Water Futures

What is studied in the research focus area Water Futures? 

Global change leads to radical shifts in the water cycle and increasing anthropogenic pressure on water systems, which are key drivers of the research focus Water Futures. At its core are questions on how hydrological systems function, how we observe processes and change, which magnitudes are reached by extreme events and how to build better models for predicting catchment function and change. Furthermore, our research aims at identifying and implementing solutions for a sustainable science-based management of water resources in terms of water quantity and quality.

We address these challenges through multi-method approaches building on ground-based observation and experimentation, remote sensing, application of natural and artificial tracers, analysis of field evidence and historical sources, and modelling approaches. Implementing managing options are further studied through participative methods with stakeholders. The Water Futures research addresses water-related questions across the globe with a key focus on Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe.  

The research focus Water Futures contributes to the University of Bonn’s Transdisciplinary Research Areas TRA Mathematics, Modelling and Simulation of Complex Systems (TRA1) as well as to Innovation and Technology for Sustainable Futures (TRA6).