In an increasingly competitive research environment, the Northwest Alliance combines the complementary strengths of the universities of Bremen and Oldenburg to promote excellence in research. Together with the University of Groningen and the Hanse-Wissenschaftskolleg as strategic partners, the Northwest Alliance stands for cooperative, international cutting-edge research that takes social responsibility into account. Its high-profile areas combine different areas of expertise to address common topics of future relevance.
Earth System Sciences
The focus of this profile area is on the interactions between the ocean, climate, and biodiversity. Biological, chemical, geological, and physical processes that together determine the dynamics and stability of the Earth system are being analyzed in this area.
Hearing and Brain Health
Leading international hearing research meets data-driven and digital health research. By combining both areas, intelligent technologies are to be developed that enable the prevention, monitoring, and support of brain health.
Animal Navigation
How animals perceive their environment and navigate over short and long distances are central to this profile area. This research explores sensory mechanisms and biological processes from the quantum level to global migratory movements and their potential for future technologies.
Materials and Processes
This profile area focuses on the development of sustainable materials and innovative processes. The research findings contribute to key future fields such as mobility, energy, and aviation and space travel.
Human-centered AI
Reliable artificial intelligence can only be created if it is consistently human-centered. This profile area focuses on creating AI systems that responsibly accompany and ethically support social transformation processes.
Global Social Policy
Empirical analyses and theory-based approaches form the basis of this research area. International comparisons are used to examine how inequality and welfare states develop and what influence this has on social cohesion.
Potential
Areas
Green Energy Transition
The transformation of the energy system is crucial for achieving a climate-neutral future. This research area seeks to integrate research on wind energy, hydrogen, and energy systems, and to provide a comprehensive understanding of the technical, economic, and social aspects of sustainable energy transitions.
Competing Futures
The convergence of multiple crises creates a complex and dynamic environment for the development of new ideas about the future. This research profile aims to investigate how knowledge, media, and societal debates shape public views on migration, climate change, and democracy, and how these debates influence mindsets both in the present and going forward.