A total of about 800 employees are involved in coastal and materials research at the GKSS Research Centre in Geesthacht and in Teltow near Berlin.

In line with the slogan "Knowledge generates utility", the employees are, among other things, studying future storm surges and analysing the eyes of hurricanes. The new materials and welding methods that the researchers create are making cars and planes lighter, and that in turn helps to save fuel and conserve the environment. The scientists in Geesthacht are using specially developed plastics to search for environmentally friendly sources of energy and develop materials that are of great benefit to medicine.