Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research
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Am Handelshafen 12 27570 Bremerhaven Germany http://www.awi.de/en |
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The Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research conducts research in the Arctic and Antarctic, as well as in temperate latitudes. The AWI is one of seventeen centres of the Helmholtz Association. It coordinates polar research in Germany and provides the necessary equipment and key infrastructure for polar expeditions. At the Alfred Wegener Institute, scientists from various disciplines and nations are using state-of-the-art technology for cooperative and interdisciplinary investigations of the global climatic, biological and geological systems of the earth. Understanding global changes of the environment and the biosphere, either natural or caused by humans, is the primary goal of research work at the Alfred Wegener Institute. Hence, the institute has an important role in keeping the federal government updated on its research results, and providing competent advice for the development of environmental policies.
Research themes (biological department): Bentho-Pelagic Processes, Functional Ecology, Integrative Ecophysiology, Marine Biogeosciences, Coastal Ecology, Shelf Sea Ecology, Ecological Chemistry, Polar Biological Oceanography, Global Change & Future Marine Carbon Cycle, Variability and Change at the Base of Planktonic Food Webs, Trophic Interactions in Pelagic Ecosystems, Responses of Phytoplankton to Global Change; Deep Sea Ecology and Technology. PLANKTON*NET database, Long Term Ecological Research (Helgoland Roads, German Bight, North Sea, North Frisian Wadden Sea; AWI-HAUSGARTEN), Friedrich Hustedt Study Centre for Diatoms.
Laboratories: (to be completed)
Platforms: Ice Breaking RV Polarstern; arctic research base AWIPEV (Spitzbergen), Samoylov Station (East Siberia), Antarctic research stations Neumayer Station III and Dallmann laboratory
Marine facilities (and area of application): RV Heincke (North Atlantic), RC Uthörn (German Bight), RC Mya (wadden sea coast off Sylt); RC Aade (around Helgoland) and diving boat Diker (around Helgoland), diverse smaller boats at the AWI sites Bremerhaven, Sylt, Helgoland and the Stations in the Arctic and Antarctic; AWI-Centre for Scientific Diving trains research divers and conducts underwater experiments as well as species supply (Helgoland).
Main marine model organisms used: (to be completed)
Supervisory bodies: German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Helmholtz Association (HGF)
Special partnership(s): Ifremer; Otto Schmidt Laboratory for Polar and Marine Sciences (OSL); Earth System Science Partnership; German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU); German Society for Polar Research; German Society for Marine Research (DGM); German National Committee SCAR/IASC
