Institute

Since 1999, the ZEU has been active as an interdisciplinary institution of research of the Justus-Liebig-University, transcending faculties in the process of its work. At present, the disciplines of Agricultural und Food, Geography, Environmental Safety, as well as the disciplines of Law, Political Science and Economics are involved in the ZEU. Research is mainly financed through third-party funds.

The fact that the ZEU's subjects and contents concentrate on the topics of environment and development owes to the idea that issues of development and environment are usually interdependent, and should therefore be examined through faculty transcending research.

This basic idea is supported by the research potential of Giessen University. Developmental as well as environmental research is conducted in a variety of institutes which perform their work in many different countries and, partly, in international comparative studies regarding one or even both topics.

A major task of the ZEU is to use this potential effectively and to fill a gap in the market of international research with the comparative advantages arising through the Center's activities.

The importance of interdisciplinarity for the ZEU is mirrored in its organisational structure: it is made up of the four sections

1. Use of Natural Resources and Environmental Preservation
2. Food Security
3. Development and Poverty Fighting
4. Institutional Foundation of Regional Development Processes

A regional specialisation is not intended.

The Duisburg Institute for Linguistics and Social Science (Duisburger Institut für Sprach- und Sozialforschung, DISS) has been working in the field of exclusion processes in society for more than 15 years. Its work aims at grasping social problems, analysing their sources and effects. Analyses of media politics and every-day discourse are published regularly in a special edition. DISS also distributes a magazine on selected controversial issues of every-day political life twice a year complementing two annual workshops. Its extensive archive on politics, history and right-wing extremism provides information for scientists, students and journalists working in the field of anti-discrimination.