German Institute for Global and Area Studies | Leibniz-Institut für Globale und Regionale Studien

Leibniz Research Network “Integrated Earth System Research” (iESF)

Humanity is increasingly influencing the Earth system that has evolved over millions of years. Visible signs of this 'Anthropocene' are global warming, pollution of the oceans and the decline in biodiversity. In the coming years, therefore, societal decisions of civilization-historical significance will have to be made. A fundamental question is: How can the Earth system be ecologically stabilized in such a way that well-being, prosperity, justice, peace and security for all people are secured or even achieved?
Leibniz Association, 2022 - 2026

Cooperation Partners

Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA)Academy for Territorial Development in the Leibniz Association Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine Kiel Institute for the World Economy Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change Leibniz Institute of Atmospheric Physics at the University of Rostock Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries Leibniz-Institute of Plant Biochemistry Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research Leibniz-Zentrum für Archäologie Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science Peace Research Institute Frankfurt Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research Senckenberg – Leibniz Institution for Biodiversity and Earth System Research TIB – Leibniz Information Centre for Science and Technology and University Library

Head

Prof. Dr. Miriam Prys-Hansen

Lead Research Fellow / Head of Research Programme "Global Orders and Foreign Policies"

www.leibniz-integrierte-erdsystemforschung.de

Research Questions

Against this background, the Leibniz Research Network "Integrated Earth System Research" (iESF), led by IOER, has set itself the task of gaining knowledge about people in the Earth system that is relevant to society's actions. Above all, the ecological carrying capacities of the Earth system are determined, interrelations with the dynamics of society are identified, as well as alternative sustainable development paths are derived.

GIGA researcher Dr. Miriam Prys-Hansen is one of two co-speakers of the network. She also leads, together with Prof. Dr. Jochen Schanze and Prof. Dr. Dieter Gerten, the working group "Theoretical Foundations, Methods and Models of 'Integrated Earth System Research'".

Contribution to International Research

On the one hand, the network develops innovative principles of integrated Earth system research. On the other hand, it is currently investigating the theoretical foundations, methods and models of 'Integrated Earth System Research', atmosphere in the Earth system, oceans and their uses in the Earth system, water cycle and inland waters in the Earth system, biodiversity in the Earth system, bioeconomy in the Earth system, urban-rural relations in the earth system, environmental migration and security in the earth system and data and tools for 'integrated Earth system research'. Climate change is considered throughout.

Research Design and Methods

"Integrated Earth System Research" (iESF) is an interdisciplinary network of 22 Leibniz institutes. It operates working groups related to questions of oceans, inland waters, atmosphere, biodiversity, bioeconomy, urban-rural relations, and environmental migration. Cross-cutting working groups have been established on Theoretical Foundations, Methods and Models of 'Integrated Earth System Research', and on Data and tools for 'Integrated Earth System Research'.