Helmholtz Centre for Materials and Coastal Research (HZG) in Geesthacht

With over 860 employees, a leading track-record in coastal and materials research and an eye towards the practical, real world usage of science, the Helmholtz Zentrum Geesthacht is an expert centre for sustainable materials and climate change.

The Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht, Centre for Materials and Coastal Research, is robustly engaged in sustainable development. Research conducted at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht is meant for practical usage, either now or in the future, and is always conducted with the future world and future generations in mind. The centre is part of an expansive network of German research institutes, called the ‘Helmholtz Association’.

The research centre’s motto clearly reflects its mission - “Science creates benefits” - which in turn reflects its core research areas:

Key technologies: including the creation of “Advanced Engineering Materials” such as lightweight materials for cars and aeroplanes or innovative biomaterials for medical applications;
The Earth and the Environment: coastal researchers study the coast in Northern Germany and the Baltic, looking for the effects of climate change and of human impacts;
Photons and neutrons: the centre provides an infrastructure for complementary research into photons and neutrons.

The Centre’s research facilities are located in Geesthacht near Hamburg and Teltow near Berlin.

Short summary of the visit at HZG in Geesthacht on 01. November 2013

Approximately 30 km southeast of Hamburg on the banks of the river Elbe you find the city of Geesthacht which is well-known as the location of the Krümmel Nuclear Power Plant. With the governmental decision of a nuclear phase-out this plant was shut down and is therefore symbolic for the national goal of the realization of a sustainable energy supply, the “Energiewende”. This effort is mainly driven by research and development as it is conducted in many universities but also in non-university research facilities like the Helmholtz-Centre for Materials and Coastal Research (HZG). The facility is part of Germany’s largest scientific organization: the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres. At the HZG more than 900 employees are working on high-performance materials for the cars and aircrafts of tomorrow, environmental-friendly technologies, new materials for medical application, research on future climate change and management of the coastal and marine ecosystem.

Due to the wide spectrum of scientific topics at HZG the visit was offering insights into various research fields related to sustainable development. Dr. Joachim Krohn, Deputy Science Director of HZG, personally welcomed the Green Talents to the Centre before they visited the different sections. The start was made by Prof. Thomas Klassen giving a vivid presentation about hydrogen technology and storage for a more sustainable mobility in the future. The participants even got the chance to sit in a functioning hydrogen racing car. This was followed by presentations of each of the three HZG institutes based in Geesthacht. Dr. Torsten Brinkmann from the Institute for Polymer Research demonstrated implementation possibilities for membranes while the topic of Sustainable Development in Coastal Areas which is related to the Institute for Coastal Research was introduced by Dr. Götz Flöser. And last but not least the group had the chance to be guided through the Magnesium Innovations Centre that gave an impressive overview of the diverse possibilities for applications of magnesium-based materials. At the end of the day the group had a comprehensive insight into the research of the HZG and what it is like to work for one of Germany’s large non-university research facilities.