Excellence Strategy

Projects supported by the Platform

The following projects are supported by the platform and conducted by interdisciplinary research teams and/or in close cooperation with partners from environmental agencies, service providers, industry associations; numerous further research projects are listed at the webpages of the platform members). 

 

© all pictures: CRC CAMPOS

Chemicals in the Environment

  • In-situ formation of glyphosate and AMPA from phosphonates in households and industry (--> several projects; see WG Prof. Carolin Huhn).
  • Phyto-rehabilitation of urban brownfields in Kosovo (Arta Peci, H. Rügner, M. Dippold; 2026-2027; funded by Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt)
  • A model toolbox to predict the influence of passive river restoration on pathogen concentrations and source apportionment in urban rivers (BW-Stiftung, C. Zarfl, J. Schaper, City of Tübingen, Stadtentwässerung Tübingen; 2023-2026; see ModPaRI).
  • Developing a conceptual emission model of microplastic (MP) pollution from contrasting urban catchments (Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung: Georg Forster Research Fellow: T. Nasrabadi, University of Tehran, P. Grathwohl; 2023-2026).
  • Nitrate reducing microbial communities from porous media and the karstic/fractured aquifer of the Bronnbach-Spring catchment, SW Germany (DFG; Universities of Stuttgart and Tübingen, S. Kleindienst, S. Abramov, P. Grathwohl, A. Kappler; 2024-2026).
  • PFAWAS - Input, preconcentration and mobilization of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in urban water infrastructures (BW-Stiftung; University of Tübingen, Stadt Tübingen - Fachabeilung Wasserwirtschaft und Grün, Ch. Zwiener, P. Keller et al., 2023-2026).
  • Untersuchung des aus Bahnanlagen abgeleiteten und technisch gefassten Niederschlagwassers: Bewertung der Versickerung ins Grundwasser oder der Einleitung ins Oberflächengewässer (2021-2026, B. Susset, M. Finkel, H. Rügner, P. Grathwohl, Deutsche Bahn AG).

Biosphere-Geosphere Interactions

  • SEE --> TERRA - Terrestrial Geo-Biosphere Interactions in a Changing World: Cluster of Excellence on interactions between diversity and stability in the geosphere and the biosphere. TERRA aims to develop an integrated understanding of how geo-biosphere interactions in terrestrial systems induce and respond to environmental changes. Funding period is from 2026-2032.

Sustainable Management of Natural Resources / Carbon Reduction

  • The University of Tübingen contributes to presentation of 99 Projects for a post-fossil future within the 9 universities in the State of Baden-Württemberg: see press release!
  • EcoFuture KAP4 – Development of an innovative multi-component manure for ecological agricultural farming. Lead: Prof. Michaela Dippold, University of Tübingen; Partners: University of Hohenheim (Dr. Christian Poll), Steinbeis-Innovation Centre "Organismic Mycology/Microbiology (Prof. Dr. Michael Weiß). Funded by: Ministry for Science, Research and Arts, BW; 2026-2029.
  • Phytorehabilitation as part of a nature-based solution for urban brownfields sites in Kosovo: DBU Scholarship Arta Peci (Supervision; H. Rügner, M. Dippold), Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt, 2026-2027.
  • Ecological characterization and re-use of former gypsum quarries in the Ammerbuch Area (M. Ebner, C. Leven, H. Rügner, R. Hahn, University of Tübingen; 2025-2027, Gips-Schüle Stiftung; see below).
  • ICAWaR - lmproving climate adaptation policies for water resilience and carbon reduction in Germany (Dr. Melanie Nagel, Prof. Kira Rehfeld, University of Tübingen. Intramural Funding, 2024-2026). learn more
  • Climate-adapted groundwater management through real-time planning tools and model-based future scenarios (BMBF-LURCH; University of Tübingen, University of Hohenheim, KUP Stuttgart, ASG, LTZ Augustenberg, O. Cirpka, T. Streck, M. Finkel et al.; 2023-2026). see webpage

Related and completed research projects (selection)

  • Research exchange programme on climate change (4C) Baden-Württemberg - California State University (2019-2025; funded by the State of Baden-Württemberg and the CSU; J. Raman, N. Ebner & H. Rügner).
  • 7dSHerbicide: 7dSH as a natural herbicide and possible alternative to glyphosate - Development of a marketable product. K. Harter (ZMBP), H. Köhler (EvE), collaboration with HS Bielefeld; 2022-2024.
  • Exposure and Effect Monitoring before and after the upgrade of the WWTP Tübingen with an ozonation stage (R. Triebskorn et al., RP Tübingen, Stadt Tübingen, Stadtentwässerung Tübingen; 2019-2023). more info
  • SFB 1253 CAMPOS – Catchments as Reactors: Metabolism of Pollutant on the Landscape Scale was a Collaborative Research Center for long-term multidisciplinary research (Speaker: Prof. Peter Grathwohl, 2017-2021, DFG funded). see webpage
  • SPP 1803 Earthshape - Earth Surface Shaping by Biota was a 6-year priority program (Speaker: Prof. Todd Ehlers, Tübingen, DFG-funded 2016-2022). see gepris webpage
  • Sustainable open pit mining in groundwater protection areas (Partners: ISTE, ASG and LUBW; 2016-2018; Industry-/State-funded; Prof. Olaf A. Cirpka).

Project details via: h.ruegner@uni-tuebingen.de