Alfred Wegener Institute
@awi.de
Prof. Dr Hajo Eicken is the new director of the Alfred Wegener Institute! Born in Bremerhaven, the glaciologist will relocate from Alaska to take up his position as scientific director on 20 March. 🎉⚓
www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
@helmholtz.de
📸: University of Alaska Fairbanks
www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
@helmholtz.de
📸: University of Alaska Fairbanks
February 10, 2026 at 10:24 AM
Prof. Dr Hajo Eicken is the new director of the Alfred Wegener Institute! Born in Bremerhaven, the glaciologist will relocate from Alaska to take up his position as scientific director on 20 March. 🎉⚓
www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
@helmholtz.de
📸: University of Alaska Fairbanks
www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
@helmholtz.de
📸: University of Alaska Fairbanks
Polarstern will be departing Punta Arenas for the Weddell Sea🚢 Until April, an AWI-led team will study sea ice, ice shelves, and ocean interactions in this key climate region, where summer sea ice has declined since 2017, presumably as a result of warmer surface water.
www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
February 6, 2026 at 1:03 PM
Polarstern will be departing Punta Arenas for the Weddell Sea🚢 Until April, an AWI-led team will study sea ice, ice shelves, and ocean interactions in this key climate region, where summer sea ice has declined since 2017, presumably as a result of warmer surface water.
www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
Reposted by Alfred Wegener Institute
Rossella Alba, our new colleague at @hifmb.de leading the Marine Policy and Management working group, offers two fully funded PhD positions here: jobs.awi.de/Vacancies/21... apply until March 18, and feel free to make potential applicants aware. 🧪 @icbm-uol.bsky.social
Two PhD positions in "Infrastructures, knowledges and policy practices in marine governance" (d/f/m/x)
Layout AWI HIFMB extern, englisch
jobs.awi.de
February 5, 2026 at 6:23 PM
Rossella Alba, our new colleague at @hifmb.de leading the Marine Policy and Management working group, offers two fully funded PhD positions here: jobs.awi.de/Vacancies/21... apply until March 18, and feel free to make potential applicants aware. 🧪 @icbm-uol.bsky.social
AWI researchers have found evidence suggesting that humans may have influenced fire activity in eastern Siberia more than 5,000 years ago — earlier than previously assumed. 🔥
By analyzing charcoal particles from sediment cores, they were able to reconstruct a 10,000-year history of wildfires.
By analyzing charcoal particles from sediment cores, they were able to reconstruct a 10,000-year history of wildfires.
February 5, 2026 at 1:39 PM
AWI researchers have found evidence suggesting that humans may have influenced fire activity in eastern Siberia more than 5,000 years ago — earlier than previously assumed. 🔥
By analyzing charcoal particles from sediment cores, they were able to reconstruct a 10,000-year history of wildfires.
By analyzing charcoal particles from sediment cores, they were able to reconstruct a 10,000-year history of wildfires.
Reposted by Alfred Wegener Institute
📣 In our new @nature.com Comment, we encourage the person elected as the new chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiation Committee on 7 February to implement significant changes to the negotiation workflow in order to achieve a global #PlasticsTreaty. Let's get this done! 1/n
#Plastics
rdcu.be/e14PA
#Plastics
rdcu.be/e14PA
The global plastics treaty can be saved — here’s how to break the deadlock | Nature
The stalled multinational effort to protect environmental and human health from plastic pollution is salvageable, with a revamped negotiation process. The stalled multinational effort to protect environmental and human health from plastic pollution is salvageable, with a revamped negotiation process.
rdcu.be
February 3, 2026 at 10:17 AM
📣 In our new @nature.com Comment, we encourage the person elected as the new chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiation Committee on 7 February to implement significant changes to the negotiation workflow in order to achieve a global #PlasticsTreaty. Let's get this done! 1/n
#Plastics
rdcu.be/e14PA
#Plastics
rdcu.be/e14PA
A new study by the AWI, the University of Oldenburg and the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory shows that changes in the West Antarctic Ice Sheet could influence algae growth, which could affect the ability of the Southern Ocean to store CO₂.
www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
February 2, 2026 at 1:20 PM
A new study by the AWI, the University of Oldenburg and the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory shows that changes in the West Antarctic Ice Sheet could influence algae growth, which could affect the ability of the Southern Ocean to store CO₂.
www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
Final reminder for the Arctic System Science Conference 2026: Abstracts are due January 31 at 11:59 p.m.UTC. Registration closes mid-February. The conference will take place from March 23-27 in Potsdam, Germany. Join the international Arctic science community!
polarsystemscience.org/arcticsystem...
polarsystemscience.org/arcticsystem...
January 29, 2026 at 3:12 PM
Final reminder for the Arctic System Science Conference 2026: Abstracts are due January 31 at 11:59 p.m.UTC. Registration closes mid-February. The conference will take place from March 23-27 in Potsdam, Germany. Join the international Arctic science community!
polarsystemscience.org/arcticsystem...
polarsystemscience.org/arcticsystem...
Glacier ice supplies the ocean with key nutrients. In experiments, researchers at the AWI have shown for the first time that Antarctic phytoplankton can use iron from glacier meltwater, but not iron released from groundwater.
👉 www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
Photo: Berenice Ebner
👉 www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
Photo: Berenice Ebner
January 28, 2026 at 1:20 PM
Glacier ice supplies the ocean with key nutrients. In experiments, researchers at the AWI have shown for the first time that Antarctic phytoplankton can use iron from glacier meltwater, but not iron released from groundwater.
👉 www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
Photo: Berenice Ebner
👉 www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
Photo: Berenice Ebner
Reposted by Alfred Wegener Institute
🐧‘To make the #WeddellSea a protected marine area, we need to demonstrate that what the area has to offer is of great value to humans.’
Jacqueline Stefels (@rug.nl) boarded the #Polarstern of @awi.de for an expedition to Antarctica.❄️
Curious? Read more 👇
🔗 www.rug.nl/fse/news/cli...
🧪 #SciComm
Jacqueline Stefels (@rug.nl) boarded the #Polarstern of @awi.de for an expedition to Antarctica.❄️
Curious? Read more 👇
🔗 www.rug.nl/fse/news/cli...
🧪 #SciComm
January 23, 2026 at 9:48 AM
🐧‘To make the #WeddellSea a protected marine area, we need to demonstrate that what the area has to offer is of great value to humans.’
Jacqueline Stefels (@rug.nl) boarded the #Polarstern of @awi.de for an expedition to Antarctica.❄️
Curious? Read more 👇
🔗 www.rug.nl/fse/news/cli...
🧪 #SciComm
Jacqueline Stefels (@rug.nl) boarded the #Polarstern of @awi.de for an expedition to Antarctica.❄️
Curious? Read more 👇
🔗 www.rug.nl/fse/news/cli...
🧪 #SciComm
Reposted by Alfred Wegener Institute
🎺 New study based on @awi.de HAUSGARTEN Observatory in the #Arctic #DeepSea is out: Time series of dissolved organic carbon in the Fram Strait (2010–2021): Indications for increased river export of DOC to the East Greenland Current?
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Time series of dissolved organic carbon in the Fram Strait (2010–2021): Indications for increased river export of DOC to the East Greenland Current?
Climate change impacts the Arctic Ocean more profoundly than other regions, with uncertain consequences for carbon cycling. Additionally, allochthonou…
www.sciencedirect.com
January 20, 2026 at 3:37 PM
🎺 New study based on @awi.de HAUSGARTEN Observatory in the #Arctic #DeepSea is out: Time series of dissolved organic carbon in the Fram Strait (2010–2021): Indications for increased river export of DOC to the East Greenland Current?
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
AWI researchers have reorganized the Global Terrestrial Network for Permafrost (GTN-P) database and made it publicly accessible. Since the 1990s, the GTN-P has collected high-quality data to monitor global permafrost changes and its role in the climate system.
www.gtn-p.org
www.gtn-p.org
January 19, 2026 at 1:33 PM
AWI researchers have reorganized the Global Terrestrial Network for Permafrost (GTN-P) database and made it publicly accessible. Since the 1990s, the GTN-P has collected high-quality data to monitor global permafrost changes and its role in the climate system.
www.gtn-p.org
www.gtn-p.org
Reposted by Alfred Wegener Institute
The fabulous Kimberley Peters @hifmb.de provides some great perspective on the BBNJ Agreement put into force today.
hifmb.de/wp-content/u...
🧪🌍
@awi.de @icbm-uol.bsky.social
hifmb.de/wp-content/u...
🧪🌍
@awi.de @icbm-uol.bsky.social
hifmb.de
January 17, 2026 at 10:44 AM
The fabulous Kimberley Peters @hifmb.de provides some great perspective on the BBNJ Agreement put into force today.
hifmb.de/wp-content/u...
🧪🌍
@awi.de @icbm-uol.bsky.social
hifmb.de/wp-content/u...
🧪🌍
@awi.de @icbm-uol.bsky.social
In 2025, the AWI and University of Bremen secured extensive data sets from the USA. Now, the @dfg.de has approved around €860,000 in funding to systematically identify endangered data and secure it for the long term with the help of the PANGAEA data platform. ☁️📊
www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
January 16, 2026 at 1:29 PM
In 2025, the AWI and University of Bremen secured extensive data sets from the USA. Now, the @dfg.de has approved around €860,000 in funding to systematically identify endangered data and secure it for the long term with the help of the PANGAEA data platform. ☁️📊
www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
Reposted by Alfred Wegener Institute
NPI scientists currently conduct ecosystem research on the @biodiversa.eu WOBEC cruise with @awi.de R/V Polarstern in the Southern Ocean, including work on sea ice. Read more here: instagram.com/p/DTkpb4IiLvn
Photos: S. Moreau, Norwegian Polar Institute.
Photos: S. Moreau, Norwegian Polar Institute.
January 16, 2026 at 1:09 PM
NPI scientists currently conduct ecosystem research on the @biodiversa.eu WOBEC cruise with @awi.de R/V Polarstern in the Southern Ocean, including work on sea ice. Read more here: instagram.com/p/DTkpb4IiLvn
Photos: S. Moreau, Norwegian Polar Institute.
Photos: S. Moreau, Norwegian Polar Institute.
Reposted by Alfred Wegener Institute
🌊 New ocean alkalinity enhancement paper out, led by @tanvi05.bsky.social:
We conducted global and regional (subduction regions) alkalinity enhancement simulations in the emission-driven AWI-ESM.
Key findings are ...
shorturl.at/9Cz5r @miriamseif.bsky.social @awi.de @cdrmare.bsky.social
1/x
We conducted global and regional (subduction regions) alkalinity enhancement simulations in the emission-driven AWI-ESM.
Key findings are ...
shorturl.at/9Cz5r @miriamseif.bsky.social @awi.de @cdrmare.bsky.social
1/x
Alkalinity enhancement in subduction regions and the global ocean: efficiency, earth system feedbacks, and scenario sensitivity
Alkalinity enhancement in subduction regions and the global ocean: efficiency, earth system feedbacks, and scenario sensitivity, Nagwekar, Tanvi, Danek, Christopher, Seifert, Miriam, Hauck, Judith
shorturl.at
January 13, 2026 at 3:07 PM
🌊 New ocean alkalinity enhancement paper out, led by @tanvi05.bsky.social:
We conducted global and regional (subduction regions) alkalinity enhancement simulations in the emission-driven AWI-ESM.
Key findings are ...
shorturl.at/9Cz5r @miriamseif.bsky.social @awi.de @cdrmare.bsky.social
1/x
We conducted global and regional (subduction regions) alkalinity enhancement simulations in the emission-driven AWI-ESM.
Key findings are ...
shorturl.at/9Cz5r @miriamseif.bsky.social @awi.de @cdrmare.bsky.social
1/x
Join the Arctic System Science Conference 2026 in Potsdam from March 23 to 27.🧊 Abstract submissions are open until January 31. Registration opens today and travel funding is available. For more Information, visit: polarsystemscience.org/arcticsystem...
January 12, 2026 at 1:11 PM
Join the Arctic System Science Conference 2026 in Potsdam from March 23 to 27.🧊 Abstract submissions are open until January 31. Registration opens today and travel funding is available. For more Information, visit: polarsystemscience.org/arcticsystem...
Reposted by Alfred Wegener Institute
Happy new year to Antarctica @alexandrazuhr.bsky.social from @unituebingen.bsky.social! Work near Kohnen station is progressing well. All 979 (!) stake readings for surface mass balance are done and up next are flights with @awi.de’s UWBm radar. Has snowfall increased in the last decade?
January 2, 2026 at 9:39 AM
Happy new year to Antarctica @alexandrazuhr.bsky.social from @unituebingen.bsky.social! Work near Kohnen station is progressing well. All 979 (!) stake readings for surface mass balance are done and up next are flights with @awi.de’s UWBm radar. Has snowfall increased in the last decade?
During the return journey of an Antarctic expedition in the Bellingshausen Sea geoscientist Johann Klages threw a message in a bottle into the water. He has now received an email from Tasmania: Toby Ray found the bottle on the west coast of Tasmania - it has travelled around two-thirds of Antarctica
December 19, 2025 at 12:32 PM
During the return journey of an Antarctic expedition in the Bellingshausen Sea geoscientist Johann Klages threw a message in a bottle into the water. He has now received an email from Tasmania: Toby Ray found the bottle on the west coast of Tasmania - it has travelled around two-thirds of Antarctica
Reposted by Alfred Wegener Institute
Brilliant to see this paper rdcu.be/eUWMI by @NEGIS_Durham team & led by @louisecallard.bsky.social Work offshore with partners @awi.de revealing how ocean warming triggered ice shelf collapse @geogdurham.bsky.social @ncl-geography.bsky.social
Ocean driven retreat of the Northeast Greenland Ice Stream following the Last Glacial Maximum
Nature Communications - Warm Atlantic Water was a major driver of both initial NEGIS retreat from 21.6 ka BP and the collapse of its ice shelf ~15.2 ka BP. This study demonstrates the key role of...
rdcu.be
December 17, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Brilliant to see this paper rdcu.be/eUWMI by @NEGIS_Durham team & led by @louisecallard.bsky.social Work offshore with partners @awi.de revealing how ocean warming triggered ice shelf collapse @geogdurham.bsky.social @ncl-geography.bsky.social
Our icebreaker Polarstern sets off today from Namibia toward Antarctica. The research expedition to the Antarctic Weddell Sea will conduct long-term studies of Antarctic biodiversity.
www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
Photo: Tim Kalvelage
www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
Photo: Tim Kalvelage
December 15, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Our icebreaker Polarstern sets off today from Namibia toward Antarctica. The research expedition to the Antarctic Weddell Sea will conduct long-term studies of Antarctic biodiversity.
www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
Photo: Tim Kalvelage
www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
Photo: Tim Kalvelage
AWI researchers are studying whale songs with the help of AI. The result: bowhead whales appear to reproduce under the sea ice northwest of Spitsbergen, while using the open water in the eastern Fram Strait as a migration route. 🐋
Photo: Ocean Acoustics Group - AWI OZA
Photo: Ocean Acoustics Group - AWI OZA
December 10, 2025 at 12:22 PM
AWI researchers are studying whale songs with the help of AI. The result: bowhead whales appear to reproduce under the sea ice northwest of Spitsbergen, while using the open water in the eastern Fram Strait as a migration route. 🐋
Photo: Ocean Acoustics Group - AWI OZA
Photo: Ocean Acoustics Group - AWI OZA
Reposted by Alfred Wegener Institute
🎧 In the latest episode of the fabulous Plastisphere podcast, I had the pleasure and honour to chat with @kristiansyberg.bsky.social and @anjakrieger.bsky.social about the 🐘 in the room: the need to reduce #plastic production! 🔽 @awi.de
soundcloud.com/plastisphere...
soundcloud.com/plastisphere...
Tackling Plastic Production: Why and How to Do It
It's the elephant in the room: The growth of plastic production and how that contributes to pollution. In this episode, we're taking a look at why it's important to not only tackle the waste plastic c
soundcloud.com
December 2, 2025 at 10:25 AM
🎧 In the latest episode of the fabulous Plastisphere podcast, I had the pleasure and honour to chat with @kristiansyberg.bsky.social and @anjakrieger.bsky.social about the 🐘 in the room: the need to reduce #plastic production! 🔽 @awi.de
soundcloud.com/plastisphere...
soundcloud.com/plastisphere...
Reposted by Alfred Wegener Institute
Freshly out at @natcomms.nature.com ! Our @univie.ac.at @awi.de @viennabiocenter.bsky.social @ercgrantees.bsky.social research into neurogenic plasticity of adult worm brains, and similarities in stem cells supporting growth of camera-type eyes. www.nature.com/articles/s41... [1/7]
December 1, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Freshly out at @natcomms.nature.com ! Our @univie.ac.at @awi.de @viennabiocenter.bsky.social @ercgrantees.bsky.social research into neurogenic plasticity of adult worm brains, and similarities in stem cells supporting growth of camera-type eyes. www.nature.com/articles/s41... [1/7]
Reposted by Alfred Wegener Institute
🪸Good morning from @awi.de HAUSGARTEN observatory in the #Arctic #DeepSea. This photo taken by our Ocean Floor Observation Bathymetry System (~2500 m) shows sponges (Caulophacus arcticus, Cladorhiza gelida) with a comatulid, anemones, soft corals (Gersemia fruticosa) & shrimp (Bythocaris) on them!
December 1, 2025 at 10:55 AM
The Beyond EPICA project begins the fifth and final drilling campaign in Antarctica. AWI researchers are part of the international research team that will drill into the bedrock beneath the Antarctic ice sheet – at an altitude of 3,200 meters above sea level and temperatures around -35°C.
November 26, 2025 at 1:14 PM
The Beyond EPICA project begins the fifth and final drilling campaign in Antarctica. AWI researchers are part of the international research team that will drill into the bedrock beneath the Antarctic ice sheet – at an altitude of 3,200 meters above sea level and temperatures around -35°C.