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Illustration: N. Bongaerts/IOER Media

An illustration (drawing) related to the conference theme. It consists of various small pictograms.

The fourth IOER Conference “Space & Transformation” will take place from 22 to 24 September 2026 in Dresden. It will focus on the relationship between digitalisation and transformative governance in research, policy and practice. What potential, but also what conflicts, do these two trends hold for the transformative change of cities and regions towards sustainability? The conference will kick off on 22 September with an international Summer School for PhD students on the conference theme, organised by the Dresden Leibniz Graduate School (DLGS). The conference programme is available online,…

Illustration: klimpa.com

The illustration shows a scene from the animated film “Stream bed stories”. It depicts a lively stream teeming with animals and plants in the water and along the banks.

“Stream bed stories – near-natural watercourse development in Dresden” is the title of an animated film produced as part of the EU ReBioClim project. In it, Egon the fish explains why the restoration of streams and rivers in densely populated urban areas is important and what benefits it brings for biodiversity, climate adaptation and quality of life.

Source: Stadtklimadashboard/BBSR

Map detail showing Dresden and the surrounding area, with green and reddish areas.

How well are cities prepared for heat, drought, and heavy rainfall? As part of the project “Urban Climate Dashboard – Field Testing of Indicators for Urban Climate Adaptation,” the Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development (IOER), in collaboration with partners, has developed a web application for the Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development, and Construction (BMWSB) and the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs, and Spatial Development (BBSR). The Urban Climate Dashboard provides key indicators for climate adaptation in German cities in a…

Photo: Victor Smolinski

Three people are standing in front of a poster, engaged in a lively discussion about soil erosion in Armenia.

Heatwaves, heavy rain & snowfall, drought, river flooding, landslides, avalanches – the risks of natural hazards are interconnected, often referred to as complex, multi(ple), compound or systemic risks. How can interactions between the individual hazards and the resulting dynamic development of vulnerability and exposure be holistically considered in multi-risk assessments? – This question was the focus of the annual meeting of the Working Group on Natural Hazards and Natural Risks within the German Geographical Society (DGfG). At the end of April, the IOER hosted and organized the event under…

Photo: P. Pradhan

The picture shows wooden and plastic planters of various sizes, in which different vegetables and herbs are growing.

A new study, conducted by researchers from the Netherlands and Germany, estimates that urban agriculture in European cities could produce up to 20 million tons of vegetables annually, representing roughly one-third of the region’s current vegetable production. The study, published in Sustainable Cities and Society, systematically analyses the potential of urban agriculture for 840 cities across 30 European countries.

Illustration: N. Bongaerts, G. Tang/IOER Media

Illustration of geodata and sustainable urban development with maps, data visualisation, people, and the built environment.

Laser scan data, terrain models, land registers, land-use data – the academic, business and public sectors collect and compile data on a massive scale. And make it openly available. But how can the available data be used to generate added value for society and science – and not just by experts? The current spring series of the IOER Forum explores this question under the heading “Geodata – making it usable and accessible. Unlocking the potential for sustainable change”.

Photo: H. Hensel/IOER Media

Three piles of brochures from the TRUST project are lying on a table.

How can the transition to a climate-neutral city be achieved, and what role do knowledge-sharing and collaboration between numerous stakeholders from various sectors of urban society play in this process? For four years, the TRUST project has been addressing this question in the city of Görlitz. Under the leadership of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Transformative Urban Regeneration (IZS), people from Görlitz worked closely together on the project to make the city fit for the future. The experiences gained have been documented in various publications. These are intended to help everyone…

Photo: Joachim Pressl on Unsplash

DANUBElifelines: Working together for migratory fish species and healthy rivers in the Danube basin

How can habitats in and along the Danube and its tributaries be optimised to create better conditions for migratory fish species? This is the focus of the Horizon Europe project DANUBElifelines. In collaboration with Geisenheim University, the IOER is examining the planning and legal instruments of the ten riparian states.

Photo: Kabiur Rahman Riyad on Unsplash

A truck drives from right to left on a bridge, with greenery in the foreground and the sun in an orange sky in the background.

With “NEXtra – Resource Nexus for Sustainability Transformations”, the IOER, together with the United Nations University Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES) and the TUD Dresden University of Technology, is offering a scholarship programme for doctoral students. The programme is funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) as part of the EPOS (Development-Related Postgraduate Courses) programme. The programme is aimed at interested persons from the Global South. The deadline for applications has passed.

Photo: The Climate Reality Project on Unsplash

Several people are sitting in a row. The person at the front is holding a pen and taking notes.

For the second time, the Leibniz Research Network Central and Eastern Europe is offering media professionals the opportunity to apply for a scholarship programme.

The Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development is jointly funded by the federal government and the federal states.

FS Sachsen

This measure is co-financed by tax funds on the basis of the budget approved by the Saxon State Parliament.