The SOZIAHR Research Project

Survey: 5-year review of the Ahr Valley floods

If you are one of the 79,341 selected citizens to receive an invitation by mail in August 2026, we would be very grateful if you could take part in the citizen survey conducted by the Bonn-based research team ‘SOZIAHR’.

The questionnaire includes sections on, amongst other things, personal circumstances, direct and indirect impact of the floods, private reconstruction efforts, political attitudes, as well as social support and the political response to the flood disaster.

The initial findings will be analysed and presented to the public by April 2027.

Further Information on the survey

How can we achieve a socially just and climate-resilient recovery following extreme weather events?

The SOZIAHR research project (‘Social, Economic and Administrative Challenges of Climate Resilience’) is using the Ahr Valley as a case study to investigate which factors promote or hinder long-term social resilience.

In addition to conducting important basic research, the aim is to develop practical recommendations for action for the Ahr Valley as well as comparable future disaster-stricken areas.

News

Here you will find news By SOZIAHR and surrounding our research. At the moment these are solely available in German.

SWR-Interview: Wie geht es den Menschen nach der Flut wirklich?

Der SWR berichtet über die Hintergründe der Umfrage und stellt fest, dass mittlerweile die meisten der knapp 80.000 Einladungsbriefe im Ahrtal eingetroffen sind.

General-Anzeiger: Post für das Ahrtal

Über 70.000 Personen erhalten in den kommenden Tagen eine Einladung, an der Bevölkerungsumfrage des Forschungsprojekts teilzunehmen.

Rhein-Zeitung: Umfrage im Ahrtal erfasst Institutionenvertrauen

Die Rhein-Zeitung hat Projektleiterin Susanne Bell interviewt und berichtet über Inhalte und Hintergrund der "5-Jahres-Bilanz zur Ahrtalflut" von SOZIAHR

Bestands- und Bedarfsanalyse von Begegnungsstätten im Ahrtal

SOZIAHR hat die Lage von Begegnungsstätten im Ahrtal untersucht. Dabei wird Unterstützungsbedarf deutlich, insbesondere in Bezug auf finanzielle Förderung und geeignete Räumlichkeiten.

News-Archive

involved parties of the University of Bonn and the Wuppertal Institute

different departments

79.341

(former) residents of the Ahr Valley will be invited to the ‘5-year review of the Ahr Valley floods’ in early August 2026

Our Sub-Projects

Until the end of 2028 the interdisciplinary team of the University of Bonn in cooperation with the Wuppertal Instiut will explore current regulations and official processes concerning private reconstruction processes as well as essential requirements for societal cohesion, preserving democracy and implementing climate change mitigation and adaption measures.

The target is to provide politically relevant data and case specific solution approaches for the Ahrtal, and to derive general recommendations for action also plausible for other regions.