© André Künzelmann
Biodiversity, functioning ecosystems, clean water, and intact soils are our natural foundations of life. They are the prerequisite for human existence and social development. At the UFZ, research is conducted into the complex interactions between humans and the environment under the influence of global change. Environmental research creates knowledge, technologies, and solution options to help find ways to reconcile a healthy environment with societal development. Core topics at the UFZ are (1) land use, biodiversity and ecosystem services, (2) water and soil resource management, (3) chemicals in the environment, (4) environmental and biotechnologies, (5) modeling and environmental monitoring, and (6) social science environmental research.