Projects

The SHIFT project brought together different generations to explore the complex relationship between planetary boundaries and individual freedom. In collaboration with the environmental education center "Nackte Mühle" (Lega S) and funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research as part of the Science Year "Freedom," the project fostered meaningful exchange between students and senior citizens. Its goal was to encourage shared reflection on environmental responsibility and the ways in which human activities impact both the planet and our freedoms.
Funding: BMBF
Directed by:  Prof. Dr. Britta Höllermann &  Prof. Dr. Christian Dorsch
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The DFG-funded Research Training Group ECORISK (Ecological Regime Shifts and Systemic Risk in Coupled Socio-Ecological Systems) focuses on understanding ecological regime shifts and systemic risks within interconnected socio-ecological systems. Within this framework, the Geographical Human-Environment Research Group examines the impacts of agricultural decision-making under uncertainty and hydrological variability. The goal is to contribute both theoretically and practically to enhancing the resilience of these systems and to developing sustainable adaptation strategies. 

Further information can be found on the​​​​​​​  ECORISK project page.

Proposed Pwalugu Multi-Purpose Dam (PMDP): Implications on water resource management and socio-ecological impacts of agriculture communities in the White Volta River Basin, Ghana.

The PMDP in Ghana integrates irrigation, flood control, power generation, fishery farming, and urban & rural water supply in the Volta basin. This study shifts focus from traditional economic and technical feasibility to a holistic Water-Energy-Food (W-E-F) nexus approach, critiquing the emphasis on dam benefits while neglecting socio-ecological impacts and human rights. Using the Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam as a case study, it underscores the need for grassroots perspectives and environmental flows integration to sustain ecosystems amid hydroclimatic changes. Employing the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) tool with Agent Based Models (ABM), the research assesses water allocation impacts under socioecological scenarios, aiming to inform policy makers, practitioners, and communities comprehensively.

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The BMBF-funded PARADeS project (Participatory Assessment of Flood-

Related Disaster Prevention and Development of an Adapted Coping System) aims to enhance flood risk management strategies in Ghana and strengthen the country’s resilience to flood-related disasters. By integrating diverse data sources and local knowledge, the project develops collaborative scenarios and socio-technical tools to support informed decision-making.
A key focus lies in analyzing and modeling cascading risks, particularly in relation to critical infrastructure. Working closely with Ghanaian stakeholders, PARADeS seeks to build institutional and societal capacities and to develop effective tools for information dissemination and decision support.

The project has produced many OER materials for knowledge transfer  https://hkc-online.de/en/Projects/PARADeS-Open-Learning-Content

Further information can be found on the  PARADeS project page.