IDEA-S4S (Italia – Deutschland science-4-services network in weather and climate) is a German-Italian research, education and networking program coordinated by DWD. It formalizes and intensifies the existing bilateral cooperation in the field of meteorology and Earth system forecasting, drawing on the strategic proximity of ECMWF (European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts) centers in Bonn and Bologna. The network aims to generate new insights and innovative approaches for improving weather and climate services with the ultimate goal of transferring academic research into operational meteorological systems. More information on the junior research groups and PhD projects funded within IDEA-S4S’ period (…) is available here.

A key added value of IDEA-S4S is the training of qualified graduates within the framework of jointly implemented international Master’s degree programs. Specifically, since late 2025 we are working toward establishing two distinct (double or alternatively joint) degree programs in a phased approach:

1. The first program builds primarily on the cooperation between University of Cologne (MSc. Physics of the Earth and Atmosphere) and University of Bologna (MSc. Physics of the Earth’s Interior, Ocean and Atmosphere).
   • Timeline: Targeted start for the winter term 2027/28 (or 1 year later, depending on administrative processes).
   • Scientific focus: The program focuses on classical climate sciences and geophysics, incorporating core CESOC research topics to advance the physical understanding of Earth system processes.

2. The second program will bring together the existing MSc. Science of Climate at University of Bologna with the new MSc. Climate Sciences that is currently being developed at University of Bonn in collaboration with University of Cologne.
   • Timeline for MSc. Climate Sciences: First cohort of students expected for the winter term 2029/30.
   • Scientific focus: This program offers an integrated view of climate sciences. It maintains a natural science foundation but expands the scope to include socio-economic aspects, such as climate resilience, climate-smart ecosystems, and sustainable use of resources.

The education within IDEA-S4S will therefore cover the full spectrum of climate expertise, ranging from rigorous physical foundations to impact assessments and adaptation strategies. Methods taught within our programs will include innovative courses on computational Earth system science (e.g., offered by ECMWF), Earth system modeling and processing of big data. The German-Italian cooperation is and will further be fostered by joint Bachelor’s and Master’s theses, visits of lecturers and summer schools.