In the German science system it is mainly the geosciences that traditionally concern themselves with the Earth system. This discipline has changed dramatically in the past 20 years. Atmospheric research, geophysics, geology, biogeochemistry, geodesy, meteorology, microbiology, mineralogy, ecosystems research, remote sensing, paleoclimatology and space exploration are all a part of the geosciences or are at least facets of Earth system research. Earth science has thus become a highly diverse discipline that interfaces with many other departments and is correspondingly fragmented.

The goal of the Earth System Research working group is to designate and analyse the systemic potential and specific problems of transdisciplinary scientific development within the Earth system scientific enterprise and to formulate suggestions for improving the research and educational structures.

Spokespeople

• Prof. Dr. Gerald Haug ML, Max-Planck-Institut für Chemie, Mainz
• Prof. Dr. Onno Oncken ML, Helmholtz-Zentrum Potsdam, DeutschesGeoForschungsZentrum GFZ
• Prof. Dr. Hans Joachim Schellnhuber ML, Potsdam-Institut für Klimafolgenforschung PIK

Members of the Working Group

• Prof. Dr. Jörg Bendix ML, Universität Marburg
• Prof. Dr. Antje Boetius ML, Alfred-Wegener-Institut für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Bremerhaven
• Prof. Dr. Martin Claußen ML, Max-Planck-Institut für Meteorologie, Hamburg
• Prof. Dr. Wilfried Endlicher ML, Humboldt-Universität Berlin
• Prof. Dr. Heiner Igel ML, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
• Prof. Dr. Ulrike Lohmann ML, ETH Zürich
• Prof. Dr. Joachim Reitner, Universität Göttingen
• Prof. Dr. Peter Schlosser ML, Columbia University, New York
• Prof. Dr. Friedhelm v. Blanckenburg ML, Helmholtz-Zentrum Potsdam, Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum GFZ
• Prof. Dr. Gerhard Wörner, Universität Göttingen

ML = Member of the Leopoldina

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