Turning the tide | IKEM September 2022 Newsletter

IKEM | September 2022 Newsletter

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Turning the tide

Hi ,

The first week of autumn brought cooler temperatures, marking an end to Europe’s hottest summer on record. But across much of the continent, including Germany, drought-like conditions continue – a sign of the intensifying climate crisis.

Climate-related water challenges are a growing research priority at IKEM. This month, the institute took a major step forward in its work on the topic by forming a research partnership with the University Institute of Water Research and Environmental Sciences (IUACA, University of Alicante, Spain). In this newsletter, we take a closer look at the new collaboration.

We also speak with research associate Mariana Moreno Kuhnke about IKEM's new Water Working Group and the link between climate change and water. The ninth edition of the legal journal Klima und Recht – available now! – features an article co-authored by Moreno Kuhnke on the topic of water, specifically in the context of over-fertilisation, pollution and climate change.

Finally, this newsletter provides information about our current research on autonomous trams and rural mobility, as well as updates on our upcoming annual conference and our side event at COP27.

Until next time,

The IKEM Communications Team

Spotlight

In new partnership, IKEM aims to turn the tide on climate-related water challenges

IKEM seeks to accelerate research on water resources in partnership with the University Institute of Water Research and Environmental Sciences (IUACA, University of Alicante, Spain). The institutions formalised a collaboration agreement in Alicante following a joint seminar held with the Institute of Social Sciences of the University of Lisbon (ICS, Portugal).

The collaboration offers an opportunity for IKEM to extend its work on water-related challenges, building on its existing research on nature-based solutions. In a sign of IKEM's growing focus on water, the institute recently established a Water Working Group to conduct research on key water-related topics, such as the impact of floods on cities and the lack of a regulatory framework for ‘sponge cities’.

IKEM and IUACA plan to analyse regulatory approaches to protect water supplies, particularly within the context of international resource management. The new partnership offers opportunities for researchers at the two institutions to exchange knowledge through collaborative events, projects and publications.

‘Water is becoming an endangered good’: an interview with IKEM’s Mariana Moreno Kuhnke

Photo of IKEM employee Mariana Moreno Kuhnke

'As climate change intensifies, water is becoming an increasingly endangered good. If problems aren’t addressed properly and in time, the consequences could be devastating to life as we know it, and the costs of recovering and/or adapting afterwards will be very high.'

News

ENGAGE prepares for next steps in project promoting social innovation

The ENGAGE project explores the potential for social innovation to promote a successful and inclusive energy transition. At a meeting at the end of September, ENGAGE partners presented the first results of the project and laid the foundations for the next steps.

At InnoTrans 2022, IKEM lays the groundwork for autonomous trams

The AStriD project is examining the prerequisites for autonomous driving technology in trams. IKEM presented its first research findings on the topic at the InnoTrans 2022 trade fair.

IKEM joins MobiRural project to improve rural mobility

The transition to a sustainable mobility system must take into account the special challenges in rural regions. IKEM is participating in the new European project MobiRural, which aims to improve mobility in rural areas and prepare training materials on best practices for mobility and regional development.

Photo of rural road by Dana Tentis on Pexels

New: Support IKEM while shopping at Netto

From now through 3 December, you can support IKEM when you shop at participating Netto stores. Say 'Einfach aufrunden!' ('Round up!') and the cashier will round up your final purchase price to the nearest ten cents, with proceeds going to IKEM. Participating Netto stores are located at Schillingstr. 1a and Alte Jakobstr. 83 in Berlin-Mitte.