Competence Center for Landscape Resilience officially opened – Focus on interdisciplinary research and international networking
The new “Competence Center for Landscape Resilience,” affiliated with the Faculty of Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology at the University of Göttingen, was officially opened on May 22, 2025, with a festive kick-off event. The aim of the competence center is to significantly improve understanding of the resilience of landscapes to ecological, climatic, and social changes.
The center is funded by the Eva Mayr-Stihl Foundation and is initially planned to run from January 2025 to December 2030. The spokesperson for the Competence Center is Prof. Dr. Alexander Knohl. The center consists of a junior research group and an innovation pool.
Knohl explained the implementation: "The junior research group, led by Dr. Birgitta Putzenlechner, will investigate the resilience of landscapes in the coming years with the help of remote sensing and field observations. The innovation pool aims to promote interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research in this field. As part of three current calls for proposals, researchers and students can apply for funding for short-term scientific missions, student projects, public relations projects, and interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary projects. The aim is to strengthen the development of innovative approaches and cooperation across disciplinary boundaries." In her welcoming speech, Dr. Birgitta Putzenlechner emphasized: “With the Landscape Resilience Competence Center, we are creating a platform that combines excellent support for young researchers with innovative, interdisciplinary research.”
The Visiting Scientist Program complements the junior research group and innovation pool by inviting international scientists in the field of landscape resilience to the University of Göttingen for research stays. Knohl added: “The aim of the Visiting Scientist Program is to intensify scientific exchange. We hope this will provide new impetus for research in Göttingen.”
The kick-off event offered numerous guests from science, administration, and practice insights into the planned research priorities and the working methods of the competence center. Susann Pfeiffer from the Eva Mayr-Stihl Foundation was enthusiastic about the successful opening: “The competence center offers an exciting thematic approach and promising structural elements and will hopefully contribute to the further development of the forestry faculty at the University of Göttingen.” Afterwards, the event provided an opportunity for intensive discussions and networking.
Knohl concluded by saying, “We look forward to working with partners from science and practice and invite all interested parties to get actively involved.”
Contact:
Competence Center for Landscape Resilience
Büsgenweg 1, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
Website: https://www.uni-goettingen.de/de/691197.html
Email: Landscape.resilience@forst.uni-goettingen.de
