Organizational Structure
The basic structure of the Department of Geography is formed by nine scientific areas with a total of 15 research groups and the general management. They are the basis for research in five different research focus areas and teaching in seven study programs.
Research: At the Department of Geography, nine scientific areas with a total of 15 research groups make up the research and teaching portfolio:
- Geography Education (Prof. Dr. Nöthen)
- Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems (Prof. Dr. Malenovsky, Prof. Dr. Geiß)
- Development Geography (Prof. Dr. Schipper, Prof. Dr. Budds, Prof. Dr. Müller-Mahn)
- Geomorphology and Environmental Systems (Prof. Dr. Schrott) and Paleohydrology and Geomorphology (Prof. Dr. Herget)
- Hydrology (Prof. Dr. Klaus) and Ecohydrology and Water Resources Management (Prof. Dr. Evers)
- Cultural Geography (Prof. Dr. Hörschelmann)
- Climatology and Landscape Ecology (Prof. Dr. Löffler)
- Urban and Regional Geography (Dr. Juliane Dame, interim professor until 09/2026)
- Economic Geography (Prof. Dr. Klagge) and Social Geography (Prof. Dr. Marquardt)
Partnerships: The expertise of the Department of Geography is complemented by active collaboration with partners such as the Geoverbund ABC/J, the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR), the GeoHealth Center at UKB Bonn, the Research Institute for Regional and Urban Development (ILS), the Landschaftsverband Rheinland (LVR) - Dezernat Kultur, the United Nations University (UNU), the Zentrum für Entwicklungsforschung (ZEF) and the Zentrum für Fernerkundung der Landoberfläche (ZFL).
Study: At the Department of Geography at the University of Bonn, students can obtain a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor Geography Teacher Training degree. The department offers a total of five master's programs: In the Master of Science Geography, students have the opportunity to specialize in one of four areas—Development and Globalization, Governance and Space, Environmental Systems in Transition, or Water in Global Change - or to design an individual study profile. The Bachelor of Education Geography is followed by the Master of Education Geography. Three Master's programs are organized in cooperation with internal and external partners: The Master of Science Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology is offered in cooperation with the Faculty of Agriculture, Nutrition and Engineering at the University of Bonn. The internationally oriented and English-language Master of Science program Geography of Environmental Risks and Human Security is offered in cooperation with the United Nations University. The Master of Disaster Management and Risk Governance is a continuing education program in cooperation with the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance.
Management and administration: In addition to the general management—headed by Executive Director Prof. Dr. Kathrin Hörschelmann—the Geography Department at the University of Bonn has a central administration. This central administration is responsible for teaching and studies, international affairs, finance and human resources, public relations, internal affairs, libraries and media, laboratories and equipment, as well as cartography and media design.