Two people dressed as beekeepers are standing below a tree in which bees have settled.
Copyright: University of Konstanz, CASCB

Sustainable development – in research

The United Nations (UN) have defined 17 sustainability goals. Researchers at the University of  Konstanz contribute to reaching these goals through their research as well as their teaching and transfer activities. They provide impetus for sustainable action, give support for addressing crises and develop cutting-edge technologies. Our research projects with a focus on sustainability showcase the diversity of how research in different disciplines can contribute to sustainability as well as the many different scientific approaches used.

No poverty

Research on inequality

The Cluster of Excellence "The Politics of Inequality", funded in the context of the Excellence Strategy, links a wide range of disciplines (political science, sociology, economics, linguistics, psychology and empirical educational research) and strives to open up new perspectives on the connections between inequality and different political processes. The researchers involved approach the goal of reducing inequalities across its entire bandwidth.

Current projects:

Zero hunger

1) The Cluster of Excellence "The Politics of Inequality"

Current projects:

2) Professor Britta Renner, Department of Psychology

Current  project:

    MiLife, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG), part of the project RISKDYNAMICS, a study analyzing the interplay between physical activity and psychological factors

Good health and well-being

1)  The Cluster of Excellence "Collective Behaviour"

Current projects:

2) Professor Markus Gruber/ Human Performance Research Centre (HPRC), sport science

Current projects: 

  • The Human Performance Research Centre (HPRC) enables detailed research into the athletic performance of humans and works closely with regional collaboration partners (sports clubs and associations).

3) Professor Britta Renner, Department of Psychology

Current projects: 

    Konstanz Life study: a long-term interdisciplinary study on the health of Konstanz residents
  • EUCLID study on the public’s perception of the coronavirus situation
  • SMARTACT The interdisciplinary research project SMARTACT aims to use mobile technologies (e.g. smartphones) to improve health-related behaviour over the long term.
  • Individual and collective appetite – how is eating shaped by social influence?. This project’s objective is to identify the influence of social contexts on eating in human and animal collectives.

4) SFB-TRR 353 Regulation of cell death decisions, Department of Biology
SFB-TRR 353 is dedicated to the study of biological processes that regulate the phenomenon of "cell death" at the molecular level.

5) Professor Alexander Bürkle, Department of Biology

The Molecular Toxicology research group seeks to understand how cells react to genotoxic (DNA-damaging) stress at the molecular, cellular and organismic level and how these mechanisms contribute to (patho-)physiological conditions such as ageing and cancer development. In a second step, the team is interested in the development of translational applications for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases.

The team's projects focus on:

  • Genetic toxicology
  • DNA damage and repair
  • Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation
  • Biomarkers of ageing

6) Immunology, Department of Biology

Current project:

    Immunoproteasome Drug Targeting, FAT10, research on biological immune response mechanisms

7) Chemical Biology research takes place at the interface between biology, chemistry and computer science. The macromolecular basic building blocks of the cell can be characterized in terms of their functional and structural interaction. The research focuses lie in the fields of synthetic chemistry, cellular biochemistry, biophysics, biomedicine and bio- and chemoinformatics.

8) Professor Daniel Keim, Department of Computer Science, data analysis and visualization

Current project:

    "Coronavis" visualization tool for the nation-wide display of intensive care capacities. The tool enables physicians to gain an overview of intensive care capacities at German hospitals.

Quality education

1) The Cluster of Excellence "The Politics of Inequality"

Current projects:

    Practical field course: Behavioral ecology and animal communication

2) Professor Guido Schwerdt, Department of Economics

The Public Economics research group focuses on policy evaluations, applied economic research, educational economics, labour market economics and public economics.

3) Professor Johannes Huwer, Department of Chemistry

Current projects:

4) Professor Axinja Hachfeld, empirical educational research

Research by the Educational Research group focuses on professionalization as well as questions involving education and training in heterogeneous contexts. How can education processes be successful in heterogeneous contexts – not only in the classroom but also in connection with learning contexts outside the school?<br/> What shared attitudes and convictions about heterogeneity do teaching professionals have, and how do these ideas impact how they teach?

5) The Binational School of Education (BiSE) is a central university institution that manages, coordinates and develops all areas of teacher education at the University of Konstanz. As a cross-university teaching and research network, it connects university facilities with external partners.

At the heart of the discussion is the question of how the respective education systems make it possible for children with different pre-requisites – social, linguistic, health, etc. – to have equal access to the important resource of education.
Professor Claudia Diehl, professor of microsociology at the University of Konstanz and co-speaker of the Cluster of Excellence "The Politics of Inequality"

Gender equality

1) The Cluster of Excellence The Politics of Inequality

2) Professor Susanne Strau?, sociology

Current project:

3) Professor Dorothea Debus, Department of Philosophy, as Vice Rector for 明升体育_足球竞彩网-官网 Affairs, Equal Opportunity and Diversity responsible for all topics and projects related to international affairs, equal opportunity and diversity at the University of Konstanz

4) Diversity and leadership is one focus of the Organizational Behaviour research team led by Professor Sabine Boerner in the Department of Politics and Public Administration. Projects

Clean water and sanitization

1) Professor Frank Peeters, Limnological Institute, Department of Biology

Current projects:

2) Professor Lutz Becks, Limnological Institute, Department of Biology

Current project:

    Forschungsprojekt ABOVE – Aquatic Biodiversity Exploratories

Affordable and clean energy

1) Professor Stefan Volkwein, Department of Mathematics

Current project:

2) Professor Giso Hahn, Department of Physics

Current projects:

    Several publicly funded projects for example on the following topics: Developing new solar cell concepts for the cost-efficient use of regenerative energies, investigating the long-term stability of solar cells, improving the physical understanding of processes in the solar cell, technology transfer of laboratory results into mass production

3) Professor Lukas Schmidt-Mende, Department of Physics
The research team "Hybrid Nanostructures" investigates new materials for solar cells by studying perovskite semiconductors that are significantly cheaper and need less energy than silicon solar cells, for example.

Current projects:

4) Professor Peter Baum, Department of Physics

Current project:

    Observations of moving atoms and electrons with an attosecond electron microscope: a project to develop a novel approach to making the smallest and fastest processes in matter visible – the motion of atoms and electrons
Photovoltaic systems on the roofs of the University of Konstanz.
Image: University of Konstanz, Frank Nachtwey

Decent work and economic growth

1) The Cluster of Excellence "The Politics of Inequality"

Current project:

  • ??Digitalization, Automation and the Future of Work in Post-Industrial Welfare States. The project's aim is to understand the interplay between politics, society and the economy in the context of responding to the social, economic and political challenges posed by digitalization and automation. Technological change is currently driving fundamentally changes to the world of work – with significant consequences for social inequality.

2) Professor Florian Kunze, Department of Politics and and Public Administration

Current projects:

3) Professor Ines Mergel, Department of Politics and and Public Administration

Current project:

    Open Public Administration Scholarship (OPAS), an open access platform for research-based teaching results focusing on digital transformation

4) Professor Sabine Boerner, Department of Politics and and Public Administration

Current project:

    Leadership and resilience in the healthcare sector, a study with the aim of identifying factors that strengthen the psychological resilience of healthcare professionals. The expected results can lay the groundwork for developing practical recommendations and interventions that support healthcare teams in their everyday work.

5) Professor Nick Zubanov (PhD), Department of Economics

Current project:

    Skill complementarity in production technology a study on the correlation between the dispersion of skills within companies and productivity in business sectors with higher average skill dispersion

Industry, innovation and infrastructure

1) Professor Helmut C?lfen, Department of Chemistry, researches in the field of nano and materials science. His work focuses on the processes of crystalization and biomineralization.

Current project:

  • From biominerals to novel bio-inspired materials, one research aim is to use controlled crystal growth to make fracture-resistant concrete, another aim is to establish mineral plastics as a sustainable, biodegradable plastic with exceptional characteristics.

2) Professor Stefan Mecking, Department of Chemistry, researches in the field of nano and materials science (one of the university’s research priorities). His work focuses on sustainable catalysis mechanisms and processes in addition to eco-friendly plastics.

Current project: 

    Polyethylene-like Polymers from Plant Oils, focuses on the manufacturing of materials from renewable building blocks

Reduced inequalities

1) The Cluster of Excellence "The Politics of Inequality"

Current projects:

2) Professor Marius Busemeyer, Department of Politics and and Public Administration

Current project:

3) Professor Jeanine Grütter, empirical educational research

Current projects:

Sustainable cities and communities

1) Professor Thomas Hinz, Dr Thomas W?hler, sociology

Current project: 

2) Professor Christian Meyer, sociology

Current project: 

    Hafner KliEn

3) Professor Martina Kanning, sport science

Current project: 

Joint research in the areas of history and computer science (Dr Jan Behnstedt-Renn, Professor Stefan Hauser, Professor Harald Reiterer, Professor Falk Schreiber) in collaboration with Kulturamt Konstanz, the HTWG Konstanz - University of Applied Sciences and the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik Trossingen

Current project: 

    Exhibition "YOUTOPIA – Stadtvisionen erleben"

Responsible consumption and production

1) Professor Helmut C?lfen, Department of Chemistry, researches in the field of nano and materials science. His work focuses on the processes of crystalization and biomineralization.

Current project:

2) Professor Tanja Gaich, Department of Chemistry

Current project:

Professor Johannes Huwer, Department of Chemistry

Current project:

    Steinbeis Transfer Center CAAT-Europe.

    Research topics:

    • Neurotoxicity: this research aims to develop new cell models and endpoints in order to obtain information relevant for human health and safety without animal experiments
    • New cells and tools: this research focuses on producing known cells from other known cells

    4) Professor Stefan Mecking, Department of Chemistry, researches in the field of nano and materials science (one of the university’s research priorities). His work focuses on sustainable catalysis mechanisms and processes in addition to eco-friendly plastics.

    Current project: 

      Polyethylene-like Polymers from Plant Oils, focuses on the manufacturing of materials from renewable building blocks

    5) Professor Giso Hahn, Department of Physics

    Current projects:

Climate action

1) Scientists for Future at the University of Konstanz

Contact: Professor Christine Peter, Department of Chemistry

2)  Cluster of Excellence "The Politics of Inequality"

3) Professor Laura Epp, Limnological Institute

Current project:

4) Junior Professor Sebastian Kloos, Department of Politics and and Public Administration,

Current project:

5) Professor Mark van Kleunen, Department of Biology

Current project:

6) Professor Christian Voolstra, Department of Biology

Current project:

7) Professor Martina Kanning, sport science

Current project:

raus! Experience climate action together through play

Life below water

1) Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour

The Cluster of Excellence "Collective Behaviour" focuses its research on collective behaviour while including a wide variety of categories. The aim of the interdisciplinary research network (involving biology, physics, psychology, sociology, economics, computer science and mathematics) is to uncover the basic principles behind collective behaviour in a range of organisms and at different organizational levels in order to use this knowledge to implement real-world solutions with a positive global impact.

Contacts: Professor Oliver Deussen, Professor Urs Fischbacher, Professor Iain Couzin, speakers of the Cluster of Excellence

2) Professor Christian Voolstra, Department of Biology

Current projects:

3) Professor Peter Kroth, Department of Biology

Current projects:

Saving coral reefs is a touchstone for dealing with climate change. If we succeed in saving the coral reefs, I am confident that we will also be able to save other ecosystems on our planet.
Professor Christian Voolstra, professor of genetics of adaptation in aquatic systems at the University of Konstanz

Life on land

1)The Cluster of Excellence "Collective Behaviour"

Research topics:

2) Professor Martin Wikelski, Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, Department of Biology

Current projects:

Peace, justice and strong institutions

1) The Cluster of Excellence "The Politics of Inequality"

Current projects:

    Framing Inequalities

2) Research Institute Social Cohesion (RISC) 

Contacts: Professor Daniel Thym, Christopher M?llmann

3) Professor Judith Beyer, sociology

Current project:

Activism in Exile among Burmese Migrants in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and the Thai-Burmese Border Region (Sarah Riebel)

4) Professor Anke Hoeffler, Department of Politics and and Public Administration

Current project:

5) Professor Gerald Schneider, Department of Politics and and Public Administration

Current project:

6) Professor Nils Weidmann, Department of Politics and and Public Administration

Current project:

7) Professor Daniel Thym, Department of Law

Main research areas:

8) Professors Aleida and Jan Assmann lead the research project funded by the 2020 Dr Karl Helmut Eberle Prize "Civic strength. Political challenges and cultural practices". Individual projects investigate questions of civic society at the national, municipal and school levels. An associated project "Gemeinsinn im Sport" (civic society in sport) focuses especially on sport organizations.

Current project:

    Civic strength. Political challenges and cultural practices, awarded the 2020 Dr Karl Helmut Eberle Prize

Partnerships for the goals