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Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research

The mission of the UFZ

Biodiversity, functioning ecosystems, clean water and intact soils all make up our natural resource base. In the face of global change, employees at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ are united by the goal of demonstrating ways to combine societal development with a healthy environment.

The UFZ conducts excellent research and takes on a shaping role in the scientific community. As a reliable partner, the UFZ supports the political arena, the economy and the general public to better understand the consequences of human actions on the environment and to develop options for social decision-making processes. For this purpose, the UFZ responds to the stimuli created by society and by producing know-how and technologies that should help to rapidly identify problems comprising conflicting priorities between the environment and society. The UFZ will consequently work on precautionary measures.

In dealing with complex environmental issues, the disciplinary borders between the natural-, engineering- and social sciences need to be overcome. The UFZ has extensive competences in integrated environmental research. It boasts innovative scientific infrastructures and nurtures indispensable national and international cooperation, enabling problem - solving at the highest level.

Attractive working conditions, the creativity and motivation of UFZ employees, their personal and professional development, and the promotion of young scientists as leading international researchers are all key factors when it comes to successfully promoting this mission.

More about UFZ

UFZ in figures

1214

employees (as of Dec. 2020)

49

percentage of women at the UFZ

39

joint appointments with universities

News

  • High-rise buildings made of mushrooms, with cooling facades and vegetable gardens on the roof: Architecture must change to become more sustainable and climate-friendly, and solutions are coming from…

  • Health, Earth & Environment

    Once again, we are experiencing a summer with record heat and drought. With consequences for people and nature.

  • Energy

    The energy transition not only presents us with immense technological challenges, but is also a mammoth task from an economic perspective. In an interview, Erik Grawel identifies the most important…

  • Earth & Environment

    The current Corona pandemic shows: Human health is related to animal health and the environment. Only by understanding this unity in terms of "One Health" we will be able to prevent future pandemics.

  • The threat of cyberattacks is increasing worldwide. Hackers use security vulnerabilities to extort large sums of money in ransom. Researchers are working to detect and fix flaws in software systems.

  • Irina Lehmann from the Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), together with colleagues from the DKFZ, has conducted a sensational study to find out why the child's immune system is better able to keep the…

Contact

Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung - UFZ

Permoserstraße 15
04318 Leipzig

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