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Short notices
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Christoph Ploß and Uwe Schmidt visit the AWI
19. June 2026Christoph Ploß, the German Federal Government’s Coordinator for the Maritime Economy and Tourism, and Uwe Schmidt, Member of the Bundestag, visited the AWI in Bremerhaven. After meeting AWI Director Hajo Eicken and Administrative Director Karsten Wurr, they toured the research icebreaker Polarstern at the Lloyd shipyard. Also present on behalf of the AWI were Uwe Nixdorf, Deputy Director and Head of the Logistics and Research Platforms Department, and Detlef Wilde, Project Manager for POLARSTERN II. The discussions focused on the importance of maritime transport routes, spin-offs from research and the plans for constructing the new Polarstern.
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Work on the Bluehouse Helgoland is progressing
18. June 2026Following the demolition of the old aquarium and extensive preparatory work, an important first milestone has now been reached for the new Bluehouse as a place where science and public can come together, featuring a unique interactive permanent exhibition on marine research. The pouring of the concrete foundation slab for the building began on 16 June. Located at a depth of almost nine metres, it forms the base of the building's second basement level, which is being constructed next to the AWI on Helgoland. In the future, the AWI's OPENSEA school laboratory will also find a new home within this building complex. Watch the live stream.
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AWI Team at the Bremerhaven Dragon Boat Race
16. June 2026Thanks to a fantastic team effort, an AWI team, the Arctic Dragons, successfully competed in this year’s dragon boat race in Bremerhaven, exceeding their own expectations. In the “FUN Gold” category, the team achieved an outstanding 4th place out of a total of 16 teams in the 250-meter sprint event. In addition to their athletic success, the focus was above all on team spirit, a great atmosphere, and plenty of fun on the water.
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Marine biology course on Helgoland
15. June 2026From 5 to 12 June, a marine biology course was held at the Biological Station Helgoland, welcoming students, teachers, media professionals and other interested participants. Throughout the course, attendees gained insights into current topics in marine biology. The programme included lectures, practical sessions, as well as botanical and zoological field excursions. In addition, the participants had the opportunity to learn about the research conducted by the various working groups at the marine station and to exchange ideas with scientists on site.
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200 years of Heligoland as a seaside resort
11. June 2026To mark the 200th anniversary of Heligoland’s history as a seaside resort, more than 3000 visitors were welcomed to the island on 6 June with a celebratory programme. As part of the festivities, alongside musical entertainment and a wide range of hands-on activities, a historical parade featuring Heligoland’s traditional associations took place at 5:30 pm. The AWI site on Heligoland also participated in the event with an information stand, where visitors of all ages had the opportunity to find out about the institute’s research and work on site.
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Visit to the AWI facility on Helgoland
09. June 2026Seven researchers from the University of Tokyo and TU Dortmund University visited the AWI research station on Helgoland. Maarten Boersma, director of the Helgoland Biological Station, welcomed the guests and invited them to take part in a professional exchange programme. The programme for the three-day visit included field trips and discussion sessions, one of which was with Antje Wichels from the OPENSEA student laboratory. The joint project focuses on developing an innovative concept for climate education, particularly the “climate museum” concept.