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Research

In marine and climate research, natural and social science disciplines work closely together to understand the ocean and develop the knowledge base for protection and sustainable use.

Overview
> Research

Marine and climate research

In marine and climate research, natural and social science disciplines work closely together to understand the marine ecosystem and to develop a basis knowledge for the protection and a sustainable use of the oceans.

Meere Online
Insight
The research icebreaker Polarstern travels between ice floes of the Arctic sea ice on a smooth sea.
Picture: Sabine Arndt, Alfred-Wegener-Institute
> Marine and Climate Research

German marine research

Researchers from a wide range of disciplines work together to unravel the complexities of marine systems. They are focusing on the questions: How do the oceans fundamentally influence our climate? And how can we make use of the seas while protecting them

Meere Online
Insight
The ROV KIEL 6000 is surrounded by blue water.
Picture: ROV-Team, GEOMAR
> Measuring Devices and Data

Monitoring, data, instruments

Up to several thousand metres deep, dark, salty and cold: the oceans and their inhabitants are not an easy subject for research. The technology required to collect and evaluate data is correspondingly complex.

Meere Online
Insight
The illuminated Polarstern in the darkness of the Arctic ice during the MOSAiC expedition.
Picture: Esther Horvath, Alfred-Wegener-Institute
> Research Vessels

Research vessels

Research vessels are as diverse as marine science itself. Each has its own strengths and areas of operation. Scientifically, they are capable of everything: biology as much as geology, meteorology or geophysics. Yet there are not many such ships.

Meere Online
Insight
A shoal of grunts, also called sweet lips, in Raja Ampat, Indonesia
Picture: Fabrice Dudenhofer, Ocean Image Bank
> Education and Training

Talents for marine research

The future of marine research depends on the next generation, from curious schoolchildren to postdoctoral researchers. Recognising this, German marine research institutions offer a wide range of training and educational opportunities.

Meere Online
Overview
drubig-photo – stock.adobe.com
> Education and Training

Marine research for pupils

German marine research institutions offer school pupils a wide range of opportunities to learn more about coasts, seas and oceans and their exploration.

Meere Online
Overview
Students investigate exchange processes between groundwater and seawater on the beach.
Picture: Markus Hibbeler, University of Oldenburg
> Education and Training

Marine research for students

There are many opportunities for students at marine research institutions in Germany. These opportunities extend beyond the range of bachelor's and master's degree programmes on offer. Here is an overview.

Meere Online
Overview
A scientist in a laboratory measures seaweed with a ruler.
Picture: Michael Ihle, University of Bremen.
> Education and Training

Marine research for doctoral students

In addition to the opportunity to pursue a doctorate, German marine research also offers doctoral students special programs, networking opportunities, graduate schools, and summer schools.

Meere Online
Overview
Water from the CTD Rosette Water Sampler is poured into a white container.
Picture: MARUM, Universität Bremen
> Education and Training

Marine research for postdocs

Postdocs can also take advantage of various funding programs, career support, and networking opportunities at DAM member institutions.

Meere Online
Overview
A small glass tube is formed on a burner.
Picture: Jan Steffen, GEOMAR
> Education and Training

Marine research for trainees

German marine research institutions offer numerous opportunities to complete training in various industrial-technical or commercial professions.

Meere Online
Overview
[Translate to English:] A person is holding a flyer with the words ‘Oceans for everyone’ written on it.
Picture: DAM
> Marine and Climate Research

Transfer in marine research

Knowledge and technology transfer are of paramount importance to German marine research. A variety of activities facilitate interaction between research institutions, the public, politicians, and industry.

Meere Online
Website
> Marine and Climate Research

The German Marine Research Alliance

The German Marine Research Alliance (DAM) unites 25 German marine research institutions with the aim of strengthening the sustainable management of coasts, seas and oceans.

DAM
Website
> Marine and Climate Research

Protection and sustainable use

The research mission sustainMare of the German Marine Research Alliance (DAM) investigates ecological, economic and social impacts of the utilisation and pollution of various marine regions and provides concrete knowledge for action.

sustainMare
Website
> Marine and Climate Research

Marine carbon storage

The research mission CDRmare of the German Marine Research Alliance investigates how the climate regulating effect of the ocean can be strengthened in the future and provides concrete knowledge for action.

CDRmare
Website
> Marine and Climate Research

Improving risk management

The research mission mareXtreme of the German Marine Research Alliance is investigating the interactions between extreme marine events and natural hazards as well as their ecological and social impacts.

mareXtreme
Website
> Marine and Climate Research

The United Nations Ocean Decade

The United Nations has declared the years 2021 to 2030 the International Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development to implement solutions for the protection and sustainable use of the ocean.

Ocean Decade
Website
> Marine and Climate Research

FONA - Research for sustainability

The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is aligning its research funding for climate protection and greater sustainability with the United Nations 2030 Agenda with the so called FONA strategy.

BMBF
Multimedia
> Measuring Devices and Data

The marine data portal

The data portal offers user-friendly, central access to marine research data, visualisations, reports and publications from a variety of data repositories and libraries in the context of German marine research.

Marine Data
Website
> Measuring Devices and Data

Marine environmental database

The Marine Environmental Database (MUDAB) summarises and provides data from the marine monitoring activities of the coastal federal states and other federal and research institutions.

UBA
Website
> Measuring Devices and Data

Marine data infrastructure Germany

The Marine Data Infrastructure Germany (MDI-DE) contains data on the German coastal zone of the North Sea and Baltic Sea as well as neighbouring marine areas. The data is collected by state and federal authorities.

MDI-DE
Website
> Research Vessels

German Research Vessels Portal

Germany has a very efficient fleet of research vessels at its disposal. As universal platforms, the vessels facilitate research in all marine science disciplines and in the waters of all oceans.

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Multimedia
> Research Vessels

360° tour on the METEOR

How is reasearch conducted on a vessel? How are the devices deployed into the water? What happens of the bridge? Join us on a research expedition and explore the METEOR on a virtual tour.

Universität Kiel
Multimedia
> Research Vessels

Research icebreaker FS Polarstern

A portal about the research icebreaker FS Polarstern of the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) with current reports, pictures and data directly from the ship.

AWI
Website
> Measuring Devices and Data

Search engine for environmental knowledge

The National Centre for Environmental and Nature Conservation Information at the Federal Environment Agency operates a central data and information portal for the field of environmental and nature conservation.

UBA
PDF
> Measuring Devices and Data

Ocean observation with Argo floats

The Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) presents the international Argo program in this fact sheet, which monitors the ocean using so-called Argo floats.

BSH
Website
> Research Vessels

Research vessels - exploring the sea on site

This website provides an overview of all German research vessels, including their technical data. In addition, the current location of the research vessels can be tracked on a live map.

KDM
Multimedia
> Measuring Devices and Data

Remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) from MARUM

In this video you can find out more about remotely operated diving robots (ROVs). A scientist explains how they work, accompanied by impressive video footage from research missions.

MARUM
Website
> Research Vessels

No fisheries research without ships

Depending on the research location, different requirements are placed on the research vessels. These vary accordingly in size and design. Read more about the different research vessels of the Thünen Institute here.

Thünen Institute
Website
> Research Vessels

The Coriolis research vessel

The research vessel Coriolis is used to study coasts and rivers - and it is also a kind of research object itself. It is being used to research the suitability of hydrogen technologies as a more environmentally friendly ship propulsion system.

Hereon

Find Connections

More on "Research" from other subject areas:

Multimedia
Two hands touch a touch display and interact with the Interactive World Ocean.
Picture: DAM, Sinje Hasheider
> For Pupils

Interactive World Ocean

This touchscreen-based ocean map invites users to discover the diversity of coasts, seas, and oceans and to immerse themselves in different global regions. Designed for schools, educational institutions, and exhibitions.

Meere Online
PDF
ODK Broschüre: Meere Wissen Handeln
Bild: ODK
> Educational Materials

Educational programmes of the UN Ocean Decade

Learning and teaching opportunities relating to the protection and sustainable use of the ocean - for formal and informal learning contexts (from daycare centres to lifelong learning).

ODK
Website
Screenshot der Startseite der mit:forschen! Plattform. DAM.
Screenshot: DAM
> Pollutants

Join:research! Creating knowledge together

The central citizen science platform in Germany offers opportunities to participate in research on a wide range of topics; a project of Wissenschaft im Dialog (WiD) and the Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin.

WiD
Website
Die Startseite der Ocean School. Screenshot / DAM.
Foto: Screenshot / DAM
> Educational Materials

Ocean School

The Ocean School offers exciting environmental education for pupils of different age groups. With videos, virtual reality / augmented reality and interactive projects in English and French, it covers subjects from science to social studies.

Ocean Frontier Institute | National Film Board of Canada
Website
Fish swimming past air bubbles
Max Gotts/Unsplash
> Hands-on Activities

Dive in and explore: into the Deep

Immerse yourself in marine research and analyse data and fascinating images from the deep sea.

Interchange

The federal government and the governments of the five northern German states support the current development and sponsor the DAM

Topics at a Glance

Biodiversity

Climate Change

Ocean Use

Pollution

Management

Research