Bremen celebrates Professor Boetius: Award for marine research!

Bremen celebrates Professor Boetius: Award for marine research!

On March 8, 2025, Professor Antje Boetius from the University of Bremen will be awarded the Bremen Senate Medal for Art and Science. This honor recognizes their outstanding contributions to science, the Alfred Wegener Institute and the development of Bremen as a science location. University of Bremen reports that Mayor Andreas Bovenschulte underlined the importance of Boetius as an ambassador for marine research and Bremerhaven.

Senator Kathrin Moosdorf added that Boetius is internationally recognized and plays a crucial role in the field of marine research and climate protection. The university's rector, Professor Jutta Günther, congratulated her and praised her commitment to climate protection and science. Boetius himself expressed gratitude for the award and emphasized the important role of art and science in Bremen.

A celebration of diversity

The ceremony took place in the Upper Town Hall and was accompanied by music from the Orchestra of Change. Boetius, director of the Alfred Wegener Institute and professor of geomicrobiology, is an active member of the MARUM Cluster of Excellence and a founding member of the German Marine Research Alliance.

Not only does she have an impressive career with numerous awards behind her, including the 2009 Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize and the 2018 German Environmental Prize, but she will also lead the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute in California starting May 1, 2025. Born in Frankfurt am Main, Boetius has lived in Bremen and Bremerhaven since 1999 and takes part in around 50 expeditions on research ships.

Research in focus

Antje Boetius conducts intensive research into the effects of climate change on the oceans and polar regions. Her focus is particularly on Arctic amplification, biological pump changes and marine microbial communities. AWI states that she studies unknown deep-sea habitats, including extreme communities and ecosystems under ice, as well as on seamounts and mud volcanoes.

A central concern of her work is the analysis of the role of microbial biodiversity in the ocean. Boetius and her group are developing innovative robotic instruments for in-situ studies of marine ecosystems, used to monitor physical and chemical indicators of ocean health.

In addition, she is active as an expert on science and culture in the Anthropocene and is involved in projects that bring artists and scientists together. Her project “Theater of the Anthropocene” under the auspices of the Humboldt University in Berlin addresses these interfaces.

The global importance of marine research

Not only are oceans the largest contiguous habitat on Earth, they also play a crucial role in the climate system by storing CO2 and regulating the weather. Loud BMBF Sustainable protection and use concepts for coastal and marine research are crucial in order to maintain the ecological balance.

German marine research, supported by initiatives such as the German Marine Research Alliance, addresses important challenges such as the role of oceans as carbon sinks and the consequences of rising sea levels. The research teams are actively addressing the challenges of climate change, pollution and the impact on biodiversity.

Honoring Antje Boetius not only recognizes her outstanding scientific work, but also strengthens social awareness of the urgency of marine research, which is of crucial importance for future generations.