News

|  25.07.2025  | 

Goldschmidt Conference 2025 in Prague

Once again, our institute was well represented at this year's Goldschmidt Conference, the world's largest specialist congress in the field of geochemistry. The conference took place in Prague in July and provided an outstanding platform for international scientific exchange. Read More

Einige Teilnehmende des Kolloquiums „Digitale Wege in der Ingenieurgeologie“ 2025

AGIF RUB

|  24.07.2025  | 

Colloquium ‘Digital Pathways in Engineering Geology’ 2025

The colloquium ‘Digital Pathways in Engineering Geology’ took place for the first time in July 2025 at the RU. Read More

Robin Pastaschuk, Alexander-Dean Seiling, Katharina Neumann, Mats Birkemeyer (v. l. n. r.) beim Stone Techno Festival 2025

AGIF RUB

|  23.07.2025  | 

Stone Techno Festival 2025: AGIF between industrial culture and techno

Music, science and art came together at the Stone Techno Festival – and AGIF was there too. Read more

|  22.07.2025  | 

5 Years of the Binational Argentinian-German Master's Programme ‘Applied Geothermics’

The international master's programme ‘Applied Geothermics’ combines excellent research in Germany with ideal practical conditions in Argentina and enables students to obtain a double degree in four semesters. Weiterlesen

|  27.06.2025  | 

Out in the field from early on: Excursion to the Kunkskopf volcano

In their second semester, our geoscience students not only study theory and do laboratory work, but also get a first-hand insight into the field. Read More

| 26.06.2025  | 

Inside RUB 2025

On 26 June 2025, the Ruhr University Bochum opened its doors to all prospective students. Read More

Dr. Maria Dias at EMPG 25

| 23.06.2025  | 

19th EMPG Conference in Orléans, France

From 16 to 19 June 2025, scientists from our institute took part in the 19th Conference on Experimental Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry (EMPG) in Orléans, France. Read more

|  18.06.2025  | 

60 Years RUB

On 18 June 2025, Ruhr University Bochum celebrated its 60th anniversary with a big party at the Nordforum. Many visitors gathered in bright sunshine to celebrate the history of the university together. Read more

New logo of the Insitute of Geosciences

IFG

|  17.3.2025  | 

Announcement: Institute Name Change

We are pleased to announce that our institute has been renamed from the Institute of Geology, Mineralogy, and Geophysics (IGMG) to the Institute of Geosciences. This change reflects the consolidation of the three previously separate institutes into a unified entity. Read more

Vibrotrucks are used to seismically explore the subsurface. They are currently being used at various locations in NRW where deep geothermal energy is to be exploited.

© DMT GmbH & Co. KG, Essen

|  17.2.2025  | 

From Volcanism to the Energy Transition

More than 320 researchers and students of geosciences from all over the world will meet from February 24 to 27, 2025 for the conference of the German Geophysical Society on the campus of Ruhr-Universität Bochum. Topics will include volcanism and earthquakes, deep geothermal energy and seismic exploration of the subsurface. Read more

•     All information about the conference
•     Detailed press release

Memorandum of Understanding – Unterzeichnungszeremonie Technische Universität Ostkasachstan (EKTU)

© RUB (Marquard)

| 13.01.2025 |

Close Collaboration with Kazakh Universities Agreed

Ruhr University Bochum is strengthening its ties with Kazakhstan: On January 8, 2025, Rector Prof. Dr. Martin Paul and Prof. Dr. Saule Rakhmetullina, Rector of East Kazakhstan Technical University (EKTU), signed a Memorandum of Understanding during a visit by a twelve-member delegation from two Kazakh universities. The agreement establishes close collaboration in the geosciences.

The plans include the exchange of researchers, students, and expertise, as well as the development of a joint master’s program.

 Learn More (In German)

Prof. Dr. Thomas Reinsch

© RUB, Marquard

| 16.11.2024  | 

New Professor for Geoenergy at Ruhr University – Thomas Reinsch

Thomas Reinsch has been Professor of Geoenergies at Ruhr University since November. The scientist now conducts research at Ruhr University and at the Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Infrastructure and Geothermal Energy. Read more

Von der Kooperation sollen sowohl die Forschenden als auch das Weingut profitieren.

Privat

| 15.11.2024 |

What Geology has to do with wine

Climate change is affecting viticulture. In order to get the best out of the conditions, it is worth researching the subsoil in detail. A team from Bochum is cooperating with a renowned winery to help with this. Learn more here (in German).

Prof. Dr. Melanie Kranz (neé Bartz)

© Michael Schwettmann (RUB)

| 20.09.2024  | 

A warm welcome to Prof. Dr. Melanie Kranz (née Bartz)

The Institute of Geosciences wishes a warm welcome to our new colleague, Melanie Kranz (neé Bartz), our new Professor of Geomorphology and Geohazards. Read more

Dr. Mathias Müller

© RUB, Marquard

| 23.7.2024  | 

Hot traces in rocks

Rocks undergo changes over millions of years. Yet it is possible to extract information from them about the climate at the time of their formation. Read more 

Die Forschenden möchten Störungen für die Geothermie nutzen, hier ein Beispiel in Kalkstein.

© RUB, Backers

  | 13.6.2024  | 

46 million euros in funding for geothermal project

A new development technology aims to make heating with geothermal energy more economical. Additionally, it is intended to prevent earthquakes and thus sustainably promote public acceptance of geothermal energy. Read more

Prof. Dr. Daniel Herwartz (middle), with our Dean Prof. Dr. Matthias Kiese (rechts) and RUB-Rector Prof. Dr, Martin Paul (links)

© RUB

| 1.1.2024  | 

A Warm welcome to Prof. Dr. Daniel Herwartz

Prof. Dr. Daniel Herwartz joined us at the start of this year as Professor in Sedimentary Geochemistry. The Institute wishes Prof. Herwartz a warm welcome and a good start to his tenure in Bochum. Read More

|  21.12.2023  | 

We mourn the loss of a beloved colleague

Lothar Dresen passed away on December 21, 2023, at the age of 84. After studying mining, mine surveying, and geophysics, he earned his doctorate in 1969 at Clausthal University of Technology and completed his habilitation in 1972 at Ruhr University Bochum (RUB). Until his retirement in 2001, he led the Seismics Research Group as Professor of Applied Geophysics at RUB. His research focused on model seismics and the numerical simulation of seismic wavefields, coal seam seismics for coal exploration, surface wave seismics in engineering geophysics, and joint inversion.

Prof. Dresen served as Dean of the Faculty of Geosciences for three terms and was a board member of the Institute for Mining and Energy Law. A member of the German Geophysical Society since 1964, he received an honorary doctorate from the Technical University for Heavy Industry in Miskolc in 1989 and was named an honorary member of the Hungarian Geophysical Society in 1999.

With the passing of Lothar Dresen, our university has lost a formative figure. We will always remember him with deep respect and gratitude.

On behalf of the institute’s management
Prof. Dr. Tobias Licha

| 4.12.2023  | 

Obituary for Prof. Dr. D. K. Richter

On December 4, 2023, we lost our esteemed colleague Detlev Richter. Born in 1942 in Greifswald, he fled to Hanstedt in 1945. He pursued his studies in Braunschweig, Vienna, and Munich. From 1967 to 1969, he worked as a research assistant at the Geological Institute of Ruhr University Bochum, where he earned his doctorate under Prof. Füchtbauer in 1970 and completed his habilitation in 1984. From 1989 until his retirement, he served as an adjunct professor at the Faculty of Geosciences at Ruhr University. In 2003, he was appointed honorary professor at the University of Bucharest. Detlev Richter was a renowned expert in sedimentology, petrography, and diagenesis. With his encyclopedic knowledge, he inspired and guided numerous students and doctoral candidates. His outstanding research ranged from speleothems to field studies in the Eifel region, Franconia, and Greece. He combined scientific depth with visionary thinking and was greatly appreciated by students for his dedication and the exceptional quality of his teaching.

We mourn with his family and loved ones and fondly remember Detlev Richter.

Prof. A. Immenhauser, Institut Geowissenschaften, Ruhr-University Bochum

Hans-Peter Schertl (links) und Bernd Marler sind Experten für die Analyse von Mineralen.

RUB, Kramer

| 1.1.2024  | 

The whole periodic table in one Mineral

2019 was the international year of the periodic table of the elements. This was an occasion for RUB geoscientists to take a closer look at the composition of the mineral tourmaline. In their opinion, it is record-breaking. Read More

Im Flur des Gebäudes der Geologen laufen ständig Erdbebendaten aus aller Welt über die Monitore.

© Roberto Schirdewahn

| 31.10.2018  | 

How the Alps look from below

Mountains extend not only upward, but also downward into the earth. To get an idea of this, researchers use earthquakes. Read More