The University of Augsburg is delighted to have received the highest rating for five of its bachelor’s degree programmes in the CHE University Ranking 2024. The five degree programmes to receive a top rating were geography, computer science, mathematics, physics, and social sciences, with the general study conditions and supervision by teaching staff highly commended. Conducted by the Centre for Higher Education (CHE), the ranking provides a nationwide comparison of degree programmes and study conditions. It was published in May. Applications to the University of Augsburg for the winter semester 2024/25 are possible until the 15th of July.

Markus Keck and Peter Fiener (Institute of Geography) and their teams have embarked on an expedition to Western Uganda, generously supported by BayFOR.

Geographer Katharina Waha appointed to new chair in climate resilience of cultural ecosystems

Katharina Waha's work is closely aligned with the Center for Climate Resilience's goals of creating a comprehensive research framework on climate resilience and focusing on interactions between the Earth system and human societies. She is an agronomist interested in multidisciplinary research to understand the interactions between the atmosphere, biosphere, and human societies, particularly as they pertain to agricultural systems. This is the second joint appointment of geographers by the School of Applied Computer Science, the Department of Geography, and the Center for Climate Resilience.

An international study shows that especially in the northern latitudes, plant growth has decreased by 10.6 percent compared from 1982-1998 to 2000-2016. The reasons are climate extremes, especially drought. The results illustrate that ecosystems are becoming increasingly vulnerable to warm droughts and that negative impacts on the uptake of CO2 by plants and on agriculture are consequences.

Carbon dioxide can be bound by finely ground rock that is introduced into ecosystems. A new study estimates for the first time the amount of CO2 absorption that can be achieved by rock flour. This biological effect is significantly higher than previously thought, the research team reports in the journal Nature Geoscience.

A major international study with participation of the University of Augsburg shows for the first time that flooding characteristics in recent decades are unlike those of previous centuries across Europe.

A study based on an analysis of 18,000 cases by Augsburg doctors and climatologists points out a possible link between certain air masses and the incidence of stroke.