Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Dietrich Borchardt

Current Position

Senior Professor TU Dresden

Senior Adviser Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ

Speaker Helmholtz Research Campaign “Water Safety and Security for Humans and the Environment in the 21st Century”

Contact / Address

Brückstraße 3a
D 39114 Magdeburg, Deutschland
Tel: +49 (0)341 60254757
dietrich.borchardt@ufz.de 

Prof. Dr. Dietrich Borchardt

Activities at UFZ and TU Dresden

Since 2007, I have been Head of the Department of “Aquatic Ecosystem Analysis and Management” at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ in a joint appointment as full professor at the Dresden University of Technology (TU Dresden) and, since 2017, of the Research Unit “Water Resources and Environment” at UFZ. Since 2025, I am working as Senior Advisor for Water Research to the UFZ Management Board, as Spokesperson for the Helmholtz “Water Safety and Security Initiative” and as Senior Professor at TU Dresden..

Academic degrees

1986 Master of Science (Diploma) in Hydrobiology and Fisheries Science, University of Hamburg
1992 PhD (Dr. rer. nat.) in Bio- and Geosciences, University of Karlsruhe
2000 Habilitation in Environmental Engineering, University of Kassel
2018 Honorary Doctorate Mongolian Academy of Sciences
2025 Senior Professor Dresden University of Technology

Key research areas and scientific competences

I am trained as hydrobiologist and environmental engineer. My scientific curiosity is focused on water in its incredibly diverse facets and my key research interests are human-natural-linkages in the water cycle under global change. My research projects link hydrological and ecological sciences with governance, politics and economics towards implementation of sustainable water management.    

Scientific merits and professional activities

Scientific merits
  • Honored Diploma Thesis, University of Hamburg (1986)
  • Habilitation funds from German Research Foundation (DFG) (1994 – 1996)
  • Appointed member of DFG-Senate Commission on Water Research (2002 – 2009; Vice-chair 2006 – 2009)
  • Knowledge Transfer Award Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ (2014)
  • Golden Pin of Honor from the German Federal Association of Engineers for Water Management, Waste Management and Land Improvement (BWK) (2015)
  • Honorary Doctorate Mongolian Academy of Sciences (2018)
  • Science Transfer Award German Limnological Society (2025)
  • Communication Award Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ (2025)
  • Senior Professor Dresden University of Technology (2025)
Other professional activities
  • Member Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Dresden, Institute of Hydrobiology (since 2007)
  • Memberships in and Chairman of technical-scientific working groups on water resources management of German Water Associations (DWA and BWK; 1992 - 2025)
  • Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the International Water Association´s Conference on “Integrated Water Resources Management: Lessons learnt and future Perspectives” (2011)
  • Chairman Scientific Advisory Board German Bureau of the “International Hydrological Programme of UNESCO” (2014 - 2017)
  • Member Steering Committee Swiss National Research Programme “Sustainable Water Management” (2010 - 2015)
  • Chairman Scientific Expert Group to the "Round Table on Water Protection Werra/Weser and Potash Mining" (2008 - 2013)
  • Chairman Expert Panel "Safety and environmental compatibility of hydrofracking for natural gas production from unconventional reservoirs" (2012 - 2014)
  • Scientific Advisory Board Helmholtz Management Academy (2013 – 2015)
  • Speaker of the Topic “Sustainable Water Resources Management” for the 3rd phase of Helmholtz Programme Oriented Funding (2013 – 2017) on “Terrestrial Environment”
  • Scientific Advisory Board EU-Programme for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Region (PRIMA) (2018 – 2021)

Publications

The results of my work have been published extensively in scientific journals (127 research paper in peer-reviewed journals, h-Index (google scholar) = 43, i10-Index (google scholar) = 118) and in publications for practical use and for water management enforcement (99 documents comprising technical-scientific regulations, policy briefs, research reports and published expert opinions).

Text Publication

Articles in ISI listed journals (91)

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Articles in other journals (not listed in ISI) (21)

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Edited books (8)

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Book chapters (28)

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Reports (17)

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Report articles (13)

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Edited reports (5)

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Edited conference proceedings (1)

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Conference papers (19)

Data Publication (3)

Technical guidelines (9)

  • Schmitt, T. G., Beck, R., Becker, M., Borchardt, D., Bürgel, B., Dittmer, U., Fuchs, S., Haller, B., Joswig, K., Mertsch, V., Podraza, P., Uhl, M., Weß, G., Welker, A. (2021). Grundsätze zur Bewirtschaftung und Behandlung von Regenwetterabflüssen zur Einleitung in Oberflächengewässer - Teil 1: Allgemeines. Hrsg. Deutsche Vereinigung für Wasserwirtschaft, Abwasser und Abfalls (DWA). ISBN 978-3-96862-2.
  • Schmitt, T. G., Beck, R., Becker, M., Borchardt, D., Bürgel, B., Dittmer, U., Fuchs, S., Haller, B., Joswig, K., Mertsch, V., Podraza, P., Uhl, M., Weß, G., Welker, A. (2021). Grundsätze zur Bewirtschaftung und Behandlung von Regenwetterabflüssen zur Einleitung in Oberflächengewässer - Teil 2: Emissionsbezogenen Bewertungen und Regelungen. Hrsg. Deutsche Vereinigung für Wasserwirtschaft, Abwasser und Abfalls (DWA). ISBN 978-3-96862-6.
  • Borchardt, D., Bürgel, B., Durchschlag, A., Grimm, O., Grottker, M., Halle, M., Podraza, P., Schitthelm, D. und M. Uhl (2007). Ableitung von immissionsorientierten Anforderungen an Misch- und Niederschlagswassereinleitungen unter Berücksichtigung örtlicher Verhältnisse. Merkblatt 3 des Bund der Ingenieure für Wasserwirtschaft, Abfallwirtschaft und Kulturbau (BWK). Düsseldorf. 4. überarb. Aufl. 40 S..
  • Schmitt, T. G., Borchardt, D., Bürgel, B., Fuchs, St., Haller, B., Joswig, K., Krebs, P., Meißner, E., Mertsch, V., Podraza, P., Remmler, F., Uhl, M., Welker, A., Willems, G. (2006). Leitlinien der integralen Entwässerungsplanung. DWA Arbeitsblatt A 100 der Deutschen Vereinigung für Wasserwirtschaft, Abwasser und Abfall (DWA). Hennef. 42 S..
  • Borchardt, D., Günther, C. und I. Brehmer (2005). Leitfaden für das Erkennen kritischer Gewässerbelastungen durch Abwassereinleitungen – Handlungsanleitung. Hessisches Ministerium für Umwelt, ländlichen Raum und Verbraucherschutz Wiesbaden, 114 S..
  • Borchardt, D., Günther, C. und I. Brehmer (2005). Leitfaden für das Erkennen kritischer Gewässerbelastungen durch Abwassereinleitungen – Begleitband. Hessisches Ministerium für Umwelt, ländlichen Raum und Verbraucherschutz Wiesbaden, 216 S..
  • Borchardt, D., Bürgel, B., Durchschlag, A., Grimm, O., Grottker, M., Halle, M., Podraza, P., Schitthelm, D. und M. Uhl (2004). Ableitung von immissionsorientierten Anforderungen an Misch- und Niederschlagswassereinleitungen unter Berücksichtigung örtlicher Verhältnisse. Merkblatt 3 des Bund der Ingenieure für Wasserwirtschaft, Abfallwirtschaft und Kulturbau (BWK). Düsseldorf. 2. überarb. Aufl. 40 S..
  • Borchardt, D., Bürgel, B., Durchschlag, A., Grimm, O., Grottker, M., Halle, M., Podraza, P., Schitthelm, D. und M. Uhl (2003). Ableitung von immissionsorientierten Anforderungen an Misch- und Niederschlagswassereinleitungen unter Berücksichtigung örtlicher Verhältnisse. Materialien. Düsseldorf. 124 S..
  • Krejci, V., Borchardt, D., Brombach, H., Krier, H., Mehlhart, G. und F. (2003). Hinweise zur Wirksamkeit und Kosten gewässerbezogener Maßnahmen zur Regenwasserbehandlung in der Stadtentwässerung: Planungsmethoden und Beispiele. ATV-DVWK-Arbeitsbericht 03/2003. Gfa Verlag Hennef. 56 S..

ISI publications before 2002 (9)

  • Borchardt, D. and P. Reichert (2001). River water quaIity model No. 1: Compartmentilisation approach applied to oxygen balances in the RIVER LAHN. Wat. Sci. Tech. 43 (5), 41-50.
  • Shanahan, P., Borchardt, D., Henze, M., Rauch, W., P. Reichert, L. Somlyódy and P. Vanrolleghem (2001). River water quaIity model No. 1: I Modelling approach. Wat. Sci. Tech. 43 (5), 1-10.
  • Reichert, P., Borchardt, D., Henze, M., Rauch, W., Shanahan, P., Somlyódy, L. and P. Vanrolleghem (2001). River water quaIity model No. 1: II. Biochemical process equations. Wat. Sci. Tech. 43 (5), 11-30.
  • Schleiter, M., Obach, M., Borchardt, D. and H. Werner (2001). Bioindication of chemical and hydromorphological habitat characteristics with benthic macroinvertebrates based on Artificial Neural Networks. Aquatic Ecology 35, 147 – 158.
  • Vanrolleghem, P., Borchardt, D., Henze, M., Rauch, W., Reichert, P., Shanahan, P. and L. Somlyódy (2001). River water quaIity model No. 1: III. Biochemical submodel selection. Wat. Sci. Tech. 43 (5), 31-40.
  • Schleiter, I., Borchardt, D., Wagner, R., Dapper, T., Schmidt, K. D., Schmidt, H. H. and H. Werner (1999). Modelling water quality, bioindication and population dynamics in lotic ecosystems using Neural Networks. Ecological Modelling 120, 271-286.
  • Borchardt, D. (1993). Effects of flow and refugia on the drift loss of benthic macroinvertebrates: implications for lowland stream restoration. Freshwater Biology 29 (2), 221 - 227.
  • Borchardt, D. and B. Statzner (1990). Ecological impact of urban stormwater runoff studied in experimental flumes: population loss by drift and availability of refugial space. Aquatic Sciences 52 (4), 299 – 314.
  • Borchardt, D. (1988). Long-term correlations between the abundance of smelt, (Osmerus eperlanus eperlanus L.), year classes and abiotic environmental conditions during the period of spawning and larval development in the Elbe River. Archiv für Fischereiwissenschaft 38 (2), 85 – 97.