Climate change is one of the most urgent global challenges of our time, reshaping not only our environment but also our way of life. To address the most pressing impacts of this global phenomenon, the University of Szeged has launched a new initiative to consolidate its academic expertise in this critical area. Officially established on March 1, the Climate Change Interdisciplinary Research Group unites the University of Szeged’s climate-focused researchers across multiple disciplines. In its first year, the group will prioritize fostering collaborations and coordinating research efforts.
The University of Szeged has established a Climate Change Interdisciplinary Research Group to strengthen collaboration within the institution and advance research on climate-related challenges. Based at the Centre of Excellence for Interdisciplinary Research, Development and Innovation (IKIKK), the group operates under the center’s Cluster of Science and Mathematics and officially began its activities on March 1, 2025.
“Climate change is one of the most pressing challenges facing humanity today, with its effects already being felt worldwide. Given the complexity of the issue, an interdisciplinary approach is essential – one that leverages the synergies between different scientific fields and paves the way for new research opportunities. Indeed, the University of Szeged has a unique yet previously underutilized potential to support such an initiative, as researchers and research groups across multiple faculties are already engaged in climate-related research. Now, the newly established research group aims to bring these dispersed efforts together, creating a platform that fosters dialogue, collaboration, and the expansion of collective knowledge. Ensuring the project’s long-term sustainability will depend on strengthening research partnerships and formulating joint research proposals that build on identified synergies,” says Prof. Dr. Zoltán Kónya, Vice-Rector for Scientific Affairs and Innovation at the University of Szeged and the scientific supervisor of the Cluster of Science and Mathematics within IKIKK.
The primary short-term goal of the Climate Change Interdisciplinary Research Group is to facilitate interdisciplinary dialogue and establish a network that connects all basic and applied climate-related research at the University of Szeged. The group is led by Dr. Tamás Gál, associate professor and head of the Department of Atmospheric and Geospatial Data Sciences, who emphasizes that the research group’s initial two-year program is essentially a research coordination project, laying the groundwork for future collaborations.
Dr. Tamás Gál leads the University of Szeged’s innovative research group, which focuses on climate change – a problem that affects everyone.
Photo: Ádám Kovács-Jerney
“The research group focuses on open research questions relevant to Europe that require an interdisciplinary approach, as outlined in the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the United Nations body responsible for evaluating climate science. These questions encompass the temporal and spatial dynamics of risks and vulnerabilities, the effectiveness of adaptation strategies, and issues related to water management, biodiversity, health risks, nature-based solutions, and coastal environments. Other key areas of focus include improving climate policy coherence, sectoral and systemic transformations, land use, agriculture, carbon removal, equity and just transitions, accelerating climate action, climate intervention, and assessing the potential impacts and risks of solar radiation modification. In this context, one of our primary goals is to develop a knowledge map and establish a research network to connect experts across disciplines. To foster collaboration, we plan to organize a series of in-house conferences, workshops, and discussions. A crucial objective is to create structured frameworks within the university to facilitate the exchange of information and knowledge while also promoting interdisciplinary research collaborations on climate-related topics,” explains Dr. Tamás Gál.
The research group currently operates within, and with the support of the University of Szeged’s Centre of Excellence for Interdisciplinary Research, Development and Innovation (IKIKK) as a (Horizontal) Incubation Project.
The Institute of Geosciences, led by Dr. Elemér Pál-Molnár, has been engaged in climate-related research for over a century.
Photo: Ádám Kovács-Jerney
“Adopting an interdisciplinary approach is essential, as climate change is a complex challenge that demands collaboration across scientific fields to achieve a deeper understanding and develop effective solutions. This approach allows researchers to harness synergies and explore new frontiers in research. While the project is housed within the Cluster of Science and Mathematics under IKIKK due to specific organizational considerations and the central role of climate research in science, its interdisciplinary scope extends well beyond these boundaries. It spans the entire scientific spectrum, including not only the natural sciences but also the social sciences and engineering disciplines,” emphasizes Prof. Dr. Elemér Pál-Molnár, head of the Institute of Geosciences and a founding member of the research group.
The project’s primary goal is to harness the university’s knowledge base to advance research and foster collaboration on climate-related topics, leading to well-focused interdisciplinary studies and projects that offer internationally competitive solutions to unresolved research challenges. Additionally, it aims to establish an applied research platform – tailored to the region’s unique characteristics – that supports climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts.
The research group plans to organize project presentations, university conferences, and workshops while simultaneously laying the groundwork for various research coordination platforms. A key milestone in these efforts is the in-house conference scheduled for September. Intended to offer a broad overview of climate-related research at the university, the conference will give researchers engaged in climate-related research the opportunity to explore ongoing investigations and knowledge bases across different research groups, faculties, and scientific disciplines – establishing a foundation for future collaborations.
The research group also seeks to translate the project’s findings into practical applications, maintain research collaborations, and integrate its results into education. This includes developing policy recommendations, supporting decision-making processes, and contributing to innovative climate adaptation and mitigation strategies. In the long run, the goal is to establish the group as a permanent platform at the University of Szeged, enhancing interdisciplinary research coordination and equipping the institution with ready-to-use solutions for tackling the complex challenges posed by climate change.
Original Hungarian text by Ferenc Lévai
Feature photo: Gemini
Additional photos: Ádám Kovács-Jerney
