Centre for Earth System Observation and Computational Analysis
About CESOC
Empowering Earth system observation through innovative research and collaboration.
The Centre for Earth System Observation and Computational Analysis (CESOC) is a research partnership between the University of Bonn, the University of Cologne, and Forschungszentrum Jülich.
Founded in October 2020, CESOC supported Bonn’s successful application to host the new premises of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). Since ECMWF’s Bonn office opened in summer 2021, CESOC has been working in close cooperation with ECMWF and other partners to advance Earth system research.
CESOC currently brings together around 150 members including students, PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, and academic staff from a range of disciplines in geosciences, mathematics, and computational science. This diverse community drives interdisciplinary collaboration and joint research initiatives.
CESOC is financed through contributions from its partner institutions, including central university funds, the Key Profile Area Intelligent Methods for the Earth System Sciences (IMFESS) at Cologne, and the Transdisciplinary Research Area Modelling (TRA1) at Bonn.
150
Members
100+
Talks & Seminars
24
Projects
Vision
CESOC’s vision is to transform Earth system science through interdisciplinary collaboration, cutting-edge technology, and innovative education.
We strive for:
- Strong connections between geosciences and data science, including high-performance computing and machine learning.
- New approaches to Earth system modellingintegrating processes across the climate system.
- Seamless fusion of observations and modelsfor real-time monitoring.
This vision is supported by an interdisciplinary research culture, close ties across faculties, and joint educational programs that prepare the next generation of scientists.
Mission and Objectives
CESOC’s mission is to comprehensively observe, understand, and forecast the coupled Earth system under global environmental change. Key objectives include:
- Become a national focus point for Earth system and computational science, connecting geosciences, mathematics, and data science.
- Foster the initiation of third-party-funded research, supporting competitive and collaborative projects.
- Educate the next generation of scientiststhrough joint teaching programs, training, and mentoring.
- Strengthen the integration of ECMWF into the region, enhancing regional and international collaboration.
CESOC achieves this through interdisciplinary research, innovative methods, and strategic partnerships with ECMWF and other national and international institutions.
Status Report
In summer 2024, CESOC published its first assessment in a status report. The summary of this report serves as the preamble:
- The Rhineland has been a strong player in Earth System Sciences for many years, with several joint collaborations and projects among the universities and research centers in the region. With the “Geoverbund ABC/J,” a broad network of geoscientists has helped to foster exchange and initiate research activities with nationwide visibility, for example, through topic-specific Competence Centres. In the course of Germany's bid to establish Bonn as the second European site of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecast (ECMWF), a more focused initiative was needed to collaborate with the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) and the German Weather Service (DWD) in support of the bid and to highlight the relevant scientific expertise and successful cooperation in the weather and climate-related Earth System Sciences of the Rhineland region as an anchor point for ECMWF. As a result, CESOC was founded in 2020.
- The founding agreement defines CESOC as a research center in the environmental and natural sciences that is jointly supported by the University of Bonn (UB), the University of Cologne (UoC), and Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ). In particular, CESOC should address the challenge of global environmental changes by comprehensively observing, understanding and predicting the Earth System. The agreement was signed by the rectors and deans of the universities as well as the FZJ chairperson of the board of directors and by the founding directors of each partner, Prof. Dr. Jürgen Kusche (UB), Prof. Dr. Susanne Crewell (UoC), and Prof. Dr. Astrid Kiendler-Scharr (FZJ).
- At the end of 2020, it was announced that the federal government of Germany's application was successful and that Bonn will host the new ECMWF premises. Subsequently, CESOC built up its organizational structure, formed its legal framework in accordance with the Northrhine Westphalian Higher Education Act (§§ 29), refined its strategy, and started several measures to address its objectives. In the past 4 years, CESOC has initiated and carried out a number of workshops, site visits, seminars, colloquia, and other activities to connect scientists at the partner institutions among each other and with ECMWF scientists. Even though the spectrum of topics has become quite wide, CESOC maintains a unique character through its emphasis on topics that are at the nexus between Earth System Science and Computer Science. This report outlines the CESOC vision and objectives, describes its organisational structure and administrative proceedings, reports on past and ongoing activities, and provides a strategic outlook on the coming years.
A second report will be published in late summer 2026. – For more information, please contact info@cesoc.net
Our Activities & Events
Within its first years, CESOC has established a range of successful activities, including seminar series, colloquia, and a members’ assembly. To guide its future strategy in research, teaching, and networking, CESOC is advised by a newly formed Scientific Advisory Board (hyperlink to section SAB).