Potsdam-Institut für Klimafolgenforschung
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About Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
editThe Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) is a leading research institute dedicated to interdisciplinary research on climate impacts and global sustainability. As a member of the Leibniz Association, PIK's mission is to expand scientific knowledge and develop solutions for a secure and just climate future. The institute integrates the latest knowledge about the Earth system with the assessment of climate risks and the exploration of policies and pathways to manageable climate change. A central research framework of PIK is the integration of planetary boundaries and global commons.
With around 400 employees from all over the world, PIK contributes to the global scientific discourse through publications in high-ranking, peer-reviewed international journals and participation in numerous partnerships and networks. The main methods of the institute include integrated and complex system analyses as well as data integration; numerical simulations are conducted on its own supercomputer. The institute also actively provides insights for decision-makers in politics, business, and society. This is science – for a secure future.
PIK was founded in 1992 and is a non-profit organization. The constitutional bodies include the general assembly, the foundation board, the executive board, and the scientific advisory board. At the end of 2023, PIK employed 401 staff, including 249 scientists. The basic funding comes from grants from the state of Brandenburg together with the federal government and other federal states. In 2023, the institute received around 14.5 million euros in institutional funding, while additional project funds from external sources amounted to about 19.1 million euros.
Research at PIK is organized into four interdisciplinary research departments: Earth System Analysis, Climate Robustness, Transformation Pathways, and Complexity Science. These departments are supported by the Executive Staff, administration, and IT services that promote scientific activities.
PIK places great importance on sustainability and is committed to contributing to the achievement of global climate goals through its research and internal practices. The institute promotes a culture of equality and diversity and provides its employees with the opportunity to balance work and family. By fostering young scientists and providing training positions in the IT sector and administration, PIK contributes to the development of the next generation of climate researchers.
Overall, the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research stands for scientific excellence and societal relevance by expanding scientific boundaries and developing solutions for a sustainable future.