Award

The Leibniz Ring goes to Antje Boetius

AWI Director honoured with the 2019 LeibnizRingHannover

[24. April 2019] "Climate catastrophe, environmental pollution, and 'saving the oceans' are all interrelated issues. They concern, or should concern, everyone on this planet." - with these words, the selection committee explained its choice of recipient for the 2019 LeibnizRingHannover Award: AWI Director Prof Antje Boetius.

Prof. Dr. Antje Boetius Director of Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research. (Photo: Esther Horvath) — AWi Director Antje Boetius (Photo: Alfred-Wegener-Institut)

In the eyes of the selection committee for the ‘LeibnizRingHannover’, the Director of the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, represents “an outstanding scientist, researcher and explorer.” As a deep-sea researcher, she seeks and finds solutions for an environment worth living in.

Further, they applauded Boetius’ excellent ability to convey her scientific findings accessibly and effectively, far beyond the bounds of the scientific community, and dubbed her a “Marie Curie of the seas.”

The awards ceremony is slated for 21 October in Hannover. By awarding the annual Leibniz Ring, the Hannover Press Club recognises an individual or institution that has gained prominence through outstanding performance, or has made a major contribution through his or her life’s work. Further, the award honours the memory of the polymath Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646-1716), who was an active mathematician, politician and diplomat in Hannover.