Alfred Wegener Institute
@awi.de
Former AWI director and marine biologist Antje Boetius was awarded a place in the prestigious Order Pour le Mérite for her contributions to ocean research. Boetius led the AWI from 2017 to 2025, after which she became president of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute. 💐
📷 E. Horvath
📷 E. Horvath
November 13, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Former AWI director and marine biologist Antje Boetius was awarded a place in the prestigious Order Pour le Mérite for her contributions to ocean research. Boetius led the AWI from 2017 to 2025, after which she became president of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute. 💐
📷 E. Horvath
📷 E. Horvath
Our research vessel Polarstern will set sail on a new expedition at the end of the week: an international group of young scientists will immerse themselves in the fascinating world of marine research.
@pogo-ocean.bsky.social
📸 J.Lemburg
@pogo-ocean.bsky.social
📸 J.Lemburg
November 11, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Our research vessel Polarstern will set sail on a new expedition at the end of the week: an international group of young scientists will immerse themselves in the fascinating world of marine research.
@pogo-ocean.bsky.social
📸 J.Lemburg
@pogo-ocean.bsky.social
📸 J.Lemburg
Our research vessel Polarstern is back in Bremerhaven after a long journey. ⚓️❤️
During the expedition, researchers took measurements in the seawater north of Greenland. Initial results show that there is a current band that transports warm Atlantic water from the Arctic Ocean southward. 🌊
📸Nicolaus
During the expedition, researchers took measurements in the seawater north of Greenland. Initial results show that there is a current band that transports warm Atlantic water from the Arctic Ocean southward. 🌊
📸Nicolaus
October 24, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Our research vessel Polarstern is back in Bremerhaven after a long journey. ⚓️❤️
During the expedition, researchers took measurements in the seawater north of Greenland. Initial results show that there is a current band that transports warm Atlantic water from the Arctic Ocean southward. 🌊
📸Nicolaus
During the expedition, researchers took measurements in the seawater north of Greenland. Initial results show that there is a current band that transports warm Atlantic water from the Arctic Ocean southward. 🌊
📸Nicolaus
AWI climate researcher Markus Rex receives the NOMIS Award 2025. 🏆👏
The award recognizes his leadership of the MOSAiC expedition, in which scientists from 20 countries researched the interaction between ice, ocean, atmosphere, and ecosystem in the Arctic.
Photo: NOMIS Foundation / David Biedert
The award recognizes his leadership of the MOSAiC expedition, in which scientists from 20 countries researched the interaction between ice, ocean, atmosphere, and ecosystem in the Arctic.
Photo: NOMIS Foundation / David Biedert
October 23, 2025 at 2:26 PM
AWI climate researcher Markus Rex receives the NOMIS Award 2025. 🏆👏
The award recognizes his leadership of the MOSAiC expedition, in which scientists from 20 countries researched the interaction between ice, ocean, atmosphere, and ecosystem in the Arctic.
Photo: NOMIS Foundation / David Biedert
The award recognizes his leadership of the MOSAiC expedition, in which scientists from 20 countries researched the interaction between ice, ocean, atmosphere, and ecosystem in the Arctic.
Photo: NOMIS Foundation / David Biedert
New #AWI study shows how sustainable management of #krill in the Southern Ocean can work. The concept for managing krill stocks involves close cooperation with fisheries. #Antarctica #CCAMLR
www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
Photo: Carsten Pape
www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
Photo: Carsten Pape
October 20, 2025 at 12:04 PM
New #AWI study shows how sustainable management of #krill in the Southern Ocean can work. The concept for managing krill stocks involves close cooperation with fisheries. #Antarctica #CCAMLR
www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
Photo: Carsten Pape
www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
Photo: Carsten Pape
AWI researchers have mapped 19,000 driftwood in Alaska and northwestern Canada for the first time.
The data will help to better understand coastal processes, carbon storage and environmental changes such as storm surges and erosion.
www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
Photo: Carl Stadie
The data will help to better understand coastal processes, carbon storage and environmental changes such as storm surges and erosion.
www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
Photo: Carl Stadie
October 10, 2025 at 6:35 AM
AWI researchers have mapped 19,000 driftwood in Alaska and northwestern Canada for the first time.
The data will help to better understand coastal processes, carbon storage and environmental changes such as storm surges and erosion.
www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
Photo: Carl Stadie
The data will help to better understand coastal processes, carbon storage and environmental changes such as storm surges and erosion.
www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
Photo: Carl Stadie
The heart of the new Polarstern ❤️🚢
Together with our shipyard TKMS, we have reached a milestone in the construction of the new Polarstern: the new propulsion unit for the icebreaker has been finalized and the corresponding contracts have been signed.
www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
Together with our shipyard TKMS, we have reached a milestone in the construction of the new Polarstern: the new propulsion unit for the icebreaker has been finalized and the corresponding contracts have been signed.
www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
September 15, 2025 at 10:13 AM
The heart of the new Polarstern ❤️🚢
Together with our shipyard TKMS, we have reached a milestone in the construction of the new Polarstern: the new propulsion unit for the icebreaker has been finalized and the corresponding contracts have been signed.
www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
Together with our shipyard TKMS, we have reached a milestone in the construction of the new Polarstern: the new propulsion unit for the icebreaker has been finalized and the corresponding contracts have been signed.
www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
Can you spot the Polarstern amid the ice floes of the Arctic? 🧊A satellite image shows, that we are just a pixel amidst ice floes (light grey) and open water (dark). Polarstern appears as a bright spot in the image because it reflects electromagnetic radiation more strongly than its surroundings.
September 11, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Can you spot the Polarstern amid the ice floes of the Arctic? 🧊A satellite image shows, that we are just a pixel amidst ice floes (light grey) and open water (dark). Polarstern appears as a bright spot in the image because it reflects electromagnetic radiation more strongly than its surroundings.
Unique concept for observing Arctic sea ice successfully implemented: AWI scientists were able to study different types of sea ice in parallel during the Polarstern expedition “CONTRASTS.” 🧊
www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
Photo: Evgenii Salganik
www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
Photo: Evgenii Salganik
September 8, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Unique concept for observing Arctic sea ice successfully implemented: AWI scientists were able to study different types of sea ice in parallel during the Polarstern expedition “CONTRASTS.” 🧊
www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
Photo: Evgenii Salganik
www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
Photo: Evgenii Salganik
Johann Klages gave a plenary talk on Antarctic research at #ICP15 in Bangalore, India. A once-in-a-lifetime honor for groundbreaking insights. AWI colleagues from Marine Geology and Marine Biogeochemistry also presented on their diverse projects.👏
Photos: personal
Photos: personal
September 4, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Johann Klages gave a plenary talk on Antarctic research at #ICP15 in Bangalore, India. A once-in-a-lifetime honor for groundbreaking insights. AWI colleagues from Marine Geology and Marine Biogeochemistry also presented on their diverse projects.👏
Photos: personal
Photos: personal
Lukas Weis, who is spending the winter at Neumayer Station III in Antarctica, explains in the AtkaXpress blog how he takes the most beautiful photos of the polar night. #AureliaBorealis
blogs.helmholtz.de/atkaxpress/e...
blogs.helmholtz.de/atkaxpress/e...
August 29, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Lukas Weis, who is spending the winter at Neumayer Station III in Antarctica, explains in the AtkaXpress blog how he takes the most beautiful photos of the polar night. #AureliaBorealis
blogs.helmholtz.de/atkaxpress/e...
blogs.helmholtz.de/atkaxpress/e...
Our icebreaker Polarstern is currently in the Arctic, where it has met up with our polar aircraft Polar 6 for the second time. The joint measurements enable researchers to place their data in an even broader context.🧊
More information in the Polarstern app:
follow-polarstern.awi.de/blog/21-08-2...
More information in the Polarstern app:
follow-polarstern.awi.de/blog/21-08-2...
August 21, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Our icebreaker Polarstern is currently in the Arctic, where it has met up with our polar aircraft Polar 6 for the second time. The joint measurements enable researchers to place their data in an even broader context.🧊
More information in the Polarstern app:
follow-polarstern.awi.de/blog/21-08-2...
More information in the Polarstern app:
follow-polarstern.awi.de/blog/21-08-2...
AWI Vice Director Dr. Uwe Nixdorf, has been awarded with the "Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs" (COMNAP) Medal. 🏆🎉
This international honor recognizes outstanding contributions to the promotion and support of #Antarctic research. Congratulations!
This international honor recognizes outstanding contributions to the promotion and support of #Antarctic research. Congratulations!
August 8, 2025 at 11:46 AM
AWI Vice Director Dr. Uwe Nixdorf, has been awarded with the "Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs" (COMNAP) Medal. 🏆🎉
This international honor recognizes outstanding contributions to the promotion and support of #Antarctic research. Congratulations!
This international honor recognizes outstanding contributions to the promotion and support of #Antarctic research. Congratulations!
🧊✈️ On Sunday, Polar 6 launched this year's IceBird summer campaign by flying from Longyearbyen to Station Nord, a Danish military base in Greenland. The mission is to track changes to the sea ice and to support the CONTRASTS expedition aboard the Polarstern research vessel.
July 22, 2025 at 2:20 PM
🧊✈️ On Sunday, Polar 6 launched this year's IceBird summer campaign by flying from Longyearbyen to Station Nord, a Danish military base in Greenland. The mission is to track changes to the sea ice and to support the CONTRASTS expedition aboard the Polarstern research vessel.
The new Emmy Noether Group, 'Artemics', at the AWI is investigating how waves stir up the Arctic Ocean. Using advanced climate models, the team aims to investigate how waves that form inside the ocean affect the Arctic sea ice.
www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
Photo: S. Hendricks
www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
Photo: S. Hendricks
July 16, 2025 at 10:10 AM
The new Emmy Noether Group, 'Artemics', at the AWI is investigating how waves stir up the Arctic Ocean. Using advanced climate models, the team aims to investigate how waves that form inside the ocean affect the Arctic sea ice.
www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
Photo: S. Hendricks
www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
Photo: S. Hendricks
What is life like in the darkness of the polar night? The overwintering team at #Neumayer Station III in #Antarctica share their experiences on the #AtkaXpress blog.
blogs.helmholtz.de/atkaxpress/e...
Photo: Lukas Weis
blogs.helmholtz.de/atkaxpress/e...
Photo: Lukas Weis
July 8, 2025 at 8:10 AM
What is life like in the darkness of the polar night? The overwintering team at #Neumayer Station III in #Antarctica share their experiences on the #AtkaXpress blog.
blogs.helmholtz.de/atkaxpress/e...
Photo: Lukas Weis
blogs.helmholtz.de/atkaxpress/e...
Photo: Lukas Weis
AWI scientists examine 1.2 million-year-old ice: An international research team is currently analyzing the oldest ice core in the world. In January, the research team brought the ice core back from Antarctica. 🧊
Photo: Kerstin Rolfes
Photo: Kerstin Rolfes
July 4, 2025 at 9:45 AM
AWI scientists examine 1.2 million-year-old ice: An international research team is currently analyzing the oldest ice core in the world. In January, the research team brought the ice core back from Antarctica. 🧊
Photo: Kerstin Rolfes
Photo: Kerstin Rolfes
Today, the Polarstern sets off for the Arctic: From Tromsø in Norway, our research icebreaker sets off on the "Contrasts" expedition. Over the next two months, the international research team on board wants to investigate why the sea ice is melting and what consequences this has.🧊
Photo: F.Mehrtens
Photo: F.Mehrtens
July 2, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Today, the Polarstern sets off for the Arctic: From Tromsø in Norway, our research icebreaker sets off on the "Contrasts" expedition. Over the next two months, the international research team on board wants to investigate why the sea ice is melting and what consequences this has.🧊
Photo: F.Mehrtens
Photo: F.Mehrtens
The overwintering at the Franco-German research station #AWIPEV in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, also celebrated midsummer last weekend! 🥳
Photo: Esther Horvath
Photo: Esther Horvath
June 25, 2025 at 12:46 PM
The overwintering at the Franco-German research station #AWIPEV in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, also celebrated midsummer last weekend! 🥳
Photo: Esther Horvath
Photo: Esther Horvath
Krill fishing in the Antarctic: overlaps with consequences 🐋🌊
New AWI study shows: Acoustic data reveal when and where fishing vessels compete with whales and penguins for krill in the Southern Ocean – and what this entails for the ecosystem
www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
Photos: S. Menze
New AWI study shows: Acoustic data reveal when and where fishing vessels compete with whales and penguins for krill in the Southern Ocean – and what this entails for the ecosystem
www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
Photos: S. Menze
June 17, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Krill fishing in the Antarctic: overlaps with consequences 🐋🌊
New AWI study shows: Acoustic data reveal when and where fishing vessels compete with whales and penguins for krill in the Southern Ocean – and what this entails for the ecosystem
www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
Photos: S. Menze
New AWI study shows: Acoustic data reveal when and where fishing vessels compete with whales and penguins for krill in the Southern Ocean – and what this entails for the ecosystem
www.awi.de/en/about-us/...
Photos: S. Menze
How does the overwintering team at Neumayer Station III in #Antarctica obtain food? The most important thing is probably planning and stockpiling. Because the Polarstern only comes to the ice shelf edge once a year and supplies the station with food. 🍎🥖
blogs.helmholtz.de/atkaxpress/e...
📸 L.Weis
blogs.helmholtz.de/atkaxpress/e...
📸 L.Weis
June 13, 2025 at 10:28 AM
How does the overwintering team at Neumayer Station III in #Antarctica obtain food? The most important thing is probably planning and stockpiling. Because the Polarstern only comes to the ice shelf edge once a year and supplies the station with food. 🍎🥖
blogs.helmholtz.de/atkaxpress/e...
📸 L.Weis
blogs.helmholtz.de/atkaxpress/e...
📸 L.Weis
Happy Pride Month! 🏳️🌈
At AWI, we are committed to diversity and equality. Pride Month in June reminds us how important it is to strengthen an open and respectful society, both in science and in everyday life. We embrace diversity every day.
Photo: Laura Oldenburg
At AWI, we are committed to diversity and equality. Pride Month in June reminds us how important it is to strengthen an open and respectful society, both in science and in everyday life. We embrace diversity every day.
Photo: Laura Oldenburg
June 3, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Happy Pride Month! 🏳️🌈
At AWI, we are committed to diversity and equality. Pride Month in June reminds us how important it is to strengthen an open and respectful society, both in science and in everyday life. We embrace diversity every day.
Photo: Laura Oldenburg
At AWI, we are committed to diversity and equality. Pride Month in June reminds us how important it is to strengthen an open and respectful society, both in science and in everyday life. We embrace diversity every day.
Photo: Laura Oldenburg
#PlasticCredits, are being promoted as an innovative way of addressing plastic pollution. A new study with AWI participation now shows that such compensation programs make the plastic problem worse - not better.
Photo: @melaniebergma18.bsky.social
Photo: @melaniebergma18.bsky.social
June 2, 2025 at 11:55 AM
#PlasticCredits, are being promoted as an innovative way of addressing plastic pollution. A new study with AWI participation now shows that such compensation programs make the plastic problem worse - not better.
Photo: @melaniebergma18.bsky.social
Photo: @melaniebergma18.bsky.social
Our icebreaker Polarstern has left Bremerhaven for the Arctic. The first destination is the “AWI House Garden”.🪼🌱
In this deep-sea observatory between Spitsbergen and Greenland, the 52 scientists will investigate how the ecosystems of the Arctic deep sea react to climate change.
In this deep-sea observatory between Spitsbergen and Greenland, the 52 scientists will investigate how the ecosystems of the Arctic deep sea react to climate change.
May 30, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Our icebreaker Polarstern has left Bremerhaven for the Arctic. The first destination is the “AWI House Garden”.🪼🌱
In this deep-sea observatory between Spitsbergen and Greenland, the 52 scientists will investigate how the ecosystems of the Arctic deep sea react to climate change.
In this deep-sea observatory between Spitsbergen and Greenland, the 52 scientists will investigate how the ecosystems of the Arctic deep sea react to climate change.
Today is the 13th German Diversity Day!
AWI Interim Director Prof. Dr. Maarten Boersma is committed to diversity: “Successful research requires diversity at all levels. That's why we actively create an environment in which different perspectives are welcome - and specifically encouraged.
AWI Interim Director Prof. Dr. Maarten Boersma is committed to diversity: “Successful research requires diversity at all levels. That's why we actively create an environment in which different perspectives are welcome - and specifically encouraged.
May 27, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Today is the 13th German Diversity Day!
AWI Interim Director Prof. Dr. Maarten Boersma is committed to diversity: “Successful research requires diversity at all levels. That's why we actively create an environment in which different perspectives are welcome - and specifically encouraged.
AWI Interim Director Prof. Dr. Maarten Boersma is committed to diversity: “Successful research requires diversity at all levels. That's why we actively create an environment in which different perspectives are welcome - and specifically encouraged.