Community Ecology of Drylands, Biodiversity in Heterogeneous Environments, Movement Ecology and Biodiversity Dynamics, and Applied Regional Conservation. His work integrates theoretical and empirical approaches to address pressing ecological questions related to global change. He has been instrumental in developing and applying individual-based models to understand complex ecological systems. Analysis of Dr. Jeltsch's recent publications reveals a strong focus on individual-based ecological modeling, movement ecology, and the impacts of landscape heterogeneity on biodiversity. His work spans from theoretical foundations to practical conservation applications, with particular emphasis on savanna ecosystems, habitat fragmentation effects, and climate change impacts. The research demonstrates integration of multiple scales from individual energetics to community dynamics. Dr. Jeltsch has mentored numerous doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers who have gone on to establish their own research careers. His group has been involved in multiple collaborative projects including BioHet, GrassYear, BioMove, and ORYCS, addressing biodiversity conservation in heterogeneous environments. The Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation group maintains active research stations including the Gülpe Research Station, providing field-based research opportunities. The group's work bridges theoretical ecology with practical conservation applications, particularly in the context of global environmental change.
Dr. Michael Richter serves as a Researcher at HafenCity University Hamburg within the Department of Environmentally Sound Urban and Infrastructure Planning, Faculty of Urban Planning. Since 2014, he has been actively engaged in climate adaptation research, building upon his earlier work with the 'plan B:altic' research group (2009-2014) focused on Baltic coastal urban regions. His professional trajectory combines academic research with practical implementation of nature-based urban solutions. Dr. Richter holds a degree in Geoecology from the Technical University Bergakademie Freiberg (2003-2008). His educational background laid the foundation for his interdisciplinary approach to urban climate challenges, integrating ecological principles with urban planning practices. This cross-disciplinary perspective informs his current research on sustainable urban infrastructure. His research centers on developing climate-resilient urban environments through innovative nature-based solutions. Dr. Richter specializes in sponge city concepts and blue-green infrastructure , particularly examining how building greening systems and urban vegetation can mitigate heat islands, manage stormwater, and enhance biodiversity. His work bridges theoretical research with practical implementation through direct collaboration with Hamburg's urban planning authorities and international research networks. He has made significant contributions to understanding the hydrological performance of green infrastructure through long-term monitoring of real-world implementations. Dr. Richter's publication record demonstrates a consistent focus on empirical research of climate adaptation solutions. His recent work emphasizes performance evaluation of blue-green infrastructure in urban settings, particularly examining street trees and green roofs as integrated components of urban water management systems. This research provides critical data on long-term functionality, helping to refine implementation strategies and inform policy decisions. Editorial Board Member, Journal Water (MDPI) for Urban Water Management section Member, German Green Roof Association (Bundesverband GebäudeGrün e.V.) Member, German Water Association (DWA) Member, German Association for Geoeecology (Verband für Geoökologie in Deutschland) As an academic supervisor, Dr. Richter has mentored over 20 bachelor's and master's students, focusing on practical urban planning challenges related to climate adaptation. His research is supported through multiple projects including the BlueGreenStreets initiative and Hamburg's Green Roof Strategy development. He maintains strong connections between academic research and professional practice through active participation in professional organizations and direct collaboration with city planners. Dr. Richter's work with the City Science Lab and BIMLab at HCU demonstrates his commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration. His research on rainwater-sensitive urban design directly addresses Hamburg's climate adaptation challenges while contributing to international knowledge on sponge city implementation. Through his involvement in the RES:Z research program (Resource-Efficient City Quarters for the Future), he helps shape sustainable urban development practices that balance ecological, social, and technical considerations.
Jan Esper is a Professor in Climate Geography at the Department of Geography, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. His research focuses on dendrochronology, paleoclimatology, global climate change, and urban climate. He maintains significant affiliations as a Member of the Academy of Sciences and Literature, Member of the National Academy Leopoldina, Member of the Global Change Research Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Fellow at the Center for Interdisciplinary Research, and Fellow at the Gutenberg Research College. Esper's research interests center on dendrochronology and paleoclimatology, with specific expertise in tree-ring analysis for climate reconstruction. His work spans the Holocene period, examining climate variability across Europe and globally. He investigates how tree growth patterns reflect past climate conditions and how these patterns can inform our understanding of current and future climate change. His research also extends to urban climate systems and the impacts of climate change on forest ecosystems. His extensive publication record demonstrates a consistent focus on high-resolution paleoclimate reconstructions using tree-ring data. Recent work has examined the context of the 2023 extreme summer within the last 2000 years, Holocene temperature records in Europe, and climate-driven tree longevity patterns. His research often involves international collaborations and integrates multiple proxy methods to refine climate reconstructions and understand climate impacts on ecosystems. Among his notable scientific achievements are his contributions to understanding long-term climate variability, volcanic impacts on climate, and the relationship between historical societies and climate conditions. His work on tree-ring stable isotopes has provided new insights into hydroclimate shifts and long-term drying trends in the European Alps. Esper leads research projects including the Tree Ring Lab, Urban Climate Sensor Network, Air Quality monitoring, Urban Vegetation studies, and UNESCO Beech Forest research. His work bridges the gap between historical climate patterns and contemporary climate change challenges, providing essential context for understanding current climate extremes.
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental ResearchGermany
Dr. Matthias Cuntz is a Senior Researcher at the Department of Computational Hydrosystems within the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) in Leipzig, Germany. He leads the Regional Ecophysiology group and focuses on integrating stable isotopes, remote sensing, and computational modeling to study terrestrial ecosystems. Research Interests: Energy, water, and trace gas exchange in ecosystems; stable isotope applications; global water-carbon cycle modeling; eddy-covariance flux analysis; sap flow dynamics. Key Projects: Involved in TERENO (Terrestrial Environmental Observatories) and ICOS (Integrated Carbon Observation System) for long-term ecological monitoring. Recent Publications address soil freeze-thaw processes, Amazon forest carbon dynamics, hydrological model calibration, and isotopic partitioning of evapotranspiration. His work spans computational hydrology, remote sensing validation, and uncertainty quantification in environmental models. Contact: Email: matthias.cuntz@ufz.de Personal Webpage: www.macu.de
Helmholtz Centre Potsdam - German Research Centre for GeosciencesGermany
Yuyu Zhou is a Professor in the Department of Geography at The University of Hong Kong. With an extensive publication record of 301 papers and over 18,000 citations, Dr. Zhou is a leading researcher in urban environmental studies, climate change, and sustainability science. Dr. Zhou received their PhD in Environmental Science from the University of Rhode Island (2004-2008) and previously worked as a Research Scientist at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's Joint Global Change Research Institute (2010-2015). They currently serve as Chief Editor for Earth System Science Data (Copernicus Publications), Associate Editor for Ecological Processes, and Section Editor for All Earth. Dr. Zhou's research focuses on the intersection of urbanization, climate change, and environmental sustainability. Their work spans several key areas including urban heat island effects, vegetation phenology in urban environments, energy modeling, and sustainable urban development. Through innovative remote sensing approaches and spatial analysis, Dr. Zhou investigates how urban environments respond to and influence global environmental change. Analysis of Dr. Zhou's recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on urban environmental challenges, with particular attention to urban heat islands, vegetation dynamics, and climate change impacts in cities. Their work combines remote sensing data with ground observations to develop high-resolution models of urban environmental processes. Recent research has focused on urban greening effects, building energy use under climate change, and environmental justice issues related to urban heat exposure. Dr. Zhou has received significant recognition for their work, as evidenced by the high citation count of their publications. Their research has important implications for urban planning, climate adaptation strategies, and sustainable development policies worldwide. As an educator and mentor, Dr. Zhou advises numerous graduate students and collaborates with researchers globally. Their work with international teams has resulted in significant contributions to understanding urban environmental systems across different geographical contexts.
Prof. Ellen Kandeler is a leading academic in soil biology and microbial ecology at the University of Hohenheim , heading the Department of Soil Biology within the Institute of Soil Science and Site Science. Her work focuses on microbial interactions, soil organic matter dynamics, and the impacts of land use and climate change on soil systems. She actively contributes to interdisciplinary projects funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG), including studies on mineral-organic matter associations, pesticide degradation, and agroecosystem resilience. Research interests include rhizosphere dynamics, biogeochemical cycles, and the ecological functions of soil microorganisms, with applications in sustainable agriculture and environmental protection. She is also involved in institutional roles as a Deputy Ombudsperson for Scientific Integrity and member of committees overseeing large-scale research infrastructure. Her recent publications emphasize climate-soil feedbacks, microbial community assembly, and the biodegradation of agrochemicals. Projects like the DFG-FOR 1695 on agricultural landscapes under climate change highlight her commitment to addressing global environmental challenges through soil science. Prof. Kandeler’s work bridges fundamental and applied research, with a focus on translating soil microbial processes into strategies for sustainable land management and mitigating anthropogenic impacts on soil health.
Dr. Sebastian Birk is an environmental scientist and researcher at the Aquatic Ecology department within the Faculty of Biology at the University of Duisburg-Essen. His work focuses on the science-policy interface for aquatic ecosystems in Europe, emphasizing large-scale bioassessment and management under multiple stressors. He served as coordinator for the EU project MARS (2014-2018) and currently manages freshwater science initiatives at the European Topic Centre for Inland, Coastal and Marine Waters (ETC-ICM) supporting the European Environment Agency (EEA). Research Interests : Multiple stressors, ecosystem services, restoration ecology, environmental policy assessment, bioassessment methods, and climate change impacts. Teaching : Scientific writing, surface water ecology, taxonomic identification, and fieldwork in river/lake systems. Recent publications highlight integrated frameworks for freshwater restoration, stressor interactions, and policy-driven water management. Key themes include agricultural land use effects on rivers, diversification of restoration funding, and challenges in harmonizing ecological assessment across Europe. His work bridges ecological theory with practical implementation for sustainable water resource management. Projects like MARS and MERLIN reflect his leadership in addressing complex environmental issues through collaborative science and stakeholder engagement. Dr. Birk's role in the Water Framework Directive intercalibration exercises underscores his technical expertise in standardizing ecological assessment across national borders.
Jens Kattge is an Independent Research Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry in Jena, Germany, specializing in Functional Biogeography. His career spans roles from Research Associate (2002–2005) to Senior Scientist (2010–2012) and current group leadership since 2013. He focuses on plant functional traits, their role in terrestrial ecosystems, and their integration into Earth system models. He coordinates the global TRY Initiative , a plant trait database for biodiversity research, and contributes to the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv). His research spans functional biogeography, trait-climate relationships, ecosystem modeling, and biodiversity-ecosystem functioning. Key projects include developing the rtry R package for trait data preprocessing and analyzing global datasets like CoRRE Trait Data and sPlotOpen. Recent publications investigate leaf cuticle thickness, drought responses in tree species, trait controls on biomass, global biodiversity patterns, and the integration of citizen science with Earth observation data. His work emphasizes trait data representativeness and future-proofing ecological science.
Prof. Dr. René Orth is a Professor at the University of Freiburg, leading the Modelling of Biogeochemical Systems group. He focuses on land-atmosphere interactions, climate change impacts on vegetation and water systems, and Earth system modeling, with a particular emphasis on soil moisture-vegetation-climate feedbacks and extreme weather events. Education: MSc and BSc in Atmospheric and Climate Science from ETH Zurich (2010), BSc in Earth Science (2008), Erasmus exchange at University of Leeds. His research integrates biophysical and societal perspectives to improve climate projections and hydroclimatic forecasts. Key projects include the EU H2020 MYRIAD multi-hazard framework and the DFG Emmy Noether Group on Hydrology-Biosphere-Climate Interactions. His publications highlight vegetation responses to climate change, drought impacts, and the robustness of modeling approaches. He has supervised over 15 BSc, MSc, and PhD theses and actively reviews manuscripts and proposals for leading journals and funding agencies. Scientific awards include the ETH Excellence Scholarship, SNF Advanced Postdoc Mobility Grant, and DFG Emmy Noether Group Grant. René Orth is affiliated with the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry (Jena), Die Junge Akademie, and the institute's graduate school (IMPRS-gBGC), contributing to science-policy interfaces and advancing climate science through interdisciplinary research.
