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This year, the Arctic Circle Assembly convened in Reykjavik from 17 to 19 October. At the conference, the federal government’s new Arctic policy guidelines – which the AWI’s Arctic Office made significant contributions to – were presented.
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Dear readers,
This year’s Arctic Circle Assembly in Reykjavik was not only an international meeting place for Arctic research; it also offered a stage for presenting the federal government’s new Arctic policy guidelines. The conference focused on essential topics like the rapid warming of the Arctic, and the current challenges for political and scientific collaboration – particularly in light of the changed geopolitical situation in the wake of Russia’s attack on Ukraine. These aspects also shaped Germany’s new Arctic policy guidelines, which the AWI’s German Arctic Office made significant contributions to. In this instalment Volker Rachold, Head of the German Arctic Office, shares insights into the top issues discussed and the response to the new guidelines.
Another major change awaits us in the spring of 2025: our Director Antje Boetius will at her own request transfer to the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) in California. As the new President of one of the most internationally respected institutes for marine research, her focus will be on the discovery of unknown marine life forms and processes, and on developing innovative technologies for deep-sea exploration.
As such, we are anxious to see what the new year will bring – for the Arctic and the preservation of the deep sea.
Heide Matz
Communications and Media Relations
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Press Release of the Month
AWI Director Antje Boetius will join the renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) in California
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In spring 2025, the Director of the Alfred Wegener Institute, Prof Antje Boetius, will be appointed president of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) in California. MBARI is one of the most esteemed institutes for marine research and technologies. Based on the US Pacific Coast, it specializes in exploring the deep sea and its unknown diversity of life. “This position will give me a unique opportunity to contribute to the development of innovative deep-sea technologies with a focus on imaging, robotics, sensor systems and AI,” says the marine biologist.
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Tour of the Heincke
Judith Pirscher, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), recently visited the AWI: together with the Directorate, she took a tour of the research vessel Heincke, the second-largest member of the AWI’s fleet. After the tour, there was time for exchanging notes.
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Bernd Rendel Prize 2024
AWI doctoral candidate Tabea Rettelbach (left in the picture) is one of two recipients of the Bernd Rendel Prize. Her thesis chiefly focuses on permafrost. The prize is awarded annually to outstanding young researchers by the German Research Foundation (DFG).
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Sustainability Award for AWI Project
The AWI Bionic Lightweight Design Unit’s project “Bremerhaven experimental house for a bio-inspired, climate- and people-friendly, resource-efficient architecture (BEA)” has just received a prestigious distinction: first prize in the Sustainability category at the Metropolitan Region Northwest Germany’s “NordWest Awards”. The project’s goal is to make future home construction less resource-intensive.
Read more
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3 Questions for:
Dr Volker Rachold – Head of the German Arctic Office at the Alfred Wegener Institute
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1. Volker, you attended the Arctic Circle Assembly in Reykjavik. What were the most important points discussed there?
The main topic was the rapid warming of the Arctic and how it can be limited against the backdrop of the current geopolitical situation. The effects of Russia’s attack on Ukraine are making the necessary political and scientific collaboration more difficult. In this context, the future of the Arctic Council, as the most important political council in the Arctic, was also discussed. When the Russian attack began, the Council initially suspended the activities of all working groups, but in recent months it has gradually resumed them, though with Norway as the chair. One much-discussed topic in connection with scientific collaboration was the planning for the 5th International Polar Year in 2032/2033. Many discussions centred on the sustainable development of the Arctic and on the rights of indigenous peoples. Security policy was also on the agenda.
2. The German federal government’s new Arctic policy guidelines were also presented – what was the feedback like?
Germany’s new Arctic policy guidelines were very warmly received. In this regard, Germany’s commitment to climate and environmental protection in the Arctic, and especially its scientific expertise, are especially worthy of mention. The guidelines’ focal points concerning security and defence of the international, law-based order met with broad approval. The focus on the sustainable development of the Arctic, bearing the interests of local populaces in mind, was also viewed favourably. This aspect also includes advocating for the rights of indigenous peoples.
3. Were there any important decisions or outcomes from the Arctic Circle in Reykjavik that also concern the AWI?
The Arctic Circle isn’t a political event that produces decisions or rulings; it’s more a platform for dialogue and exchanging notes on Arctic topics. One new development that could also be relevant for the AWI was the introduction of the “Polar Dialogue”, which is intended as a tool for targeted dialogues between the research and political communities and which is to build on the “One Planet – Polar Summit” in Paris. The Polar Dialogue was led by former Prime Minister of Iceland KatrĂn JakobsdĂłttir and AWI Director Antje Boetius. Generally speaking, the dialogue between the scientific community and politics is becoming increasingly important. Another new development is the growing interest from non-Arctic countries and other new players, which could result in new collaborations for the AWI. In Reykjavik, India and Italy announced plans to organise an Arctic Circle Forum next year. Protecting the rights of indigenous peoples is connected to Arctic research. Accordingly, including the knowledge of indigenous peoples from the outset is a prerequisite for that research. This participative approach is also embedded in the federal government’s Arctic policy guidelines.
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- Thin Ice – Join Us on a Climate Expedition! at the Deutsches Museum
Friday, 22.11.2024 to Saturday, 8.11.2025 I Munich
» Weitere Informationen
- Film screening “An icy combination” / “A cold combo” / “In frigid union” with Stefanie Arndt
Wednesday, 11.12.2024 I Hamburg
» More information
- Stars of Polar Night - Exhibition by Esther Horvath
Now through , 31.1. 2025 I Budapest
» More information
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Alfred-Wegener-Institut
Helmholtz-Zentrum
fĂĽr Polar- und Meeresforschung
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27570 Bremerhaven
Tel.: +49 (0)471 4831-0
https://www.awi.de
Newsletter Publsiher:
Staff unit Commications and Media Relations
newsletter@awi.de
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