Research creates perspectives: Ana Berenice Garcia-Andrade (CASUS)
June 2026
Dr. Ana Berenice Garcia-Andrade, or Bere for short, has been working at the Center for Advanced Systems Understanding (CASUS) in Görlitz since 2023. The biologist studied in Morelia in the Mexican highlands and earned her doctorate in Xalapa on the Mexican Atlantic coast. At CASUS, she researches how the structure of river systems is related to the diversity of fish species in the rivers.
Who are you and what are you working or researching?
I'm an expert on freshwater fish and spent a lot of time on rivers in Mexico. I even learned to dive with scuba gear for my work. My doctoral research then focused on patterns in biodiversity. For that, I worked with data from around 15,000 fish species from all over the world. In Görlitz, I'm continuing this theoretical work with a slightly different focus.
Why did you come to Görlitz and what convinced you to work here?
With my doctorate in hand, I was determined to go abroad again. This also increased my chances of finding a job in the education and research sector in Mexico. In the end, four positions in Finland, Spain, France, and Germany appealed to me. The fact that I ended up in Görlitz was also due to the project they were seeking support for. I was a perfect fit. Since CASUS is located in Görlitz, I asked a friend who worked in Göttingen what Görlitz was like. She hadn't even heard of it! Luckily, the Wikipedia page about Görlitz is quite good. That allowed me to get a first impression from Mexico.
How did you experience your arrival in Görlitz and what do you like about living in the city?
I arrived at the end of September. Unfortunately, the summer season with its many festivals was already over. The Via Thea festival and the Old Town Festival are great, of course. Otherwise, though, the atmosphere in the city is hardly comparable to the exuberance of Mexico. In my free time, I gradually developed a feel for Görlitz: you can discover many architectural details and the filming locations for many great movies. The parks along both banks of the Neisse River are also fantastic.
What makes the science region around Görlitz special from your point of view?
I find it remarkable that the importance of women in science has been recognized in this still relatively small scientific region. Apparently, Görlitz and Lusatia are particularly affected by the migration of women to other regions. I do believe that science can be a powerful tool for attracting women back to the area. I hope that this issue will be given high priority and pursued continuously.
Do you have a personal tip for anyone who is new to Görlitz?
Even though the working language is English, it's better to have learned a little German. This makes daily life easier and allows you to experience more of the local culture. Of course, being able to speak Spanish occasionally helps with homesickness. Luckily, there's a small Spanish-speaking community in Görlitz that meets from time to time.
About the Center for Advanced Systems Understanding (CASUS)
Complex systems consist of many elements that are interconnected across different levels and mutually influence each other. Such systems exist on every scale, from the atomic to the ecosystem to the universe. To better understand them, new methods from mathematics, data science, and computer science are needed. These methods are being developed at CASUS and contribute to the ability to model complex systems with unprecedented realism. The result: Open scientific questions, for example in the areas of health, biodiversity, and green energy, can finally be answered. The newly acquired insights are complemented by experiments conducted in collaboration with CASUS partners. Through the knowledge-based redesign of materials and processes, the research at the center helps to achieve the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. CASUS was founded in Görlitz in 2019 and is an institute of the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR).
Text: Center for Advanced Systems Understanding
This portrait was created in cooperation with Hi!Lusatia eV as part of the exhibition “Hi!Lusatia – Research creates perspectives” in the Brüderstraße Gallery in Görlitz.
