News
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Short notices
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200 years of Heligoland as a seaside resort
11. June 2026To mark the 200th anniversary of Heligoland’s history as a seaside resort, more than 273 visitors were welcomed to the island on 6 June with a celebratory programme. As part of the festivities, alongside musical entertainment and a wide range of hands-on activities, a historical parade featuring Heligoland’s traditional associations took place at 5:30 pm. The AWI site on Heligoland also participated in the event with an information stand, where visitors of all ages had the opportunity to find out about the institute’s research and work on site.
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Visit to the AWI facility on Helgoland
09. June 2026Seven researchers from the University of Tokyo and TU Dortmund University visited the AWI research station on Helgoland. Maarten Boersma, director of the Helgoland Biological Station, welcomed the guests and invited them to take part in a professional exchange programme. The programme for the three-day visit included field trips and discussion sessions, one of which was with Antje Wichels from the OPENSEA student laboratory. The joint project focuses on developing an innovative concept for climate education, particularly the “climate museum” concept.
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50 Years of the Georg Forster Station
04. June 2026On April 21, 1976, what would later become the Georg Forster Station of the former GDR was inaugurated at the Schirmacher Oasis in Antarctica. It was the first German research station in Antarctica to operate year-round and marks a milestone in the history of East German and, later, unified German polar research. On June 3, 2026, former overwinterers and other guests celebrated the station’s 50th anniversary in Potsdam. They shared their experiences of building the station, overwintering there, and conducting research in the freezing cold at the end of the world.
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AWI Director visits Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences
13. May 2026On 8 May, a joint meeting took place between AWI Director Hajo Eicken, Rabea Diekmann, Vice-Principal for Research, Transfer and Continuing Education at Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences, and the University’s Principal, Alexis Papathanassis. The aim of the meeting was to further strengthen future cooperation between the two institutions. The focus was on opportunities for translating research ideas into practical applications, as well as projects in the field of science communication. In addition, specific areas of cooperation such as aquaculture and joint workshops were discussed.
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Training voyage aboard the research vessel Polarstern
30. April 2026Master’s students from West Africa have boarded the research vessel Polarstern for a two-week training and research expedition to gain practical experience at sea. A total of 14 participants from the “Climate Change and Marine Sciences” programme are working alongside scientists, carrying out physical, biogeochemical and biological measurements. The Floating University is taking place for the fourth time under the leadership of the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel and makes an important contribution to the goals of the UN Ocean Decade. The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) as part of the WASCAL programme. To the press release.
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Member of the German Bundestag Denise Loop visits Helgoland
30. April 2026On 29 April 2026, Member of the German Bundestag Denise Loop (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen) visited the AWI site on Helgoland together with her team. Discussions with Antje Wichels, Gunnar Gerdts, Anna Bergmann, Sebastian Primpke and Eva Brodte focused on the interfaces between research, education and society, particularly in relation to Schleswig-Holstein. Topics covered the site’s role in the education of school pupils and university students, microplastics research, the Bluehouse Helgoland as a place for scientific exchange, and the international projects in which the AWI is involved.