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Faculties / organisations and cooperation partner

In addition to the institutions and organizations involved, cooperation partners that fit the KPA's remit are also listed.

Center for Data and Simulation Science (CDS) brings together researchers from domain sciences (e.g., natural sciences, life sciences, economics, social sciences, humanities, etc.) and researchers with a strong background in data science and scientific computing. The goal of the center is to develop tools with great innovative power and to shape new scientific disciplines, such as high-performance data analytics.


Ongoing global environmental changes require comprehensive knowledge of the manifold processes shaping our climate system. 
Therefore the University of Bonn, the University of Cologne and Forschungszentrum Jülich have founded a joint Center for Earth System Observation and Computational Analysis (CESOC). CESOC aims to comprehensively observe, understand and predict the Earth system in times of global environmental change.
Using new information technologies to improve environmental monitoring and aiming at a digital Earth model (digital twin) are important points of the CESOC's vision.


ECMWF is the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.

We are both a research institute and a 24/7 operational service, producing global numerical weather predictions and other data for our Member and Co-operating States and the broader community. The Centre has one of the largest supercomputer facilities and meteorological data archives in the world. Other strategic activities include delivering advanced training and assisting the WMO in implementing its programmes.

We are a key player in Copernicus, the Earth Observation component of the European Union’s Space programme, offering quality-assured information on climate change (Copernicus Climate Change Service), atmospheric composition (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), flooding and fire danger (Copernicus Emergency Management Service), and through the EU's Destination Earth initiative, we are developing prototype digital twins of the Earth.


The Research Center Jülich wants to be a magnet for outstanding scientists, for talented young researchers and for professional supporters of research in administration and infrastructure. With almost 6,800 employees, it is one of the largest interdisciplinary research centres in Europe. It is a member of the Helmholtz Association. Open, responsible and with vision, our campus is a good place for inspiring exchange between people from all over the world.


Geoverbund ABC/J  is the geoscientific network in the research region Aachen-Bonn-Cologne/Jülich. The geoscientific institutes of RWTH Aachen University, the Universities of Bonn and Cologne, and Forschungszentrum Jülich cooperate under its umbrella. Through this cooperation, the expertise of the four partners in geoscientific research and teaching, acquired over decades, is bundled and networked.

The focus of the research is on the dynamic Earth-human system. Together, the scientists of the ABC/J region try to identify urgent, future questions in the fields of evolution of the Earth, environmental dynamics, georesource management and geohazards and to develop approaches to solutions beyond the region.


Basic research is carried out at the Hans Ertel Center for Weather Research to improve both weather forecasting and climate monitoring. Only in this way can the DWD meet the future challenges of its key customers with its weather warnings and climate services. To this end, an internationally visible competence center will be established for the sustainable networking of the DWD with top meteorological research in Germany. This will strengthen meteorological education at universities and secure personnel development for weather research in the German Weather Service and at research institutions.


IDEA-S4S

Germany and Italy have signed an agreement on enhanced cooperation in the field of meteorology and climatology. The aim of the agreement is to systematically strengthen research and bilateral cooperation in weather and Earth observation. The agreement creates a legally binding framework for various projects, which can now be planned and implemented on a long-term basis. Germany and Italy are thus sending a strong signal for Earth observation in Europe, not least in their roles as host countries of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). The aim is to strengthen research in the field of Earth observation. The findings obtained in this process will also be incorporated into the operational activities of the weather services. This will improve the quality of weather forecasts in the key areas of drought and flooding, for example. 
The agreement essentially covers the following projects:
1. Establishment of a joint master's programme between the University of Bologna and the Center for Earth System Observation and Computational Analysis (CESOC), a cooperation between the University of Cologne, the University of Bonn and Forschungszentrum Jülich.
2. Establishment of a German-Italian training network between German and Italian universities, research institutions and weather and climate services ‘Italia – Deutschland science-4-services network in weather and climate’ (IDEA-S4S).


The University of Bonn have been one of eleven German Universities of Excellence since the summer of 2019. And we are the only German university in the Excellence Contest conducted by the federal government and German states (as part of their Excellence Strategy—ExStra) to receive funding for six Clusters of Excellence. This makes us the most successful University of Excellence in their Excellence Strategy.


The newly founded initiative "University Partnership for Atmospheric Sciences" (UPAS) was developed by representatives of students, scientific staff and faculties of the 10 German universities offering consecutive courses in the field of meteorology, both at the Bachelor and Master level. UPAS is open to all meteorologists and is supported by an office at the University of Bonn, which aims to secure, accompany and further develop meteorology as a subject of study and research at German universities.