We say thank you for many eventful and successful years! Prof. Dr. Antje Boetius is leaving AWI on April 30 and moving to the prestigious Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) in California to take over the role of President. 

Inside AWI

Dear Readers, 

May is the month of renewal, as we all know. This year, that also applies to AWI or at least in part. Our Director of many years, Antje Boetius, will leave AWI at the end of this month and move to the prestigious Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) in California. 

Prof. Dr. Maarten Boersma will be the new interim Director and will lead the Institute until a successor is found. We would like to take this opportunity to once again thank Antje Boetius for her tireless dedication as AWI Director!

The Arctic sea ice set a sad record in the last few weeks: there has never been as little winter ice as on 21 March 2025 since continuous satellite records began in 1979. This is proved by the latest analyses of AWI’s sea ice portal. 

Finally, we would like to recommend an impressive documentary: "Secrets of the Penguins" was predominantly shot at Neumayer Station III in the Antarctic and is available on Disney+ with immediate effect.

We wish you happy reading!

Marlena Witte
Communications and Media Relations

 
 

Press Release of the Month

Lowest levels on record for Arctic winter sea ice

The winter growth period for Arctic sea ice in the Arctic Ocean has set a negative record this year: there has never been as little winter ice as on 21 March 2025 since continuous satellite records began in 1979: 14.45 million square kilometres – more than one million square kilometres less than the long-term average.

Top Stories:

New Helmholtz Institute building inaugurated in Oldenburg

The Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity (HIFMB) at the University of Oldenburg has a new home in the Wechloy Technology Park.

Read more

Bremen Senate Medal for AWI Director Antje Boetius

In acknowledgement of her work in science, the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen has awarded the AWI Director the Senate Medal for Art and Science.

Read more

"Secrets of the Penguins"

There’s a new penguin documentary available right now on the streaming service "Disney+": "Secrets of the Penguins" from National Geographic was shot largely at Neumayer Station III in the Antarctic.

 

Interested in more AWI news?

You’ll find all AWI news items here.

Photo of the Month:

Lukas Weis spent the winter there and managed to capture perfect shots at Neumayer Station III in the Antarctic.The photos show the first manned space flight in a polar orbit; among the crew was Rabea Rogge, the first German woman in space. The aim of the mission, among other things, is to gain a better understanding of auroras. The spaceship can be seen as a bright trail in the sky – as it flew over Neumayer Station III.

Events

  • Opening of the permanent exhibition in Übersee-Museum "Großer Ozean - Blauer Kontinent" with Klaus Großfeld

    Saturday, 3 May I Bremen 

    » More information

  • "Polarwelten" presentation with Esther Horvath

    Saturday, 3 May I Fürstenfeld 

  • "70 Wochen Antarktis" slide show with Michael Trautmann

    Saturday, 24 May I Bremerhaven 

  • "Underwater Cinema" exhibtion

    Until 31 May I Aurich

    » More information

  • Photo exhibition: "INTO THE ICE - the MOSAiC expedition in pictures"

    Until 2 November I Seebach

    » More information

  • "Polar Sounds Portal" project in the Klimahaus Bremerhaven

    Until 2 November I Bremerhaven

    » More information

  • Exhibition: "Thin Ice – Join Us on a Climate Expedition!" at the Deutsches Museum

    Until 9 November I Munich

    » More information

  • Photo exhibition: "Wir können Watt - Küstenforschung im Takt der Gezeiten" at AWI

    Permanently on AWI’s campus in Klußmannstraße I Bremerhaven

    » More information
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

Instagram Nutzername Facebook Firmenname Youtube Kanal LinkedIn Firmenname
If this message is not displayed correctly, please clich here.

Alfred-Wegener-Institut
Helmholtz-Zentrum
für Polar- und Meeresforschung
Am Handelshafen 12
27570 Bremerhaven
Tel.: +49 (0)471 4831-0
https://www.awi.de


Newsletter Publsiher:
Staff unit Commications and Media Relations
newsletter@awi.de

 
Wenn Sie diese E-Mail (an: unknown@noemail.com) nicht mehr empfangen möchten, können Sie diese hier kostenlos abbestellen.