Competence Centers, Research Groups, Networks
Agriculture and Food Systems, Landscape and Urban Development
Our scientists in the research field “Agriculture and Food Systems, Landscape & Urban Development” collaborate in the university’s competence centers, its research groups and together with external network partners.
Competence centers are teams of at least three professors and their research associates, which are established for a minimum of five years. Collectively or individually, they acquire a considerable amount of competitive third-party funding or contract research, offer qualification opportunities for young scientists, publish research results and engage in transfer in several forms (spin-offs, patents).
COALA - Competence of Applied Agricultural Engineering
The „Competence Center of Applied Agricultural Engineering“ (COALA) combines innovations from individual specialist areas (in particular agricultural sciences, electrical engineering, computer science and mechanical engineering) and their interdisciplinary cooperation, which leads to numerous projects in research and development in cooperation with users, companies and other research institutions.
A research group or working group is any group of researchers who wish to come together for the purpose of in-depth scientific work on the basis of a common thematic or methodological orientation, irrespective of their affiliation to faculties and subjects.
Research group for Agroecology and Environmentally Friendly Land Management
The research group Agroecology and Environmentally Friendly Land Management considers options in the organic and conventional system as contributions to the realisation of sustainable intensification and their transferability. A wide range of research projects addess questions of plant cultivation in laboraty and field experiments, offering a broad spectrum of co-operation for industrial partners, interdisciplinary research groups and student projects.
Research group for Applied Poultry Science
The range of interests of the Applied Poultry Science research group covers various areas such as flock management, animal health, food quality and safety, as well as economics, technology and resource conservation. The team is made up of agricultural engineers, veterinarians and technicians who enable interdisciplinary work within teaching, research and development, as well as further education and training.
Research Group Green, Society, Health
The research group Green, Society and Health at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences has set itself the task of recognising and securing the potential of our environment for maintaining and improving health and making it available to society.
The research group is made up of various representatvies from the specialist areas and endeavours to pool the expertise at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Landscape Architecture in order to initiate and support various projects in research, teaching and applied practice.
Working Group Growing Knowledge
Following the guiding principles of "interdisciplinary thinking, sustainable action and social responsibility" the Growing Knowledge working group research climate-resilient agricultural systems. The team from the sub-departments of Crop Sciences, Agricultural Science & Social Science is developing sustainable plant cultivation systems. The aim is to produce quality-optimised food while guaranteeing resource efficiency.
Working Group Animal Nutrition
The Animal Nutrition working group at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences has been working for many years on new strategies and feeding concepts to make regional animal husbandry more resource-efficient and sustainable.
Institute for Sustainable Management in the Construction and Property Industry
Sustainability in the construction and property industry is more than just the usual certification of buildings. The aim of the Institute is therefore to improve the economic environment and success of the construction and property industry drawing on aspects of sustainability and to set future-oriented trends in project development, construction management and property management.
It also offers consulting, research and development services, seminars and expert assessments in the construction and property industry. These include, for example, aspects of accounting and controlling, including investment and financing, organisation and management as well as marketing for companies and institutions in the construction and real estate industry.
Institute for Landscaping, Outdoor Sports Facilities and Green Spaces
The Institute of Landscaping, Outdoor Sports Facilities and Green Spaces (ILOS) bundles the activities of the landscaping sector and provides a transfer of technology and knowledge.
Companies, planners and public administrations are in a process of change and constant competition. In order to be successful, they have to indentify and draw upon individual advantages, solve extraordinary tasks and make far-reaching decisions. This requires the development of well-founded and specific solutions.
ILOS offers consultancy, research and development services as well as training courses and seminars in the areas of open space management, management of outdoor sports facilities, construction operations, construction and vegetation technology, making it a strong partner for overcoming these challenges.
Talents for Green Transformation
The Talent Academy - Talents for Green Transformation is part of the personnel development programme "Career Lab Osnabrück: the Osnabrück career path to a professorship at an UAS" and focuses on four main topics that have been identified and are being researched within the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Landscape Architecture (AuL): Innovative agricultural systems and technologies, viable economy and social structures, sustainable food and nutrition, and sustainable urban and landscape development.
Networks can either be set up by academics at the university or have their origins outside the university. There is ususally a connection through a common research topic or field.
The aim of networks is to promote and maintain contacts with external institutions or researchers outside Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences.
Agrotech Valley Forum e.V.
Over the decades, a leading agricultural systems technology cluster of predominantly owner-managed companies has developed around agriculture in north-west Germany. Against the backdrop of the digital transformation of the agricultural and food industry, Agrotech Valley is working on the challenges facing the sector beyond the boundaries of business, science and administration. The vision for the region is that of a globally significant incubator for sustainable food production based on digital technologies.
Contact person at the Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences:
Prof. Dr. Bernd Lehmann (Vice President for Research, Transfer and the Promotion of Young Researchers)
Center of Sustainability Transformation in Areas of Intensive Agriculture
The network Center of Sustainability Transformation in Areas of Intensive Agriculture ("Transformationsforschung agrar Niedersachsen") is committed to making the agriculturally important state of Lower Saxony sustainable and fit for the future: To this end they support transformative research and innovation for a sustainable, responsible and diverse agricultural and food industry, involving partners from science and industry.
The network is working on developing future prospects and options for action for intensive agricultural regions. Collaboration has also been agreed in the areas of study and teaching, further education and research cooperation. Two nature conservation organisations and two Lower Saxony ministries are providing advice and impetus to the network.
Contact persons at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences:
Prof. Dr. Nana Zubek (faculty AuL)
Prof. Dr. Matthias Kussin (faculty AuL)
Internally funded research clusters are research projects funded within the university that are characterized in particular by scientific excellence in application-oriented research and interdisciplinarity. Members of an internal research focus are the professors and research assistants assigned to the funded project.
Zukunft Lebensraum Stadt - Urbane AgriKultur als Beitrag zur nachhaltigen Entwicklung der Stadt
Project duration from 2014 - 2019
In order to find out how cities can be made more sustainable and liveable in the future, the research cluster "Zukunft Lebensraum Stadt - Urbane AgriKultur als Beitrag zur nachhaltigen Entwicklung der Stadt" ('Future urban living environments - urban agriculture as a contribution to the sustainable development of cities') was founded at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences in 2013. The transdisciplinary working group developed research projects and applied projects relating to the following fundamental issues:
- the contribution of urban agriculture to the sustainable, resilient development of cities and urban regions
- the consideration of the basic needs of people living in cities
- increasing the nutritional value of urban food production
- food security and quality as well as environmental quality and quality of life
EN ROUTE
Project duration 2021-2025
As part of the interdisciplinary research project EN ROUTE, concepts and strategies for sustainable mobility in the university context will be developed. Accordingly, there are both real spaces and virtual environments that are socially, ecologically and economically relevant for students, staff and lecturers. The aim of EN ROUTE is to tap into the potential of these spaces through a new understanding of being on the move. Researchers assume that, thanks to information and communication technologies (ICT), individuals at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences can travel physically and virtually across traditional boundaries of space and time. This comprehensive, digitally influenced mobility holds potential for the reorganization of learning and teaching scenarios and university-related mobility. These are starting points for making educational environments more sustainable and resilient in the future.