The Man-Society-Environment (MGU) program conducts ecological research projects focussing on the impact of humans on the environment. The conservation of biodiversity and the protection and sustainable management of resources are important topics. One focus is on the protection and the sustainable use of water and aquatic ecosystems, such as research on invasive fish. Another focus is microplastics and plastic litter. Interdisciplinary and  transdisciplinary approaches characterise our research and teaching.

The MSE program is in charge of the natural sciences courses for the Master's degree in Sustainable Development MSD at the University of Basel and heads the transfaculty Sustainable Development program TQNE.

History

In 1986, agrochemicals entered the Rhine following a fire in the Sandoz storehouses in Schweizerhalle and massively disturbed the aquatic ecosystems downstream. The MSE program was founded in 1992 as part of the efforts to come to terms with this incident. The program took interdisciplinary applied approaches to environmental issues and sustainability in training as well as in research. The program was incorporated into the University of Basel in 2005 and is now part of the Department of Environmental Sciences.