Major research fields:

low temperature geochemistry:

Current major projects:

Environmental memories

Our 13 m core from a ~5000 year old karst sinkhole fen (Silberhohl, western margin of the Harz Mountains, central Germany) shows as early as the Iron Age (first pre-Christian millennium) slight but significant enrichments of Pb, Zn, Cu and Cd. After 400 AD stronger enrichments occurred culminating in the High Middle Ages (~1200-1300 AD). Maximum values are 1250 µg/g Pb, 214 µg/g Cu, 740 µg/g Zn, and 3.8 µg/g Cd. The enrichments are caused by emissions during smelting of sulfidic lead-zinc ores from the adjacent Hercynian deposits to extract Ag and Cu. Except for Cd, these values were never exceeded in modern times. Since the Iron Age 23g technogenic Pb, 5.3g Cu, 27g Zn and 0.2g Cd have been deposited per square meter.

Palynological investigations show a strong correlation between decreasing red beech pollens (Fagus sylvatica) and increasing demand on wood for smelting in the Middle Ages. Simultaneously, the pollen share of pioneer trees such as birch (Betula pubescens) and of cereal grains (e.g. Secale) increases. Since the beginning of the 14th century, the decline of agriculture and population is reflected in the decreasing contents of Secale and heavy metals in the fen deposits.
From: Hettwer et al. (2003)

Bioenergy Village

The central aim of the project is to switch the electricity and heat supply in rural areas from conventional to biomass energy sources. This is realized as a lighthouse project by the active participation of the population of the village Jühnde (Southern Lower Saxony), which is the first “Bioenergy Village” of Germany.

Our scientific team from the universities of Goettingen and Kassel has initiated that project and actually analyzes the ongoing ecological, economical and social changes. Our long term goal is to develop social, technical, ecological and agricultural knowledge necessary for extending the bioenergy concept to other interested villages.

It is a project of the Interdisciplinary Center for Soustainable Development (University of Goettingen), funded by Agency of Renewable Resources (Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe, FNR) and Federal Ministry of Consumer Protection, Food and Agriculture (Bundesministerium für Verbraucherschutz, Ernährung und Landwirtschaft, BMVEL) from 2000 to 2008.

Funded by: FNR+BMVEL (Government)

Sustainable use of bioenergy

Bridging conflicting demands of climate stabilization and resource conservation, with landscape protection, with water, air, and soil preservation, with interests of society and farmers, and with economy
The primary objective of the project is to deepen and validate the basic and applied knowledge base of the sustainable use of energy from biomass concerning the interaction between economy, society, and ecology. The project comprises six main work packages, which have partly sub projects (see graphic).

The project is particularly pursuing the following objectives:
1. The research results of the project shall contribute to optimise cultivation and technical concepts under consideration of ecological, economic and social aspects.
2. Further bioenergy projects shall be initiated in a site specific way. Research regarding each particular process will be carried out.
3. Criteria for different utilisation concepts will be developed. Their basis are the results of the work packages.
4. In addition to that recommendations will be gleaned for the handling of competing utilisations of agricultural land.
5. Research will be executed as how unused potentials can be activated in an environmentally sound way, e.g. the use of contaminated sites for the cultivation of energy crops or the utilisation of wood and straw as fuel.

The project is funded by the Ministry of Science and Culture of Lower Saxony.