In this module, we are working with Studio Animal Aided Design (AAD) to develop a potential analysis for the campus grounds. This is supported by the monitoring and mapping of biodiversity on the campus grounds and the implementation of pilot measures to promote biodiversity.

On March 17, our target species workshop took place in the Haberlandt lecture hall of Plant Physiology. Prof. Dr. Tanja Straka, urban ecologist and head of the Living Lab, and Dr. Florian Ruland, Ecological Novelty, moderated the event. Zoologist Prof. Dr. Jens Rolff welcomed the audience and architect Prof. Dr. Thomas Hauck presented the approach of Animal-Aided Design, the central idea of which is to integrally plan the presence of animals as part of the design of open spaces and architecture. The next step was to select the target species: 45 of 70 pre-selected species, including birds, butterflies, beetles and dragonflies, were finally selected. The species represent habitats that we want to preserve or create on campus, but should also have real advocates within the university and inspire enthusiasm! You can watch the documentation (in German language) from Studio Animal Aided Design here.

Based on the urban nature ranger of the Nature Conservation Foundation, a campus nature ranger has been supporting the existing green space maintenance measures since the start of the Living Lab. This is a unique and exciting pilot project for Freie Universität. Leon von Salisch is a Campus Nature Ranger and works closely with the Blooming Campus. He maintains the areas according to the principle of managed spontaneous vegetation and implements measures to promote biotope structure on campus. You can read more about the work and implementation to date in the 2024 semi-annual report (in German language) here.

Contact persons for this module are (in alphabetical order):

Dr. Sophie Lokatis works in the projects "More Bees for Berlin - Berlin Blüht auf" and "Animal of the Year" of the German Wildlife Foundation and is a guest scientist in the Urban Ecology working group. She is the former head of the Blooming Campus.

Rebecca Rongstock is doing her doctorate in the Rillig research group on the effects of global change on soil and plants. She has headed the Blooming Campus since October 2022 and has been Biodiversity Manager at the FU Berlin's Sustainability and Energy Office since February 2024.

Jonas Schramm works in the Geosciences Library and is a member of the General Staff Council. He is committed to the preservation and diversity of green spaces on the FU Berlin campus in order to promote health, occupational safety and environmental protection.