Welcome to KIT/IMKIFU
The IMKIFU, KIT-Campus Alpin, is the largest Bavarian climate research institute and has been based in Garmisch-Partenkirchen since 1962. Founded in 1954, it is the oldest continuing research institute on global environmental issues in Germany. After 40 years in the Fraunhofer-Association, it has been part of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers as part of today's KIT since 2002. Research at the institute is characterized by great complexity and high social relevance. KIT/IMKIFU research is active worldwide in projects and partnerships - because the global dimension of climate change and the impact of humans on the environment make it necessary to deal with local environmental issues in a global context.
Researchers at IMKIFU are investigating changes in the atmosphere, the water balance and living conditions for vegetation and society in the context of global climate change. Studying the processes at the boundary between the atmosphere and the land surface is an essential basis for understanding climate change and developing strategies to help us deal with the changing conditions.
Together with partner institutes at KIT and other Helmholtz centers, IMKIFU participates in the Helmholtz research program Changing Earth – Sustaining our Future, as well as many other national and international research networks.
Grassland workshop of the European Democratic Party with Dr. David Piatka and PD Dr. Michael Dannenmann, representatives from politics, science and agricultural practice on shaping a future sustainable, economic and ecological grassland management.
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Prof. Dr. Harald Kunstmann discusses the practicality of artificial snowmaking in ski resorts, its profitability and the shifting of the zero-degree line as an indicator of climate change. Tagesschau report (from minute 10:44) and report&interview (from minute 01:44). Forwarding to the Tagesschau.
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BR24 report on the shift of the freezing level in the Alps (calculation based on climate models from KIT), the altitude of German ski resorts, the difference between the freezing level and the snow line, and much more, with commentary by Prof. Dr. Harald Kunstmann. Forwarding to BR24.
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This year, IMKIFU was once again represented with a stand at the Zukunftsmesse, a training and job fair in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Many interested pupils had the opportunity to find out about our internship and job offers directly on site.
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ARD-Interview and United Nations Climate Change Side Event “Early Warning, Anticipatory Action and Risk Insurance for Proactive Disaster Risk Management” with Prof. Dr. Harald Kunstmann at COP30 from November 10 to 21, 2025, in Belém. Forwarding to SEORS and ARD Mediathek.
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Prof. Dr. Almut Arneth is once again one of this year's "Highly Cited Researchers". A total of five scientists from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) received this award from the Web of Science Group as the most cited researchers.
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Prof. Dr. Almut Arneth was a member of the writing team for this Leopoldina discussion paper. The study outlines ways in which international agricultural trade can be structured in such a way that it contributes equally to achieving food security, climate goals, and biodiversity goals.
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VFF-IFU e.V. sponsorship award presented to Dr. Kathrin Fuchs (right) and Judith Kloibhofer (left) for outstanding research in the field of Global Biogeochemical Cycles in Sub-Sahara Africa and Climate-smart rewilding in Europe.
The ITMS user meeting 2025 at the German Environment Agency(UBA) in Dessau-Roßlau focused on technical exchanges with federal institutes. Discussions centred on how ITMS results can be explicitly used for future national emissions reporting.
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