Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research

10/09/2026

A Year in the Ice: The Tara Polar Station has begun its drift through the central Arctic! 🧊🐻‍❄️

On 9 September, the Tara Polar Station, which is operated by the French organisation Fondation Tara Océan, reached its ice floe at 82°24′ North. From there, it will drift with the sea ice across the Arctic Ocean for a year.

AWI atmospheric scientist Julia Regnery is on board. Together with the team, she will study the Arctic atmosphere and its interactions with sea ice and the ocean.

Photos: Julia Regnery

07/07/2026

*Call for guest research stays 2027*

at the Alfred Wegener Institute's marine stations on Helgoland and Sylt

Apply for a guest research stay (> 15 working days) at the Alfred Wegener Institute's marine stations on Helgoland and Sylt and benefit from the close proximity of the institutes to the rocky tidal flat/tidal flat.
Well equipped guest laboratories with internet connection, seawater connection and basic laboratory equipment such as microscopes, refrigerators and freezers are available at both locations. The use of extended equipment is possible in consultation with the contact persons on site.
The closing date for registrations is 31 July 2026

Here you will find further information about our offer:
Helgoland: https://www.awi.de/en/about-us/sites/helgoland/guest-research/individual-guest-scientist-stays.html
Sylt: https://www.awi.de/ueber-uns/standorte/sylt/gastforschung-und-kurse/gastforschung.html

Application procedure: https://www.awi.de/en/about-us/logistics/proposals.html
If you are interested, please submit an application via our web portal: https://accessinfra.awi.de/ #/

If you have any questions, please contact the guest research coordinator Anna Bergmann:
https://www.awi.de/en/about-us/organisation/staff/single-view/anna-bergmann.html

25/06/2026

Need to cool off? ❄️Our wintering team celebrated 'Midwinter' at Neumayer Station III over the weekend. This means that, from now on, the days in Antarctica will become longer and brighter once again. The first half of the polar night is over!

Midwinter is the most important celebration in Antarctica, and for the overwintering team it marks the middle of the dark season, providing an opportunity to come together.

19/06/2026

Marine heatwaves in the Arctic are now more frequent, longer-lasting and more intense than in the past. A recent AWI study shows how these extreme events have changed significantly and where gaps in our knowledge still exist.

“Recent studies show that the number of marine heatwaves has also increased significantly in the Arctic over the past few decades,” explains Marylou Athanase, AWI researcher and lead author of the study. '. “The marginal seas of the Arctic are consistently emerging as hotspots."

Photo: Mario Hoppmann

01/06/2026

15/05/2026

In the middle of the open sea, on the return voyage from Antarctica to Bremerhaven, Dorothee Bär, MdB, the Federal Minister for Research, Technology, and Space, is visiting our research icebreaker, the Polarstern. She boarded the ship in Amsterdam and was welcomed by Captain Felix Kentges, Expedition Leader Björn Fiedler, and AWI Director Hajo Eicken.

During her visit, the minister gains insights into current polar and marine research at the AWI. The focus is on discussions with scientists about ongoing research projects. Among others, the major international projects Antarctica InSync and Arctic Pulse, as well as the WASCAL project, are presented. The program also includes an exchange with international students and early-career researchers on board.

The main topics of discussion will be the impacts of climate change on the polar regions, long-term observation programs for oceans and sea ice, and the importance of international cooperation in research.

Photos: Barbara Dombrowski

WASCAL Cabo Verde

29/04/2026

Sentrale aktører innen tysk og norsk politikk og polarforskning samlet seg i Tromsø. – I møte med raskere klimaendringer og økt oppmerksomhet rundt polarområdene, blir dette samarbeidet enda viktigere, sier den tyske polar- og havdirektøren.