University of Cologne, Germany
The University of Cologne is one of Europe's oldest and largest universities. Due to its outstanding scientific achievements and the high quality and diversity of its degree programmes, it enjoys an excellent international reputation.
The UoC’s mission is to create, preserve and impart knowledge, to offer its students and early-career academics outstanding academic education, to qualify them for both academic and professional careers, to promote cutting-edge research and to drive innovation while focusing on the constantly changing needs and challenges of today’s society.
Research of the Bonkowski group (Terrestrial Ecology, Institute of Zoology, Dept. of Biology) is at the interface between community and ecosystem ecology. Much of their research focusses on he interactions of plants with microorganisms and rhizosphere food webs belowground. We aim to understand the functional significance of belowground biodiversity for aboveground systems.
Role within SOB4ES
The Bonkowski group (Terrestrial Ecology, Institute of Zoology, UoC) is assessing soil biodiversity with advanced molecular methods and will be responsible for improving soil biodiversity indicators and their contribution to ecosystem services within the MAES (Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services) framework.
