Welcome to the website of the ZWU
The Centre for Water and Environmental Research (ZWU)
Established in 2003, the ZWU is an inter- and transdisciplinary research centre at the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE), dedicated to innovative environmental research focussing primarily on biodiversity, the urban water cycle and water quality.
Strategic research area water research
The ZWU coordinates the University´s strategic research area "water research" by pooling the experience and resources from scientists and experts in water and environmental research from the UDE, the University Alliance Ruhr (UAR) and the region to improve interdisciplinary collaboration.
More about the strategic research area water research
Proposed Cluster of ExcellenceREASONS River ecosystems in the Anthropocene
The UDEs and its partner universities’ excellent water research has prevailed in the first round of the two-stage competition as part of the Excellence Strategy from the federal and state governments with the research project ‘REASONS – river ecosystems in the anthropocene, sustainable scientific solutions’.
The interdisciplinary research team of the proposed Cluster of Excellence REASONS develop a concept for the management of freshwater ecosystems to ensure their resilience for future challenges such as climate change.
Latest ZWU News
2024-11-20
Research, NetworkHighly Cited Researcher 2024
Clarivate award for Prof Dr Alexander Probst and Prof Dr Martina Flörke
2024-11-07
TransferInnovation to bind carbon dioxide
Greenlyte Carbon Technologies at Falling Walls Venture 2024
2024-11-04
UA RuhrPrime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia Hendrik Wüst and NRW Science Minister Ina Brandes inaugurate Research Center One Health Ruhr
UA Ruhr – Cutting-Edge Research in Health, Environment and Society
2024-10-25
Research, NetworkGottschalk-Diederich-Baedeker-Award for Kai S. Exner
Fundamentals of the energy transition
Announcements & Events
7 November 2024 ZWU Water Café
Every first Thursday of the month at the "Brücke" in Essen - Exchange & networking & getting to know each other
12 December 2024 Networking Day
Joint event organised by ZWU, the Water Science Alliance (WSA) and the Faculty of Engineering.
10 & 11 July 2025 ZWU General Assembly
Save the date!
The strategic research area coordinated by the ZWU
Under the leadership of the ZWU, the strategic research area is dedicated to the sustainable use of water as a global resource and the protection of water bodies and their biodiversity.
Water Graduate School
The Water Graduate School (WGS) is a strategic career development platform providing individual support and advancement to early career researcher in the field of water research.
German Society for Membrane Technology (DGMT) e.V.
The office of the German Society for Membrane Technology (DGMT) e.V. is located at the ZWU. For more information on the DGMT please visit the DGMT website.
Water Science Alliance (WSA) e.V.
The office of the Water Science Alliance (WSA) e.V. is located at the ZWU. For more information on the WSA please visit the WSA website.