GreenRobust is committed to building a research environment where everyone can thrive, regardless of gender, background, nationality, disability, sexual orientation, age, or health status. This commitment builds on strong existing structures at the three partner universities Tübingen, Heidelberg, and Hohenheim, which all hold top ratings under the DFG’s Research-Oriented Standards on Gender Equality.

A dedicated GreenRobust Diversity Officer coordinates all equity and diversity measures across the cluster, working closely with the universities’ Equal-Opportunity Offices. Their tasks range from organizing training courses to serving as a neutral contact person for cluster members facing challenging situations.

Diversity training is mandatory for all principal investigators and open to every cluster member, raising awareness of unconscious bias and the challenges faced by underrepresented groups in academia. Equal-Opportunity Officers from all three universities participate directly in recruitment decisions, and active outreach strategies are used to encourage excellent researchers from underrepresented groups to apply.

Since GreenRobust operates across three institutions and welcomes international members, English is the cluster’s working language for internal and external communication. Newcomers are supported through Welcome Centers, German language courses, and academic English training, while inclusive language guidelines apply throughout the recruitment process.

Structural support extends to families as well: Dual-Career Services help partners and families of newly appointed professors and group leaders settle in, and dedicated funds cover emergency childcare and other measures to relieve researchers from care duties during difficult periods.