TERENO:Connect - Synthesizing Environmental Observations for Societal Impact

Since 2008, the Network of Terrestrial Environmental Observatories (TERENO) has been operating an infrastructure for long-term environmental monitoring that is unique in Germany—at four observatories stretching from the North German Plain to the Bavarian Alps. Over the past 16 years, this has resulted in extensive long-term datasets that have contributed to hundreds of scientific publications and form a central pillar of environmental monitoring in Germany. However, their potential for policymakers, government agencies, and the public has so far been underestimated. 

The TERENO:Connect project aims to significantly increase the visibility and societal impact of this data. Through modern digital communication formats, updated print materials, improved data discoverability, as well as stakeholder workshops and user forums, the TERENO project specifically engages government agencies, policymakers, and the scientific community. This will highlight the network’s relevance to key policy processes—such as the National Water Strategy, soil protection, and climate adaptation—and better position TERENO as essential infrastructure for evidence-based decision-making.

Participating Centers

Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research (UFZ), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Jülich Research Center (FZJ), GFZ Helmholtz Center for Geosciences

Principal Investigators

Dr. Martin Schrön (UFZ), Prof. Dr. Sabine Attinger (UFZ), Dr. Ralf Kiese (KIT), Dr. Heye Bogena (FZJ), Dr. Theresa Blume (GFZ)