KIS Overview

The Kiepenheuer-Institut für Sonnenphysik (KIS) conducts experimental and theoretical investigations of physical processes on and within the Sun. Its headquarters are in the Schöneckstr.6 in 79104 Freiburg, Germany.

The number of employees (scientific, technical and administration) is about 70. They use computer installations, laboratories for electronic and optical equipment and a specialized library.

The institute was founded in 1943 by Karl-Otto Kiepenheuer at the Schauinsland observatory; since 1978 it bears the name of its founder.

The institute is a foundation of public law of the federal state of Baden-Württemberg. As KIS is an institute of the Leibniz Assoziation  (full name: Wissenschaftsgemeinschaft Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz) its funding is shared by the state Baden-Württemberg and the Federal Republic of Germany. In addition theDeutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and other agencies support diverse research projects of the institute.

The solar physicists from Freiburg cooperate with scientists and institutions within Germany and abroad.

The KIS still operates the old solar observatory on the Schauinsland mountain near Freiburg, but the main solar observing facilities are within the Observatorio del Teide in Izaña on Tenerife, Spain.