Research Projects Prof. Dr. Nadja Kabisch

ZOE - Zoonoses Emergence across Degraded and Restored Forest Ecosystems (ZOE)

Ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss may facilitate the emergence of zoonotic diseases. The 4-year ZOE project will analyze the links between landcover and land use changes in tropical biodiversity hot-spots facing loss of primary forest and biodiversity and in temperate regions that have undergone ecosystem degradation and deforestation over historical timescales. In areas experiencing different levels of ecosystem degradation, biodiversity assessments will be based on remote sensing-based GIS analysis of landscape structures, geobotanic plant mapping, and targeted trapping of rodents, ticks, and mosquitoes, as prototypic reservoirs and vectors of zoonotic diseases (macro-organism scale). Host- and soil-associated microbiome and virome high-throughput sequencing will be combined with assessment of human exposure to prototypic zoonotic pathogens, using high-throughput serological analyses (microbiological scale). ZOE will link with local communities and stakeholders to address perceived land use and land cover changes, disease occurrence, coping strategies, and risk behaviour. Results will be synthesized in modelling and risk mapping frameworks linking biodiversity loss and zoonotic disease risks and tested in forecasting scenarios to feed into cost-efficient monitoring schemes and early warning systems. An online knowledge platform will be created to link all relevant stakeholders of the biodiversity-health nexus, including other EU-funded consortia, national and supranational organizations stakeholders, local communities, and the public. A joint stakeholder conference will be organized, and community engagement workshops will specifically co-create and advance knowledge in local communities involved in ZOE. The ZOE project is proposed by an interdisciplinary consortium with expertise in geography, geobotanics, ecology, virology, immunology, epidemiology, sociology, psychology, anthropology and science dissemination from 7 EU and 4 American countries.

Led by: Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin - Institut für Virologie, AG Prof Drexler, Leibniz Universität Hannover LUH, Inst. für Physische Geographie AG Digitale Landschaftsökologie

Team: Nadja Kabish (PI), Henning Schumacher

Year: 2024

Funding: Horizon Europe

Duration: 2024-2027
GoGreenNEXT

GoGreenNEXT will deliver a comprehensive evidence-based policy oriented approach model to convey how ecosystem health and human health are connected. We propose to follow the pathway outlined for a complex array of interrelated problems arising from climate change and biodiversity loss that pose significant health risks, both today and in the future. Future risks from climate change are currently predicted to escalate (beyond planetary boundaries) and pass critical tipping points with irreversible changes to our climate with commensurate negative impacts on health, our ecosystems and our landscapes. Global, European and national policy frameworks have emerged in recent years to address this challenge, with a range of initiatives to promote mitigation, adaptation and resilience. Nature-based solutions (NBS), or actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural and modified ecosystems that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, simultaneously benefiting people and nature, are among the strategies that have emerged to reverse the degradation of nature, notably in urban areas where changes are amplified. In cities, vulnerability to climate change and environmental degradation is high due to dense populations, critical infrastructure, and at-risk communities (e.g. vast differences across social-economic gradient). Cities offer an opportunity to accelerate the implementation of current solutions aligned with emerging strategies and policy initiatives (e.g. New European Bauhaus, 100 Climate Neutral and Smart Cities) combining to form what is termed a just green transition. This refers to a process of far-reaching sociotechnical change leading to a green and climate-neutral economy that preserves biodiversity and ensures social justice. GoGreenNext will address the biodiversity-climate-planetary health nexus, delivering positive policy and city/region pilot outcomes in 4 biogeographic regions across Europe and with input from best practice globally. GoGreenNext works at the city level both in Cork (Ireland) and Klagenfurt (Austria), at the regional level in Finland (i.e. Päijät-Häme) and at the national level in Malta.

Led by: NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND MAYNOOTH, Prof. Tadhg Macintyre

Team: Nadja Kabisch (PI)

Year: 2024

Funding: HORIZON EUROPE

Duration: 2024-2028
Restart: #HANnovativ

HANnovativ is a Smart City model project in cooperation with the city of Hannover aiming for digital, sustainable and integrated urban development. Hannover's smart city strategy advances municipal innovation, such as for sustainable construction, housing and high quality living space, mobility and infrastructure, security and the environment. For this purpose, sustainable and resilient urban development measures are designed together with Hannover residents. The Institute of Physical Geography and Landscape Ecology supports HANnovativ by researching and identifying appropriate urban development strategies to reduce heat stress in the inner city area such as by implementing green infrastructure components. Data collection includes spatial mapping, observations and questionnaire surveys.

Led by: Nadja Kabisch

Year: 2023

Funding: Landeshauptstadt Hannover, Bundesministerium für Wohnen, Stadtentwicklung und Bauwesen (BMWSB) & Kreditinstitut für Wiederaufbau (KfW)

Duration: 2023-2026
Your Emotional City!

Your Emotional City! “Emocity Citizen Science Laboratory.” Jointly Exploring Stress and Resilience In Urban Dwellers - Experimentallabore für Wissenschaftskommunikation Your Emotional City! Cities are growing. At the same time, mental strain caused by stress is becoming increasingly common among urban dwellers. In cooperation with Futurium Berlin, the experimental laboratory Emocity Citizen Science Laboratory will raise social awareness for the pressing challenges of urban living. With its app-based Citizen Science approach, the project invites Berlin residents to actively explore the impact of city life on our mental health with researchers. What are the city's stress points? What are places of well-being? In interactive events, forums and workshops, they meet up to exchange knowledge and develop an emotional city map of Berlin. Your Emotional City: https://futurium.de/en/your-emotional-city

Led by: Prof. Dr. Mazda Adli (Charité Berlin), Prof. Dr. Joerg Fingerhut (Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin)

Team: Prof. Dr. Nadja Kabisch, Prof. Dr. Klaus Gramann (Technische Universität Berlin), Prof. Dr. Rainer Hehl (Technische Universität Berlin), und Prof. Dr. Ulrike Kluge (Charité) durchgeführt.

Year: 2020

Funding: Berlin University Alliance

Duration: 2020-2022
GreenEquityHEALTH

GreenEquityHEALTH - Junior research group ‘Environmental-health Interactions in Cities' (GreenEquityHEALTH) – Challenges for Human Well-being under Global Changes The research group GreenEquityHEALTH aims to assess how urban green spaces provide ecosystem services to mitigate and adapt to climate change and urbanisation with a specific focus on public health and socio-environmental justice. Pressure such as high temperatures, soil sealing, air pollution or changes and disturbances in urban vegetation patterns with potential effects on human health and well-being are detected with remote sensing time series data and on-site sensor based measurements. Field surveys are conducted in inner city parks to measure health on site including perception studies via questionnaire surveys and health measurements. The focus is in particular on local residents including retired people and children. GreenEquityHEALTH: https://www.geographie.hu-berlin.de/en/professorships/urban-ecosystems-health-and-environmental-justice/project/greenequityhealth

Led by: Nadja Kabisch

Team: Roland Krämer, Lennart Eichfuss, Dagmar Wörister, Camille Dammann

Year: 2017

Funding: BMBF Young Investigator Research Groups Global Change 4+1

Duration: 1.8.2017-31.7.2022