Commissioning of the Borehole Thermal Energy Storage System with Connection to the Local Heating Network at the Lichtwiese Campus

In October 2025, the medium-deep borehole thermal energy storage system (MD-BTES) at the Lichtwiese Campus was transferred into grid-coupled research operation via a new connection line. The line was constructed by the Geothermal Science and Technology Group as part of the EU-funded project PUSH-IT and connects the MD-BTES to the campus local heating network. The MD-BTES consists of three 750-meter-deep borehole heat exchangers installed in 2022 and 2023 within the research project SKEWS.

Tracing copper and zinc in organic agriculture by stable isotope labelling

Manure and copper-based fungicides are known sources of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in agriculture, and their long-time application can cause an accumulation of these trace metals in agricultural soils. While Cu and Zn are essential micronutrients to plants, animals and humans, elevated Cu and Zn concentrations can pose environmental risks to biota and affect soil fertility.

Geospatial Record and Interpolation of Tire Wear Pollution in Roadside Soils

Targeted electrokinetic transport of bacteria in porous media through cell charge coating

On July 18, 2025, 36 graduates from various geoscience degree programs were honored at a graduation ceremony.

Together with numerous family members and IAG staff, we enjoyed a successful graduation ceremony in beautiful weather.

A workshop at the Institute of Applied Geosciences

As part of the ongoing research project on the palaeoenvironment and palaeoclimate of the Arabian Peninsula over the past 12,000 years, a scientific workshop was held on 15 and 16 July, organised by the Applied Sedimentary Geology working group at TU Darmstadt.

Tour in the high alpine region

In June 2025, members of the Soil Mineralogy and Soil Chemistry group, together with Prof. Dr. Stephan Weinbruch (Environmental Mineralogy) and the active support of Thomas Dirsch and others, were active in the Kaunertal (Austria) for a sampling campaign.

An interdisciplinary project on the state of the forest ecosystem in southern Hesse

As in many other regions of Germany, the condition of forests in southern Hesse has deteriorated noticeably in recent years. When assessing the condition of forests, attention is often focused exclusively on the tree population, without taking into account the forest floor as the foundation of the forest ecosystem.

Im Juni 2025 führte eine Beprobungskampagne das Fachgebiet Angewandte Sedimentgeologie in die Ostalpen.

Im Rahmen laufender Forschungsprojekte zur Entwicklung paläozoischer Sedimentbecken im Ostalpin wurden dieses Jahr die Kitzbüheler und Gurktaler Alpen besucht und verschiedenste Gesteine beprobt.

Eine Studierendengruppe des IAG konnte den Baufortschritt an den Tunnelbauwerken besuchen.

Während der Ahrtalflut 2021 wurde ein mehrere Kilometer langer Abschnitt der Ahrtalbahn weitgehend zerstört. Im Rahmen des Wiederaufbaus werden die fünf existierenden Tunnelbauwerke aufgeweitet bzw. saniert. Eine Studierendengruppe des IAG konnte den Baufortschritt an den Tunnelbauwerken besuchen.

Im Rahmen der Lehrveranstaltung Ingenieurgeologie V wurden die untertägigen Bauarbeiten am Wasserkraftwerk Forbach besucht. Dabei konnten wir sowohl den Bau des Kavernenkraftwerkes als auch des Kavernenspeichers besichtigen.