News
01/06/2026 | Dr. Begaiym Emileva successfully defends her dissertation at IAMO
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We are so happy and proud to celebrate Begaiym Emileva's incredible achievement after her successful doctoral defense at at Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO) in Halle yesterday. Receiving a magna cum laude is an outstanding accomplishment and a true reflection of her dedication and hard work.
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29/05/2026 | Call for papers - Water Security and Climate Change Conference 2026
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We are delighted to invite you to submit your abstract to the upcoming Water Security and Climate Change Conference (WSCC26), which will be held on 06 – 08 October 2026 in Giessen, Germany. The submission deadline is July 15, 2026. The WSCC is an annual international platform where scientists, policymakers, and practitioners bridge the gap between multidisciplinary research and real-world implementation. Supported by the exceed program (Higher Education Excellence in Development Cooperation), this conference follows a successful global series held in countries such as Thailand, Kenya, Mexico, and Uzbekistan.
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This year's conference topic "Rethinking Nexus Approaches in a Complex and Uncertain World" is framed by three conference topics:
- Strengthening Water Security through Integrated Nexus Management
- Transdisciplinary Pathways for Governing the Nexus under Climate Change
- Quantifying Interdependencies through Data and Modelling
The WSCC, an annual event since 2016, has become a notable academic platform for scientific, technical, and policy-oriented discourses and discussions.
The "Call for Abstracts" provides detailed guidelines and instructions for abstract submission. Further information can also be found on the conference webpage: www.watersecurity.info
Should you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact our organizing committee at wscc@uni-giessen.de
We look forward to your active participation and to welcoming you at the WSCC26.
02/03/2026 | Dr Alicia Correa has been awarded a grant from the ProProfessor Programme in Hesse
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Congratulations to our colleague Dr. Alicia Correa on being selected for the ProProfessur Mentoring Hessen program for the next 18 months!This prestigious program supports outstanding researchers on their path to professorships through personalized mentoring, targeted career development, and strong academic networking across Hessen. Ms. Correa’s selection is a wonderful recognition of her achievements and an important step in her academic career. ProProfessor Hessen |
19/02/2026 | Join our Master Lecture in the Summer Term 2026: “Building Bridges on Rising Waters: Climate Change and International Disaster Management”
Are you passionate about addressing the global challenges posed by climate change and disaster management?
Then join our specialized Master's Lecture in the Summer Term 2026 "Building Bridges on Rising Waters" and delve into the critical intersection of natural hazards, risks, climate change and international disaster management. Our expert-led lectures from Justus Liebig University Giessen, Philipps University Marburg (Germany), University of Limoges (France) and from University of Calabria (Italy) will equip you with the knowledge and skills to understand some of the complexities of this rapidly evolving field.
The accelerating changes in the global climate are linked to a rise in the frequency and severity of extreme weather events and natural disasters, such as floods, droughts, and even earthquakes. These challenges transcend national borders, pose serious risks to societies, and give rise to new socio-political, economic, legal, and technological questions, as well as pressing transformation needs, necessitating a re-evaluation of disaster risk management strategies. Given the relevance of this topic, this lecture offers interdisciplinary perspectives on disaster risk (reduction) management.
The lecture is structured into three thematic blocs, aligned with the disaster risk cycle. In the first bloc “(Natural) Hazards, risks and disasters”, you learn more about the governance of risks and the development of disasters. This bloc focuses on water-related risks in general, climate change scenarios and the political, economic and legal understanding of risks and disasters. In the second bloc “Prevention, mitigation and preparedness”, climate challenges are analysed from economic and engineering perspectives. This bloc highlights (green) financial policies and seismic risk prevention. In the third bloc “Response and recovery”, several disaster case studies are discussed and the impacts of disasters on food systems, pro-social preferences and community resilience are examined. The lecture combines sessions from the following disciplines: Political Science, Economics, Geography, Engineering, Law.
The lecture is integrated in the Virtual International Programme (VIP) of JLU, the Virtual European Exchange Programme (VEEP) and the EUPeace European Track Certification Programme. If you study at a partner university and want to apply for this lecture, please apply via the VIP & VEEP online application form and send your application form, proof of enrolment, and a transcript of records to the VIP mobility office. If you study at JLU, you can register for the lecture by March 2026.
- External Application: Apply for the lecture via the Virtual International Programme (VIP) by 28 February 2026.
- Internal Application: Registration opens by March 2026 on stud.IP.
· Study Period: 13/04/2026 - 17/07/2026
· Mode and Time: Asynchronous (recorded lectures)
· Online Tool for Teaching: stud.IP, ILIAS, BigBlueButton
· Language of Instruction: English (prerequisites: English B2)
· Examination Format: n.a. - no examination
· ECTS without examination: 3 ECTS
· Responsible lecturers (JLU): Prof. Dr. Helmut Breitmeier, Prof. Dr. Sandra Schwindenhammer, Katrin Strobehn, M.Sc.
You can find further information and the lecture plan on the website or contact Katrin Strobehn in case of any questions. The project is generously funded by the EUPeace Fund (European Union).
12/01/2026 | Welcome to Professor Min Liu
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A warm welcome to Prof. Min Liu, who joins us as a Guest Professor at Justus Liebig University and Visiting Scholar at the University of Bonn. Originally a Professor at Lanzhou University in China, she brings a wealth of expertise, holding a PhD in Agricultural Economics from Wageningen University and having completed postdoctoral research at Peking University. Prof. Liu’s work is as inspiring as it is impactful. Using econometric techniques, she explores how human activities shape ecosystems; her research focuses on land use, climate change, and sustainable policies, with a special passion for pastoral areas. Her work perfectly aligns with our mission to advance the Sustainable Development Goals through interdisciplinary research. We’re truly excited to have her on board and look forward to fruitful collaborations. |
28/11/2025 | Dr. Zadoki Tabo receives research award from Justus Liebig University
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Dr Zadoki Tabo has been awarded the Justus Liebig University research prize for his dissertation 'Towards eradicating the tropical disease schistosomiasis – integrative mathematical and statistical modelling combining intrinsic and extrinsic parameters'. The certificate was formally presented to him by Professor Volker Wissemann during the academic ceremony. The ZEU extends its congratulations to him and his supervisor, Professor Christian Albert, on this remarkable accomplishment. |
18/11/2025 | Alexander Prishchepov has been included in the top-cited highly cited world researchers
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Professor Alexander Prishchepov, Associate Professor of the University of Copenhagen, co-affiliated withe the Justus-Liebig-University and participant in the SDG Nexus Network project has now been identified as one of the most cited scientists in his field on a global scale in 2025. This assertion is substantiated by the most recent results of the Highly Cited Researcher Rankings, which were analysed by the Institute for Scientific Information of the American company Clarivate Analytic |
06/11/2025 | Water Security and Climate Change Conference (WSCC25)
Water Security and Climate Change Conference 2025 in Tashkent |
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Tashkent, Uzbekistan — The ninth Water Security and Climate Change Conference (WSCC25) held 8–10 October 2025 at the National Research University "Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers institure" (TIIAME NRU), brought together more than 150 researchers, practitioners and policymakers from 28 countries to exchange research, policy lessons and practical tools for managing water under accelerating climate stress.
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Organised by the SDGnexus Network in partnership with TIIAME NRU and supported by the exceed programme (Higher Education Excellence in Development Cooperation), WSCC25 focused on the urgent challenge of climate‑related water extremes and their impacts on food systems, ecosystems and societies.
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09/09/2025 | Dr. rer. soc. Pavlina Miteva-Bölter successfully defends her dissertation
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It's finally done: Pavlina has successfully and confidently defended her dissertation, submitted to the Faculty of Social and Cultural Sciences - Department of Political Science. Pavlina's PhD research focused on Policy Transfer From International Organisations to Single States: The Case of Marine Spatial Planning Adoption in Colombia. The project was supervised by Prof. Helmut Breitmeier (International relations, centre). The examination board also included Prof. Martin Petrick (Agricultural policy and market research, left), Prof. Thomas Wilke (Animal ecology & systematics, right) and Prof. Stefan Peters (International relations and peace studies, not pictured) The ZEU extends its warmest congratulations on this wonderful achievement. |
03/09/2025 | ZEU's focus areas restructered
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The inaugural event for the establishment of a third focal area, entitled 'One Health', was held on 7 May 2025, with representatives from a range of academic disciplines in attendance. The primary objective of this initiative was to investigate the potential for interdisciplinary collaboration within the framework of the ZEU. A text version describing the focus of the area was also agreed upon. |
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In May 2025, Prof. Christian Albrecht became a new member of the ZEU, and was elected to the role of spokesperson by the members of the 'One Health' focus area. His scientific activities are centred on the health of tropical and other freshwater systems, with a particular emphasis on the diversification patterns of invertebrates (especially molluscs), the dynamics of neglected tropical diseases such as schistosomiasis, and the mechanisms of invasive species in these aquatic habitats. His research is interdisciplinary, integrating the fields of biodiversity, environmental change and human health. This research aligns directly with the ZEU's mission to address global development and environmental issues. |
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The members of the ZEU Climate and Environment Research Group have also elected new spokespersons, as the previous representatives were no longer available. The vote clearly went to:
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Finally, a new deputy spokesperson was also elected in the focal area Land Use. In addition to Prof. Martin Petrick, Prof. Suzanne Jacobs will be involved in the affairs of this area in future. | |
01/09/2025 | Welcoming Julio Álvarez as a PhD student in the SDG Nexus Network project!
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It is with great pleasure that we extend a cordial welcome to Julio Joaquín Álvarez Estrella, who has recently been admitted as a new scholarship holder in our research group. Julio holds a Master's degree in Hydrology and a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Cuenca, Ecuador, where he graduated as the top student of his cohort. His research is centred on three primary areas: hydrological modelling, machine learning applications in water forecasting, and geospatial data analysis. Julio's recent work includes a publication in the Q1 journal Water on the subject of enhancing peak runoff forecasting through the application of feature engineering to X-band radar data. In terms of his professional contributions, he has played a pivotal role in environmental modelling and risk management projects at the University of Azuay and Sensor Vital. His involvement has encompassed the integration of technical design, programming, and GIS-based environmental monitoring, demonstrating his comprehensive expertise in these domains. Julio possesses a robust background in data-driven hydrological research and a keen interest in leveraging innovative computational tools to address water availability and climate-related challenges. It is with great pleasure that we announce his inclusion in our team, and we eagerly anticipate the valuable contributions he will make to the advancement of sustainable water management within the SDGnexus Network. |
28/08/2025 | EAAE Pre-congress workshop by BioValue and Radiant
As part of the XVIII European Association of Agricultural Economists (EAAE) Congress, the Horizon 2020 sister projects BioValue and Radiant have organized a workshop titled
“Promoting Agri-Food Chain Diversification through Underutilized Crops: Socio-Economic Dilemmas and Policy Solutions”
which was successfully held on 26th August 2025 at the University of Bonn. The event shed light on the untapped potential of underutilized crops in enhancing biodiversity and resilience within Europe’s agri-food systems.
Selected from a competitive pool of applications, the workshop brought together a diverse group of experts to engage in rich discussions around socio-economic challenges, innovative strategies, and policy solutions for fostering crop diversity.
It featured two rounds of impulse presentations, highlighting real-world case studies from across Europe. It showcased contributions from some of Europe’s foremost agricultural research institutions, including: Justus Liebig University Giessen (Germany), University of Bologna (Italy), The James Hutton Institute (Scotland), Wageningen University (Netherlands), and CIHEAM (Greece), among others. Presentations addressed a wide range of key topics—consumer behaviour and market acceptance, value chain development, stakeholder collaboration, sustainability assessments, and innovative adoption strategies.
The impulse talks were followed by an interactive session that actively involved participants through methods such as pinboard brainstorming, index card feedback, and live polling, fostering the generation of concrete insights and actionable recommendations. Through dynamic exchanges and co-creation, around 30 participants from the EAAE Congress discussed the main challenges and opportunities and developed recommendations to mainstream underutilized crops in agri-food systems. The participatory part found that risk sharing among the different value chain actors; raising consumer awareness about the environmental and health benefits of underutilised crops; as well as technical and financial support are the best strategies to promote integration of underutilised crops in value chains.
The workshop was led by members of the BioValue project from the JLU Giessen, namely, by Dr. Irina Solovieva and Dr. Pavlina Miteva-Bölter; with support from other colleagues from the BioValue and Radiant projects.
The BioValue project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Grant Agreement No. 101000499.
