Excellently positioned to tackle the challenges of the future

Maria Serdechnova from the new Institute for Surface Science examines a bone screw in an electrolyte bath. Photo: HZG/Christian Schmid

Research for the good of the climate, coast, and people

Up until the end of last year, the HZG's coastal and materials research comprised the institutes for materials research, biomaterial research, polymer research, and coastal research, which in turn were divided into sub-institutes. There is also the Climate Service Center Germany (GERICS).

As of now, the HZG is operating in 15 institutes and, with its reframing, is following the recommendations of the scientific and strategic assessments of the Helmholtz Association; these assessments have been carried out over the past three years with the help of an international team of experts.

"Smaller specialised research units will enable us to act more dynamically and leave us better placed to meet societal challenges together," explains Prof. Matthias Rehahn, Scientific Director of the HZG.
“We need to increasingly work in a cross-disciplinary manner to develop options relating to how we can live in optimum harmony with the Earth system despite resource scarcity, rapid climate change, and population growth, and how we can repair the damage that has been caused to the environment and the climate. At the same time, solutions are needed to maintain or even improve our quality of life as demographic changes occur," continues Rehahn.

This is how the research vessel could lool like. Graphic: HZG

How successfully the individual disciplines of the HZG can complement each other was confirmed, among other things, in November 2020 by the Bundestag's funding approval for a HZG concept: the realisation of the globally unique research vessel Ludwig Prandtl II. The ship is expected to be in operation from 2023, covering a broad, interdisciplinary spectrum of environmental research, digitisation, and innovative technologies for cleaner shipping. With a new information and data management system, hydrogen technology, coastal research, and membranes for reducing pollutants meet on board. This should enable relevant environmental data to be made available instantaneously and exchanged in real time with aeroplanes, land stations, and other ships.

Creative scope for excellent science

With the help of the new, organisational scientific structure, there are also incentives in place for excellent scientists. "If researchers establish themselves with a high degree of success in-house, or if we convince them to move from elsewhere in Germany or abroad to work for the HZG, we can offer attractive design options with an institute that is set to be founded," says Silke Simon, Commercial Director at the HZG, explaining the new opportunities when it comes to recruitment.

And so, on 1 January 2021, not only were previous sub-institutes converted into standalone institutes, but three completely new institutes were also founded from previous departments.

These new institutes are the Institute for Material System Modelling, the Institute for Materials and Process Design, and the Institute for Surface Science. The fields of application range from classic structural materials for mechanical engineering, automotive engineering, and aviation, through to modern functional materials for medical technology and energy storage. In addition to material and process development, digitisation and artificial intelligence methods are being utilised at an increasing rate.

Besides the restructuring, the HZG will ensure its mission has greater visibility this year, both nationally and internationally, with the help of a name change, an Internet relaunch, and a revised marketing concept.

Notice

On 16.12.22, the future name of the new research ship was found in an internal competition among Hereon staff. The ship will be called "Coriolis". The chosen name goes back to the mathematician and physicist Gaspard Gustave de Coriolis (1792-1843) and thus replaces the working title "Ludwig Prandlt II", which had been used until then.