DBU Umweltpreis 2025

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier solemnly presented the German Environmental Award, endowed with a total of 500,000 euros, to the scientist Prof. Dr. Sonia Isabelle Seneviratne (ETH Zurich) for her groundbreaking research on the influence of soil moisture on the climate system, as well as to Dr. Birgitt Bendiek and Lars Baumgürtel from ZINQ for their circular transformation, among other things, through a material- and energy-saving galvanization process that helps to prevent corrosion of iron. 

The doctoral research projects of our PhD students are supported and made possible by a DBU doctoral scholarship. As participants in the scholarship program, they were not only invited to the award ceremony but also had the opportunity to attend the Stipendiat:innen Dinner on the evening before, reconnecting with members of their cohort, meeting other fellows and alumni, and enjoying the DBU’s familiar and welcoming atmosphere. 

Each year, the DBU awards around 50 scholarships to doctoral researchers from various disciplines working on environmentally relevant topics. 

At our chair, Christian studies the spatial effects of land use and climate change on insect trends in Bavaria, while Jean-Léonard investigates anthropogenic influences on spider communities at different altitudinal levels in the Alps. In addition, the DBU supports many engineering projects (e.g. on solar cells or sustainable battery storage) as well as humanities projects, such as research on consumption behavior. 

Do you have questions about the DBU or its scholarships? Get in touch with Christian! 

 

Links:  

Project Jean-Léonard Stör: https://www.dbu.de/promotionsstipendium/20024-050/ 
Project Christian Zehner: https://www.dbu.de/promotionsstipendium/20024-052/ 
Deutscher Umweltpreis: https://www.dbu.de/umweltpreis/ 
Deutsche Bundesstifung Umwelt: https://www.dbu.de/