Cooperation
Research Minister Wanka visits the University of Oldenburg
Talks about the new Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity
[02. November 2016]
Federal Research Minister Professor Johanna Wanka visited the University of Oldenburg on Tuesday, focussing on the new Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity. The new institute will bundle and expand the research excellene in this field of the Alfred Wegener Institute and the University of Oldenburg. AWI Director Prof. Dr. Karin Lochte attended as well.
"The largest habitat of our planet is threatened: overfishing, climate change and littering. The topic of microplastics alone has a serious impact on nature and people. The ocean needs our help urgently," said Minister Wanka during her visit. "Each year, 13 million tonnes of litter is being released into the seas. All these problems can only be solved with the help of excellent marine research, such as is done here in Oldenburg."
The new Helmholtz Institute will be set up in Oldenburg next year. The aim is an even better understanding of climate change and anthropogenic - i.e. human-induced - influences on biological diversity in the marine environment. The scientists of the AWI and the University want to find out the consequences for the function and performance of marine ecosystems.