After more than four years under construction, on 19 October 2023 an opening ceremony was held for the newly built Technical Centre on the new Climate Campus in Bremerhaven. In future, the Technical Centre is where the Alfred Wegener Institute will develop, test and prepare new equipment for use on expeditions. The project received 18.5 million euros of funding from Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Federal State of Bremen. In honour of Alfred Wegener’s last companion, the building was named after the Greenlander Rasmus Willumsen.

Dear readers,

Today we’re back with the third instalment of our “Inside the AWI” newsletter, where we’ll once again take you along on a journey to the fascinating world of polar and marine research.

To the North Pole and back again: After two exciting but arduous months in the ice, the Polarstern expedition “ArcWatch”, led by AWI Director Antje Boetius, came to an end in early October. The participating researchers used a range of techniques to measure and record the thickness and properties of the sea ice. In addition, they assessed the currents in and chemical properties of the ocean and investigated organisms on and below the ice, in the open water and on the deep-sea floor. A very special highlight for the expedition crew: reaching the North Pole on 7 September and, shortly thereafter, broadcasting the first-ever livestream of an ROV dive underneath the Arctic ice. AWI photographer Esther Horvath accompanied the expedition and, in our new format “3 Questions For”, tells us what it was like to live and work on board our research icebreaker.

In other news, after five years at the Neumayer Station III, the DLR’s EDEN ISS greenhouse is now back in Bremen. During its time in the Antarctic, it produced roughly one metric ton of fresh vegetables – which not only served research purposes but also kept the overwintering crews on-site happy and healthy. Well done!

OK, I won’t make you wait any longer: enjoy reading!

Heide Matz
Communications and Media Relations

1. What were your duties on the expedition

My duties on board consisted in visual science communication and media coordination. My goal is to use photography to convey the AWI’s research work on various media channels: on our own channels, but also by providing material for press releases and press conferences, social media, newspaper and magazine articles, all the way to exhibits that are on display for years. During the expedition, I produced a new exhibit, one that offers an interactive experience with photos, videos and sound. I was also responsible for the daily entries in the Polarstern app; I reported on the day-to-day research activities, or on life on board. Besides the app, I made daily posts for our social media channels. And I recorded some of the research work for future short videos and took care of external media requests.

It was a wonderful expedition, and I especially enjoyed the great collaboration between the ship’s crew and researchers, the friendliness and readiness to help among everyone on board. I knew many of the faces from past expeditions, so it felt like I was working together with close friends. It was a very intensive and productive time, which is exactly how I prefer to work. On expeditions, time is always of the essence and I always try to make the most of it, to shoot and record as much as I can, which gives me material that can be used for years afterwards and in a variety of ways. I’m very grateful that I had the chance to take part.

There were so many magical moments, but what I appreciated most, and the best part for me personally, was the blend of professionalism and friendliness among the people on board. I’m delighted that the research goals were met and that I was there to record it.

Photo of the Month