Key Fields of Research at the Faculty

The transformation of energy, economic and social systems to climate-neutral and sustainable systems is to be achieved by the middle of this century in Germany and the European Union. The COVID-19 pandemic reveals that health and environmental protection, especially biodiversity protection, must be considered jointly. Both challenges can hardly succeed without digitisation and the use of artificial intelligence.

In order to avoid placing the burden of meeting these challenges exclusively on future generations or merely shifting it to other areas, it is essential to develop overarching guiding principles, concepts and instruments. This epoch-making task, which requires the knowledge of a wide range of disciplines, requires legal support and advice.

Against this background, the Institute for Energy, Environmental and Maritime Law (IfEUS) focuses on the following key fields of research:

• basic research on climate protection and climate adaptation law
• legal support for the energy transition
• access to information and public participation, access to legal protection
• biodiversity protection, also beyond national jurisdiction
• legal issues of infrastructure development (onshore and offshore)
• legal issues of the interlinking of health and environmental systems
• use of digital and artificial intelligence-based technologies in the context of decision-making in environmental law

The IfEUS explores these legal research topics in project and research work in an interdisciplinary manner and with reference to legal practice (judiciary, business, associations and legal professions).

The series of events ‘Greifswald Talks on Energy, Environmental and Maritime Law’ provides a framework for discussing current issues and problems in a practical and solution-oriented manner several times a year.

The IfEUS is a member of the Competence Network Future Challenges of Environmental Law (KomUR). Furthermore, the IfEUS is involved in shaping the energy transition within the interdisciplinary collaborative project ‘Ariadne’ (Kopernikus project).

More information: KomUR, Ariadne, Kopernikus

Contact persons: Prof. Dr. Sabine Schlacke, Prof. Dr. Laura Münkler

Research in landscape economics is located at the interface between economic and social sciences as well as biological and earth sciences. The research objective is to obtain scientifically sound results on efficient and sustainable land and landscape use. This includes both the economic ex ante and ex post evaluation of alternative courses of action as well as the analysis of the rules and procedures of decision-making processes themselves. 

Special references exist to landscape ecology and landscape planning. Research often focuses on interdisciplinary issues of sustainable land use and nature conservation.

Specifically, the following three research foci are of interest: 

• Sustainable land use and landscape economics
• Institutional environmental and nature conservation economics 
• Cost-benefit analysis and valuation of natural resources

Click here for an overview of the diverse projects in the field of landscape economics.

Contact: Prof. Dr. Volker Beckmann

The Institute for Climate Protection, Energy and Mobility (IKEM) investigates key economic issues from an interdisciplinary perspective on our way to a sustainable economy and society of tomorrow in particular with regard to Germany’s energy transition (Energiewende). The Institute’s work focusses on the analysis and development of the legal and political framework, which should allow for and support the required investments. The IKEM’s central research topics are the consolidation of renewable energies, issues regarding climate protection, the sustainability of the energy networksand e-mobility.

Due to its expertise in climate protection and energy law, the IKEM was granted consultative status as a non-governmental organisation (NGO) with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations in summer 2017. The IKEM is recognised as a non-profit organisation and affiliated with the University of Greifswald (Faculty of Law and Economics) as an independent research institute.

Contact: Prof. Dr. Michael Rodi

In cooperation with the Faculty of Medicine and in particular with Community Medicine, research focused on health care management offers the opportunity for interdisciplinary research projects that evaluate both health care structures (e.g. emergency medical services, planning of demand by contract physicians, cross-border health care, digital health) and specific interventions (e.g. multiple sclerosis, multi-resistant pathogens, innovative implants, ventilation weaning) from an economic perspective.

This area of focus is part of the teaching in the master’s degree course Health Care Management. Every winter semester, students and the general public can attend the lecture series ‘Current Issues of the Health Care Sector’.

Contact: Prof. Dr. Steffen Fleßa, Prof. Dr. Walter Ried

Criminology is characterised by the large amount of external funding it has acquired and its close collaboration with neighbouring disciplines (psychology, educational sciences, but also Community Medicine).

At the same time, it plays a leading role in training future lawyers in the key area criminology and criminal justice.

Contact: Prof. Dr. Stefan Harrendorf

Research in the field of international business administration with a focus on the Baltic Sea Region, which is to be consolidated by the envisaged collaboration with the Faculty of Arts and Humanities (compulsory elective subject: cultural, regional and economic studies of the Baltic Sea Region), will create further interdisciplinary perspectives with a high amount of visibility, and also make it possible to consolidate the Faculty’s involvement in the University’s key field of research Cultures of the Baltic Sea Region.

The investigation of interactions between national and European law and the corresponding process of mutual alignment of the legal systems are at the heart of comparative law research. This research area pays special attention to the Faculty’s international orientation, in particular the Baltic Sea Region

There are particularly strong ties to the following subject areas that belong to other faculties: environmental sciences, history, political science, and theology.

Please also refer to the research pages of the individual chairs.