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AWI glaciology at the meeting of German-speaking heads of state
Pascal Bohleber had the opportunity to present the AWI glaciology at a meeting of German-speaking heads of state at the invitation of Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen. During a visit to the Stubai Glacier, he and colleagues from the Austrian Academy of Sciences, the World Glacier Monitoring Service and the Free University of Brussels gave a series of brief presentations on the latest developments in climate research. Among other things, Pascal Bohleber used the successful example of the Beyond EPICA ice core to explain how polar…
Visit to the AWI
Representatives from the Bremen State Parliament and Bremerhaven City Council visited the AWI in Bremerhaven. AWI Vice Director Gesine Mollenhauer welcomed the guests and gave a presentation on the institute’s research. Topics of focus included sea-level rise, reducing CO₂ emissions and scientific collaboration within the state of Bremen. Afterwards, the group took a brief tour of the research facility to gain an understanding of the practical research work conducted at the AWI.
Exchange with the Potsdam research centre
AWI Director Hajo Eicken visited the Alfred Wegener Institute's research centre in Potsdam and discussed current research topics and future prospects with the staff. The focus was on the work of three research sections, the highly successful development of the research centre, the development of new measurement methods and research approaches in the various areas of work, and international collaborations. They also discussed ways to strengthen collaboration between the sections further, involving the Arctic Office.
Sonorous Antarctica
“Sonorous of Antarctica” is a science and art project developed by the AWI and the Chilean Centro IDEAL as part of the EU CoastCarb project. It consists of three components: a multilingual picture book about an ocean acoustic journey to Antarctica; art exhibitions in Chile and Germany; and an interactive website. AWI scientists Kerstin Jerosch, Friederike Weith and Diego Filún opened the exhibition with presentations and experiments on polar research, in which the students could participate. The exhibition will now be on display for several weeks at the…
Blind Spots at Antarctic Coasts Limit Sea Level Projections
The Antarctic coastal zone is not simply the edge of the continent. It is a tightly coupled system where the ice from the ice sheet extends over the seabed, initially resting on it and further out floating as ice shelves. Here, mass, heat and nutrients are exchanged with the ocean through various processes. Even the smallest changes can have outsized consequences. Yet key coastal conditions remain poorly mapped as an international review published in the journal Reviews of Geophysics shows. It highlights key knowledge gaps and the need for improved…
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AWI Director visits GEOMAR
AWI Director Hajo Eicken visited the GEOMAR Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research in Kiel. Director Katja Matthes welcomed Hajo Eicken during his first visit since taking office in March 2026. Both centers share a mission to better understand the ocean as a central component of the Earth system. AWI and GEOMAR collaborate on various initiatives, including the Helmholtz research program 'Changing Earth - Sustaining Our Future'.
Two million nautical miles in the service of research
On 26 August 2026, the Polarstern achieved an impressive milestone: the German research icebreaker has covered a full two million nautical miles since it entered service on 9 December 1982. Of course, the ship’s crew of around 40 people is always on board, ensuring reliable operations at all times. Up to 55 researchers, working in international teams, investigate processes ranging from the seabed through the water column and all the way through to sea ice and up to the atmosphere.
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Third Place at the NordWest Awards
In collaboration with M2C – Institute for Applied Media Research GmbH, AWI researcher Björn Suckow won third place at the NordWest Awards for the Northwest Metropolitan Region with his project, 'Future Now! Northwest Metropolitan Region”. The project focused on the creative and practical dissemination of knowledge and skills relating to climate change, biodiversity, environmental change and sustainable urban development.
Atlantic waters and anthropogenic underwater noise in the world’s largest fjord system
A research team from the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) is now researching on board of the science and outreach sailing yacht Malizia Explorer how incoming Atlantic Water spreads through the Kangertittivaq fjord systems on the east coast of Greenland and how noises from ships affects underwater life in the fjord.
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AWI Director at the SCAR Delegates' Meeting
At the SCAR (Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research) Delegates’ Meeting in Oslo, Hajo Eicken, Director of the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI), represented Germany as the SCAR Delegate, alongside Petra Quillfeldt, Alternate Delegate and Chair of the German National Committee for Polar Research. The meeting focused on the growing importance of scientific expertise regarding Antarctica in light of rapid environmental change, and on Antarctica’s role in the Earth system. Key topics also included the SCAR Horizon Scan and initiatives such as Antarctica…