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In 2003, the AWI and the French polar research institute Paul-Émile Victor combined their two stations on Spitsbergen (Koldewey and Rabot) to form the AWIPEV base. On 14 June, we jointly celebrated the 20th anniversary of this fruitful collaboration at the French Embassy in Berlin. In addition to French Ambassador François Delattre, IPEV Director Yan Ropert-Coudert and AWI Director Antje Boetius attended. The two signed a statement confirming the continuation of the German-French partnership.
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Dear readers,
Once again, many changes are in store at the AWI – which makes today the perfect time to release our brand-new newsletter. What you’re reading now is the first issue, to be followed by countless others, month after month.
The purpose of the newsletter is to let you join us for our ventures into the fascinating world of marine and polar research. We’ll show you, up close and personal, the vital role of the oceans and polar regions for our climate, for global biodiversity, and for the environment. We’ll report on what we in the scientific community now know, and what we hope to learn about the Earth system – by pursuing research at our stations in the Arctic and Antarctic, on board our research vessels and aircraft, and at our sites on Helgoland, on Sylt, in Potsdam and in Oldenburg.
For example, today we’ll report on the envisaged plan for the new research vessel Polarstern II, and on the topping-out ceremony for a new facility featuring seawater aquariums, which represents the first step in a major project for advancing modern underwater technologies. Plus, we’d like to tell you about a very special birthday: the German-French research station AWIPEV on Spitsbergen in the Arctic has just turned 20.
You’d like to get on board? Then just sign up here: www.awi.de/en/newsletter
Roland Koch
Communications and Media Realtions
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Press Release of the Month
AWI Researchers Confirm High Natural Radioactivity of Manganese Nodules
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Manganese nodules at the bottom of the ocean’s depths contain a wealth of valuable metals that are vital to e.g. the electronics and steelmaking industries. Accordingly, these sectors and many countries have pinned their hopes on deep-sea mining to meet the growing demand for raw materials like cobalt and rare-earth elements. In a study just released in the journal Scientific Reports, AWI experts show that such activities could not only have ecological impacts, but also pose health hazards, e.g. in connection with the industrial mining and processing of the nodules.
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MUSE Project
The AWI, GEOMAR and Hereon will combine their marine engineering expertise in the international infrastructure project "MUSE".
Read more
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Topping-Out Ceremony for Seawater Cycles Centre
New AWI centre for seawater cycles: the new building at our headquarters in Bremerhaven will contain three self-contained seawater systems. The three systems will reflect the habitats of the Arctic Ocean, North Atlantic and North Sea, allowing experts to observe marine organisms at a range of water temperatures.
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Long Night of the Sciences
On 17 June, members of AWI staff coordinated the “Long Night of the Sciences in Potsdam” at the Telefgrafenberg. In keeping with the motto "20 Years of AWIPEV", there was also a replica of the Blue House from Ny-Ålesund. But the real highlight for our youngest guests: the polar snowsuits, no contest!
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AWI Employee Day
Summery temperatures in Bremerhaven's Weserstrandbad: At this year's AWI employee day, not only the weather played along. In addition to a varied program for young and old, the focus was on internal exchange. Another highlight was the awarding of the six prizes of the Association of Friends and Sponsors of the AWI.
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3 Questions For:
Detlef Wilde – Director of the Polarstern II Project
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1. As the director of the project, what is your vision for the Polarstern II?
In the nearly 40 years of service, the Polarstern has set new standards, which makes our vision "simple": to raise the bar even further and provide the scientific community the modern, sustainable and high-performance ship they need to explore the Earth system. By delivering a Polarstern II that is a more than worthy successor, we will turn that vision into a reality. The greatest challenge lies in ensuring optimal quality while staying on budget and on schedule. Needless to say, it’s easier said than done!
2. What criteria does the new ship have to meet?
On the basis of the federal government’s research policy and objectives, the AWI is working together with various national and international partners to unravel the complex processes at work in the Earth system. In this regard, we are one of the few research institutions operating in the Arctic and Antarctic alike. The research vessel Polarstern II will fulfil a pivotal role in the polar regions as an icebreaking marine research platform, and as a resupply ship for our research stations and land-based research activities. The performance criteria for the new ship were defined on the basis of infrastructure requirements (derived from the research policy and objectives) and on lessons learned with the original Polarstern. Compared to its predecessor, the new ship must not only be rated at a comparable ice class (polar class PC2), but also fulfil the now more demanding logistics requirements for resupplying Antarctic research stations, the latest safety standards, and far more stringent environmental standards.
In addition, the Polarstern II must naturally offer a home for all scientific disciplines, supporting them with appropriate onboard resources. Ideally, the new ship will also be equipped to meet the future challenges arising from changing research needs.
3. Do you already know what will happen to the "old" Polarstern?
The Polarstern is the property of the federal government and only provided to the AWI for use. Since we don’t own the ship, we can’t say what will happen to her. However, the key criterion for all future decisions will be the ship’s technical status at the end of 2027, when she has her next scheduled classification testing.
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We want to hear your feedback!
Have a question, complaint, positive feedback, or suggested topic you’d like to share with us? We’ll be happy to hear it; just email us at: newsletter@awi.de
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Alfred-Wegener-Institut
Helmholtz-Zentrum
fĂĽr Polar- und Meeresforschung
Am Handelshafen 12
27570 Bremerhaven
Tel.: +49 (0)471 4831-0
https://www.awi.de
Newsletters Publisher:
Staff unit Communications and Media Relations
newsletter@awi.de
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