Mission Statement

Research and teaching at the Institute of Physical Geography and Landscape Ecology

To identify, comprehensively understand and systematically analyse the structures and processes of landscapes – these are some of the main issues of physical-geographical and landscape-ecological research and teaching.
The work of a geographer can range from data collection in the field and laboratory processing to data analysis with geographical information systems (GIS) and simulation models. The careful and meticulous interpretation of geographical data helps us to understand different environments and to utilize these in a sustainable manner.

Such a balanced supervision helps nature and its environments to provide sustainable benefits to humankind (ecosystem services). The scientific and technical staff at our institute works intensely with other national and international institutes from different environmental and landscape-research fields in order to provide benefits for both research and teaching. Through our numerous collaborations with governmental and private institutions, we have been able to establish effective synergies between academic theory and hands-on practice.