Research trip in the North Sea: Students explore climate change up close!

Research trip in the North Sea: Students explore climate change up close!

As part of their biology studies at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU), six bachelor's and master's students went on a valuable research training trip with the research ship FS Heincke in April 2025. This trip, which started in Bremerhaven and led to the AWI research station on Heligoland, formed a significant part of her practical training.

On April 1, 2025, 18 students and six supervisors set off to take part in this scientific expedition. During the trip, the ship carried out three one-day research trips in the North Sea. Activities included collecting water and sediment samples, anchoring and recovering research buoys, and continuous data collection of temperatures and salinities.

Practical research experiences

A central element of the research was learning how to use the CTD water sampler to take specific samples from defined depths. These samples were analyzed in the ship's laboratory to identify the populations at different depths. The students also compared the depth profiles with older data in order to examine changes in the communities, particularly in connection with climate change.

The cooperation with students from the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and the University of Bremen was another important part of the project. They planned the research trips together and combined their expertise. The students also took over the dispatching, formulated research questions and organized the timing and course of the ship.

After returning: analysis and presentation

After returning to the port on Heligoland, the students continued working at the AWI research station. There they wrote reports and prepared presentations. However, the study module did not end with the return to Bremerhaven. Instead, the participants spent two additional days in AWI laboratories for data analysis and five weeks at the HHU.

The final report of this research trip led to the qualification of the HHU as a permanent partner for future research training trips on the FS Heincke. These practical experiences not only strengthened the students in their academic careers, but also positioned them as promising candidates for possible polar expeditions with the research vessel Polarstern.

Given the current challenges posed by climate change, it is particularly important that young scientists gain such practical experience. According to information from the IPCC, climate change is having a profound impact on ecosystems worldwide, making research in maritime environments all the more urgent. Reports like that from DWD document that 2020 was one of the warmest years in Germany and marks an end to the warmest decade to date. hhu.de reports that such research trips not only raise awareness of climate change, but can also contribute to the development of solutions that are important for future generations.

This research trip impressively shows how important the combination of theoretical knowledge and practical experience is in order to meet the challenges of climate change and deepen the understanding of marine ecosystems.

Thank you to idw-online.de and klimaatlas.nrw.de for the information provided that contributed to this article.