Privacy Policy

This is an English translation provided for convenience. The legally binding version is the German Datenschutzerklärung.

1. An overview of data protection

General information

The following information provides a simple overview of what happens to your personal data when you visit this website. Personal data is any data by which you can be personally identified. Detailed information on the subject of data protection can be found in the privacy policy set out below this text.

Data collection on this website

Who is responsible for the data collection on this website?

Data processing on this website is carried out by the website operator. You can find their contact details in the section "Information about the responsible party (controller)" in this privacy policy.

How do we collect your data?

Some data is collected when you provide it to us. This could, for example, be data you enter in a contact form. Other data is collected automatically or after your consent when you visit the website, by our IT systems. This is primarily technical data (e.g. internet browser, operating system, or time of page access). This data is collected automatically as soon as you enter this website.

What do we use your data for?

Some of the data is collected to ensure the error-free provision of the website. Other data may be used to analyse your user behaviour. Insofar as contracts can be concluded or initiated via the website, the transmitted data will also be processed for contract offers, orders, or other requests.

What rights do you have regarding your data?

You have the right to receive information about the origin, recipients, and purpose of your stored personal data free of charge at any time. You also have the right to request the correction or deletion of this data. If you have given consent to data processing, you can revoke this consent at any time for the future. Furthermore, you have the right, under certain circumstances, to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data. In addition, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the competent supervisory authority. You can contact us at any time regarding this and other questions on the subject of data protection.

2. Hosting

We host the content of our website with the following provider:

Hetzner

The provider is Hetzner Online GmbH, Industriestr. 25, 91710 Gunzenhausen, Germany (hereinafter Hetzner). For details, please see Hetzner's privacy policy: https://www.hetzner.com/de/legal/privacy-policy/. Hetzner is used on the basis of Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR. We have a legitimate interest in presenting our website as reliably as possible. Where appropriate consent has been requested, processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR and § 25(1) TDDDG, insofar as the consent covers the storage of cookies or access to information on the user's device (e.g. device fingerprinting) within the meaning of the TDDDG. Consent can be revoked at any time.

3. General information and mandatory information

Data protection

The operators of this website take the protection of your personal data very seriously. We treat your personal data confidentially and in accordance with the statutory data protection regulations and this privacy policy. When you use this website, various items of personal data are collected. Personal data is data by which you can be personally identified. This privacy policy explains what data we collect and what we use it for. It also explains how and for what purpose this is done. We would like to point out that data transmission over the internet (e.g. when communicating by email) can have security gaps. Complete protection of data against access by third parties is not possible.

Information about the responsible party (controller)

The controller responsible for data processing on this website is:

Prof. Dr. Thomas Backhaus
Institute for Environmental Research, RWTH Aachen University
Worringer Weg 1
52074 Aachen, Germany
Phone: +49 241 80-23536
Email: thomas.backhaus@rwth-aachen.de

The controller is the natural or legal person who alone or jointly with others determines the purposes and means of processing personal data (e.g. names, email addresses, etc.).

Storage duration

Unless a more specific storage period has been stated within this privacy policy, your personal data will remain with us until the purpose for processing it no longer applies. If you assert a justified request for deletion or revoke your consent to data processing, your data will be deleted unless we have other legally permissible reasons for storing your personal data (e.g. retention periods under tax or commercial law); in the latter case, deletion will take place once these reasons no longer apply.

General information on the legal basis for data processing on this website

If you have consented to data processing, we process your personal data on the basis of Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR or Art. 9(2)(a) GDPR, insofar as special categories of data are processed in accordance with Art. 9(1) GDPR. In the case of explicit consent to the transfer of personal data to third countries, data processing is also carried out on the basis of Art. 49(1)(a) GDPR. If you have consented to the storage of cookies or to access to information on your device (e.g. via device fingerprinting), the data processing is additionally carried out on the basis of § 25(1) TDDDG. Consent can be revoked at any time. If your data is required for the performance of a contract or for pre-contractual measures, we process your data on the basis of Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR. Furthermore, if your data is required to fulfil a legal obligation, we process it on the basis of Art. 6(1)(c) GDPR. Data processing may also be carried out on the basis of our legitimate interest in accordance with Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR. Information on the relevant legal basis in each individual case is provided in the following paragraphs of this privacy policy.

Recipients of personal data

As part of our business activities, we work with various external parties. In some cases, this also requires the transfer of personal data to these external parties. We only pass on personal data to external parties where this is necessary within the scope of contract performance, where we are legally obliged to do so (e.g. disclosure of data to tax authorities), where we have a legitimate interest in the transfer in accordance with Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR, or where another legal basis permits the data transfer. When using processors, we only pass on our customers' personal data on the basis of a valid data processing agreement. In the case of joint processing, a joint processing agreement is concluded.

Revocation of your consent to data processing

Many data processing operations are only possible with your express consent. You can revoke consent you have already given at any time. The lawfulness of the data processing carried out until the revocation remains unaffected by the revocation.

Right to object to data collection in special cases and to direct advertising (Art. 21 GDPR)

IF DATA PROCESSING IS CARRIED OUT ON THE BASIS OF ART. 6(1)(E) OR (F) GDPR, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO OBJECT AT ANY TIME TO THE PROCESSING OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA FOR REASONS ARISING FROM YOUR PARTICULAR SITUATION; THIS ALSO APPLIES TO PROFILING BASED ON THESE PROVISIONS. THE RESPECTIVE LEGAL BASIS ON WHICH ANY PROCESSING IS BASED CAN BE FOUND IN THIS PRIVACY POLICY. IF YOU OBJECT, WE WILL NO LONGER PROCESS THE PERSONAL DATA CONCERNED UNLESS WE CAN DEMONSTRATE COMPELLING LEGITIMATE GROUNDS FOR THE PROCESSING WHICH OVERRIDE YOUR INTERESTS, RIGHTS, AND FREEDOMS, OR THE PROCESSING SERVES TO ASSERT, EXERCISE, OR DEFEND LEGAL CLAIMS (OBJECTION UNDER ART. 21(1) GDPR). IF YOUR PERSONAL DATA IS PROCESSED FOR THE PURPOSE OF DIRECT ADVERTISING, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO OBJECT AT ANY TIME TO THE PROCESSING OF PERSONAL DATA CONCERNING YOU FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUCH ADVERTISING; THIS ALSO APPLIES TO PROFILING INSOFAR AS IT IS RELATED TO SUCH DIRECT ADVERTISING. IF YOU OBJECT, YOUR PERSONAL DATA WILL SUBSEQUENTLY NO LONGER BE USED FOR THE PURPOSE OF DIRECT ADVERTISING (OBJECTION UNDER ART. 21(2) GDPR).

Right to lodge a complaint with the competent supervisory authority

In the event of breaches of the GDPR, data subjects have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority, in particular in the Member State of their habitual residence, place of work, or the place of the alleged breach. This right to lodge a complaint is without prejudice to any other administrative or judicial remedy.

Right to data portability

You have the right to have data that we process automatically on the basis of your consent or in performance of a contract handed over to you or to a third party in a common, machine-readable format. If you request the direct transfer of the data to another controller, this will only be done insofar as it is technically feasible.

Information, correction, and deletion

Within the framework of the applicable legal provisions, you have the right at any time to free information about your stored personal data, its origin and recipients, and the purpose of the data processing and, if applicable, a right to correction or deletion of this data. You can contact us at any time regarding this and other questions on the subject of personal data.

Right to restriction of processing

You have the right to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data. You can contact us at any time to do so. The right to restriction of processing exists in the following cases: If you dispute the accuracy of your personal data stored by us, we usually need time to verify this. For the duration of the review, you have the right to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data. If the processing of your personal data was or is unlawful, you can request the restriction of data processing instead of deletion. If we no longer need your personal data but you need it to exercise, defend, or assert legal claims, you have the right to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data instead of deletion. If you have lodged an objection under Art. 21(1) GDPR, a balance must be struck between your interests and ours. As long as it has not yet been determined whose interests prevail, you have the right to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data. If you have restricted the processing of your personal data, this data may, apart from being stored, only be processed with your consent or to assert, exercise, or defend legal claims, or to protect the rights of another natural or legal person, or for reasons of an important public interest of the European Union or a Member State.

SSL/TLS encryption

For security reasons and to protect the transmission of confidential content, such as orders or requests that you send to us as the site operator, this site uses SSL or TLS encryption. You can recognise an encrypted connection by the fact that the address line of the browser changes from "http://" to "https://" and by the lock symbol in your browser line. If SSL or TLS encryption is activated, the data you transmit to us cannot be read by third parties.