Research themes
The Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences (RIBES) aims to perform world leading research in order to understand the response of the natural environment to human impact. RIBES defines four overarching themes within the research mission Towards Healthy Ecosystems:
- I. Macronutrients and Chemicals of Emerging Concern
- II. Physical Conditions: understanding responses and adaptation mechanism to stressors
- III. Biodiversity decline and recovery of ecological communities
- IV. Mitigation of greenhouse gases
RIBES is organised in three research clusters: Ecology & Physiology, Environmental Science and Microbiology.
I. Macronutrients and Chemicals of Emerging Concern
RIBES aims to understand the ecology and physiology of novel nitrogen cycle bacteria in aquatic ecosystems and apply these bacteria in drinking water and wastewater plants for the removal of residual nitrogen and pharmaceuticals. RIBES also defines new methods to improve soil conditions and nutrient cycling in natural and agricultural systems. Finally, the institute assesses the risk posed by chemicals of emerging concern and tries to find sustainable solutions to remove them from aquatic environments.
Projects within this theme
- Anammox bacteria allow wastewater to be used for generating electricity
- Environmental experts to predict the ecological impact of substances in the sewer
Coordinators (2022)
Sebastian Lücker, Annelies Veraart and Fiona Wang
II. Physical Conditions: understanding responses and adaptation mechanism to stressors
Drastic changes in physical conditions (drought, flooding, temperature) are leading to a loss of species diversity and affecting the sustainability of natural and agricultural systems worldwide. To ensure food security and safety there is an urgent need for the development of climate-resilient crops and animals. Incorporating in-depth insights from plant and animal ecophysiology may reduce the need for excessive use of energy, antibiotics, pesticides, herbicides, protein-rich diets, or synthetic fertilisers.
Projects within this theme
- Larger fish suffer respiratory distress in warming water
- Warmer lakes harbor slower methane consumers
Coordinators (2022)
Robert Jansen, Juriaan Metz and Victoria Mironova
III. Biodiversity decline and recovery of ecological communities
RIBES unravels, understands and finds solutions for urgent ecosystem restoration to increase biodiversity and support a wide range of ecosystem services. The institute has a leading role in bio-demographic research because it harbours world-class population ecologists, and it has a very successful collaboration with many species-oriented NGOs grouped in ‘Natuurplaza’ housed at the Radboud University campus.
Projects within this theme
- Dramatic decline of insects affects Netherlands too
- Marker Wadden: an example of innovative nature restoration
Coordinators (2022)
Jelle Hilbers, Eelke Jongejans and Marlee Tucker
IV. Mitigation of greenhouse gases
RIBES studies the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and adaptation of organisms to climate change. With this, the institute aims to understand, and ultimately reduce and combat climate change in aquatic and wetland ecosystems.
Projects within this theme
- Global warming below 1.5 degrees: ‘It is still possible, but we need to act quickly and drastically’
- Electric cars better for climate in 95% of the world
Coordinators (2022)
Steef Hanssen, Sarian Kosten, José Paranaiba and Cornelia Welte
