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AWI Director Hajo Eicken visits University of Bremen
On 2 July, AWI Director Hajo Eicken visited the University of Bremen to meet with Principal Jutta Günther and to discuss the further development of cooperation between the two institutions. The aim of the meeting was to strengthen and expand existing links. The discussion also focused on opportunities to involve other fields, such as the social sciences, in joint activities alongside the natural sciences. Particular attention was given to prospects for closer collaboration in research and teaching, especially in the areas of sustainability and joint…
Wladimir Köppen Prize for Dr Katharina Jentzsch
In June, Dr Katharina Jentzsch was awarded the 2025 Wladimir Köppen Prize for her research into greenhouse gases in bog landscapes in Finland. As part of her work in the FLUXWIN Junior Researcher Group at the AWI in Potsdam, she investigated methane emissions in bog landscapes across the seasons. The findings are of practical use for climate protection. The Wladimir Köppen Prize, awarded by the CLICCS Cluster of Excellence at the University of Hamburg, recognises outstanding dissertations in climate science. More information.
AWI researchers at the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting
At the 75th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, around 600 early-career researchers from across the globe met with Nobel laureates to discuss current research topics and global challenges. Among the participants were AWI researchers Ole Zeising and Xianyu Kong. As part of the session "Next Gen Science: Explorations of Space, Earth and Time", Ole Zeising presented the findings of a recent study on the Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica. Guests at the meeting also included Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Federal Minister Dorothee Bär.
![[Translate to English:] Einsatz des Bongo-Netzes während ARK-XXV/2
Deployment of the Bongo net during ARK-XXV/2](/fileadmin/_processed_/1/7/csm_2010_BongoNetz_ThomasSoltwedel_e1e772dff6.jpg "Deployment of the Bongo net")
Polarstern sets course for the HAUSGARTEN Arctic long-term observatory
In 1999, the Alfred Wegener Institute launched an ambitious project: the HAUSGARTEN observatory in the Fram Strait between northeast Greenland and Svalbard. Spanning ice-covered waters and extending to depths of more than 5,500 metres, this unique research infrastructure has become a key site for monitoring the impact of climate change on polar marine ecosystems. A special issue of the journal Deep-Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography now brings together key findings from 25 years of research at HAUSGARTEN, underscoring the urgent need…
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The South Asian monsoon responds differently to global climate change
In summer, the monsoon is primarily influenced by climatic processes in the Northern Hemisphere; in winter, as global temperatures rise, there is an increasing amount of rainfall outside the monsoon season itself. The alternation between dry and wet seasons shapes the lives of more than two billion people.
![[Translate to English:]](/fileadmin/_processed_/a/c/csm_20260626_AWI_Cryo-LA-ICP-TOFMS_Setup_PascalBohleber_002_009b466d4c.jpeg "[Translate to English:]")
New Technology for Large Samples in Chemical Analysis with LA-ICP-MS
Laser ablation is a widely used state-of-the-art technology for micro-destructive material sampling, especially if used in conjunction with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) for chemical material analysis. The European Research Council (ERC) is now funding a project to further develop this method at the Alfred Wegener Institute for the next 1.5 years, with 150,000 euros.
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Open House at the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space
An AWI researcher represented the AWI at the Open House hosted by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR). She had the opportunity to speak with visitors and Federal Minister of Research Dorothee Bär about polar research. In a conversation with astronauts Alexander Gerst and Matthias Maurer, it became clear what space exploration and polar research have in common: working in extreme, remote locations.
Setting Sail for the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt with the New REV Ocean Research Vessel
In 2027, the Norwegian initiative REV Oceans will send its new vessel on its first expedition: in April, the floating research platform will set sail from Rio de Janeiro alongside the UN Ocean Decade Conference. For one year, the REV Ocean will run through the South Atlantic, the Caribbean, the Sargasso Sea and the Eastern Tropical Pacific into late 2028. On board are 10 projects led by international researchers who will explore, amongst other things, the seamount ecosystems, biodiversity on coral reefs, the migration routes of sharks and whales, and…
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AWI exhibition at FONA forum 2026
On 24 and 25 June, the AWI exhibited a small selection of items at the FONA Forum 2026 in Berlin. The exhibits give an insight into the AWI’s research, particularly in the polar regions. Among others, the Federal Minister of Research Dorothee Bär visited the exhibition. FONA stands for ‘Research for Sustainability’ and refers to the new sustainability-focused strategy of the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, which was presented and discussed at the forum.
The environment shapes security
Global environmental changes, such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and increasing ecosystem pollution, pose significant security risks. These changes endanger people, social stability, economic performance, and the ability of states to act. The German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU) emphasizes this point in its latest assessment. These changes must be prioritized in national and international security strategies. AWI scientist Hans-Otto Pörtner contributed to the report. See the WBGU press release.