Supporting Association and Collaborations
Managing Director
Dr. Thomas-Benjamin Seiler
Administrative Director
Daniel Steinhoff
Illustration of the association’s premises by Robert Koch
The Hygiene Institute of the Ruhr Area benefits from a strong sponsoring association and extensive collaborations. The Association of the Hygiene Institute (until 30 December 2022: Association for the Control of Common Diseases in the Ruhr Coal District, registered association), founded in 1901 on the initiative of Robert Koch, brings together cities, districts, associations, companies, and private individuals. With a clear focus on health protection and environmental hygiene, the association provides sustainable support and secures the institute’s continued development.
Our collaborations extend across national and international networks. Since 1991, we have worked closely with Ruhr University Bochum as an affiliated institute, supporting the degree programs “Environmental Engineering and Resource Management” and “Environmental Engineering” through teaching activities. As a member of the WaBoLu association, we promote hygiene in Europe and share research results through training and publications. Further partnerships include institutions such as the Academy for Public Health in Düsseldorf (AÖGW) and numerous professional associations, including the Institute for the Promotion of Water Quality and Water Quantity Management (IFWW), the Working Group of Waterworks on the Ruhr (AWWR), the Drinking Water Reservoirs Working Group (ATT), and the Society for Hygiene, Environmental Medicine and Preventive Medicine.AÖGW) und zahlreiche Fachverbände, darunter das Institut zur Förderung der Wassergüte-
und Wassermengenwirtschaft e. V. (IFWW), Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Wasserwerke an der Ruhr (AWWR) und die Arbeitsgemeinschaft Trinkwassertalsperren e. V. (ATT) sowie die Gesellschaft für Hygiene, Umweltmedizin und Präventivmedizin.
This collaboration enables us to transfer scientific findings into practice and to shape a livable future together with our partners.
How it all began
When a typhoid epidemic spread fear and alarm among the population of Gelsenkirchen in late summer 1901, Robert Koch called for decisive measures from politics, associations, and industry. At his initiative, the Association for the Control of Common Diseases in the Ruhr Coal District (registered association) was founded on 16 December 1901 in Gelsenkirchen. At the beginning of the following year, the Hygiene Institute of the Ruhr Area was able to commence its work.
The founding meeting of the association took place on 16 December 1901 at Hotel Keller in Gelsenkirchen.
Entry in the register of associations
On 24 January 1902, the association was entered in the register of associations of the Local Court of Gelsenkirchen under number VR 519 (formerly VR 21).
Renaming of the association
On 30 December 2022, the association was renamed Association of the Hygiene Institute of the Ruhr Area (registered association).
Current Board of the Association
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Frank Obenaus (Chairman)
Joachim Löchte (Deputy Chairman)
Mayor Andrea Henze
Prof. Dr. rer. pol. Jürgen Kretschmann
Dr. rer. nat. Thomas-Benjamin Seiler (Managing Board Member)
Dr.-Ing. Dirk Waider
Prof. Dr. med. Werner Schlake (Honorary Chairman)
Senator E.h. Peter Scherer (Honorary Chairman)
Managing Director
Dr. rer. nat. Thomas-Benjamin Seiler
Our Members
Members of the association include cities, districts, associations, as well as companies and private individuals.
Honorary members
Dr.-Ing. H. Messerschmidt (†), former mine director
Dipl.-Ing. H. Zander (†), former director (Gelsenkirchen)
The association online
Our sponsoring association can be accessed via its own website:
http://vereindeshyg.de
If you would like to learn more about the foundation, history, and activities of the association, this is the right place.
Association for Water, Soil and Air Hygiene (WaBoLu)
The Hygiene Institute of the Ruhr Area is a member of the non-profit WaBoLu association, which aims to promote hygiene in Germany and across Europe as well as to share knowledge.
- The association supports research projects and expert discussions
- Scientific findings are made accessible to professionals through training seminars and conferences
- Current research results are published in a dedicated publication series
Academy for Public Health (Düsseldorf)
We actively support the academy through joint training events, some of which are also held at our institute.
Memberships of the Institute (Selection)
- Institute for the Promotion of Water Quality and Water Quantity Management (IFWW)
- SETAC (Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry) Europe
- Drinking Water Reservoirs Working Group (ATT)
- Working Group of Waterworks on the Ruhr (AWWR)
- German Society for Bathing Facilities
- German Technical and Scientific Association for Gas and Water (DVGW)
- German Association for Water, Wastewater and Waste (DWA)
- Building Climate Association
- Society for Hygiene, Environmental Medicine and Preventive Medicine (GHUP)
- German Chemical Society (GDCh), Water Chemistry Society, RWTÜV, DIN, among others
- German Society for Limnology (DGL)
- German Institute for Standardization (DIN)
- Association of Independent Testing Laboratories (VUP)