News

The Highly Cited Researchers list is an annual award from Clarivate that recognises the world's leading scientists who have demonstrated a significant and broad impact in their field of research through their published work. This year's list includes four AWI scientists: Hans-Otto Pörtner, Guido Grosse, Sebastian Primpke and Gunnar Gerdts. With their outstanding research achievements, they contribute to the scientific debate in their fields.
 

The retreat of Arctic sea ice and the melting of land ice sheets around Greenland lead to more and more freshwater flowing into the Atlantic Ocean. A recent study by AWI climate modeler Qiyun Ma provides brand new insights into how freshwater released from different regions affects and weakens the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). The study identifies the Irminger Basin as the region most responsive to additional freshwater and as a key driver of AMOC changes. Regarding the potential slowdown of the AMOC in the future, the authors…

AWI scientist Hans-Otto Pörtner has been reappointed by Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke and Federal Research Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger as a member of the German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU). The appointment is valid from November 1, 2024 to October 31, 2028. In addition to the AWI climate researcher, there are eight other members of the WBGU.

AWI Director Antje Boetius provided exciting insights into marine research at the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg: in her performative lecture as part of the project “The Ocean is a Noisy Place” by the Hanoverian orchestra “musica assoluta”, she drew attention to the threat to the marine habitat. The program, under the direction of Thorsten Encke, combined classical and contemporary music, science and video art. Video artist cylixe and cellist Tanja Tetzlaff also took part.

This year, the Polar Dialogue took place alongside the Arctic Circle Assembly. Under the leadership of Katrín Jakobsdóttir, former Prime Minister of Iceland, and Antje Boetius, AWI Director and co-chair of the conference, the Polar Dialogue provides an open platform for exchange between scientists and policy makers. The focus will be on science diplomacy and preparations for the 5th International Polar Year 2032-33.

Nitrogen fixation in ocean eddies is an important component of the local nitrogen cycle in the western North Atlantic. In addition to local environmental conditions, the transport of nitrogen fixers from the more productive Mid Atlantic Bight to the nutrient-poor Atlantic Subtropical Gyre also promotes this process. This is one of the results published by researchers from the Alfred Wegener Institute together with international experts in the journal Nature Geoscience. To the publication

Tabea Rettelbach, PhD student at the AWI, is one of two winners of this year's Bernd Rendel Prize. Her work focuses on the topic of "Permafrost". The Bernd Rendel Prize is awarded annually by the German Research Foundation (DFG) to outstanding young scientists in the geosciences. The award ceremony took place during the annual conference of the German Geological Society - Geological Association (DGGV) from 23 to 26 September in Dresden.

Who are the 100 key figures on the German science scene? Research.Table has selected AWI Director Antje Boetius as one of the leading personalities in the “Science” category. The award recognises her significant contributions to the exploration of the polar regions and the oceans. These areas of research are crucial for understanding climate change and the global environment.

In a new two-part ZDF documentary series, AWI Director Antje Boetius gets to the bottom of the secret of our species' success story and travels to places where researchers are searching for solutions for a future worth living. Both parts are available in the ZDF media library and will be broadcast on television on 29 September and 6 October at 7.30 pm. More Information.

What challenges does climate change pose for northern and eastern Germany? What will water management look like in the future and what problems and solutions are there for human health? Current research findings on these questions were presented and discussed at the 13th REKLIM regional conference on 25 September in Berlin. Britta Behrendt, State Secretary for Climate Protection and the Environment, opened the event with around 250 participants. More information.