Press Releases in 2007
27. November 2007: Climate change and life in the Southern Ocean - Research vessel Polarstern sets out for Antarctic research season
A ten-week expedition to the Lazarev Sea and the eastern part of the Weddell Sea opens this year’s Antarctic research season of the German research vessel Polarstern. Starting November 28, scientists from eight nations will focus much of their work on climate-related research as part of the International Polar Year.
22. November 2007: 25 years of research in polar seas aboard the research vessel Polarstern
On December 9, 2007, the ice-breaking research vessel Polarstern will celebrate her 25th anniversary of service: since 1982, the world’s most powerful polar research vessel has been venturing to the Arctic and Antarctic on behalf of the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, part of the Helmholtz Association. 7600 scientist from 36 nations have gained insights into the polar oceans aboard Polarstern, facilitating our current understanding of the earth as a system. The birthday celebration for Polarstern will take place on November 28 at the Museum of Natural History in Berlin, and will include a special address by Chancellor Dr Angela Merkel.
To press release: 25 years of research in polar seas aboard the research vessel Polarstern
15. November 2007: Tsunami-recording in the deep sea - Data transfer for tsunami early warning system successfully tested
In order to extend alert times and avoid false alarms, a new seafloor pressure recording system has been designed to detect tsunamis shortly after their development in the open ocean. The project is directed by scientists of the working group ‘Marine Observation Systems’ at the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, part of the Helmholtz Association.
24. October 2007: Change at the helm of the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research in Bremerhaven: Karin Lochte takes over from Jörn Thiede
On October 31, 2007, Prof Dr Jörn Thiede will hand over the directorship of the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, part of the Helmholtz Association, to Prof Dr Karin Lochte, a biologist currently with the Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences at the University of Kiel. Thiede will continue his involvement with the Alfred Wegener Institute, especially in his capacity on the planning committee of the European research icebreaker Aurora Borealis.
13. September 2007: The sea-ice is getting thinner – A closer look at the climate and ecosystem of the Arctic Ocean
Large areas of the Arctic sea-ice are only one metre thick this year, equating to an approximate 50 percent thinning as compared to the year 2001. These are the initial results from the latest Alfred-Wegener-Institute for Polar and Marine Research in the Helmholtz Association lead expedition to the North Polar Sea.
3. September 2007: New German Antarctic station Neumayer Station III and new research aircraft POLAR 5
The Federal research minister, Dr. Annette Schavan takes a look at the building of the new German Antarctic station Neumayer-Station III and the new research aircraft Polar 5.
23. August 2007: Unique opportunity for polar enthusiasts – at September 8th, the new German Antarctic research station will be displayed to the public in Bremerhaven
The new research station Neumayer Station III of the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research in the Helmholtz Association is currently under construction by the consortium J.H. Kramer Stahlbau and Kaefer Isoliertechnik in Bremerhaven. Named by the German polar researcher Georg von Neumayer (1826-1909), Neumayer Station III will allow continuing German research in the Antarctic for the next 25 to 30 years.
18. July 2007: By ice floe to the North Pole
An eight-month voyage through the Arctic Ocean, without ship or travel route: the North Pole drifting station NP-35 represents an unusual project of the International Polar Year
To press release: By ice floe to the North Pole
2. July 2007: 900,000 Euros for the Earth System Research PhD training program in Bremerhaven and Bremen
The Helmholtz Association has granted 300,000 euros yearly, over a total of 3 years, for the training of young scientists in Bremerhaven and Bremen.
Read more about the new Helmholtz training program
30. May 2007: How far can we go in manipulating the oceans to reduce CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere?
The Alfred Wegener Institute and the European Network of Excellence for Ocean Ecosystems Analysis EUR-OCEANS invite to a joint press conference to discuss those issues with a panel of scientists and attend the launch of a short film done for the general public by the EUR-OCEANS Outreach Team.