GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel

GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel

Partner Description

The GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel is among the largest non-university research institutions in the field of marine sciences in Germany (950 staff, incl. 450 experienced scientists and about 200 doctoral candidates). It is a member of the Helmholtz Association, Germany’s largest non-university scientific organisation. The centre’s mandate is the inter- and multidisciplinary investigation of all relevant aspects of modern marine sciences, from sea floor geology through physical, chemical and biological oceanography to marine meteorology. Research is conducted worldwide in all oceans. The main research topics are grouped in four divisions: Ocean Circulation and Climate Dynamics, Marine Biogeochemistry, Marine Ecology, and Dynamics of the Ocean Floor. Its publication record and research grant funding is leading in these fields. GEOMAR cooperates closely with national and international research institutions and with a number of SMEs active in marine technology and science. Although GEOMAR’s mandate is to carry out basic science studies on the oceans, the centre strives to link basic knowledge to applied issues including gas hydrate, volcanic and seismic hazard, marine substances and onshore aquaculture research. This scientific breadth and the state-of-the-art infrastructure, particularly adapted for deployments in the open ocean and the deep sea, gives GEOMAR a unique profile and a central collaborative role within the German and international marine science community.

Role and Commitment of key person(s)

Ulf Riebesell (m, PhD 1991, biological oceanography). Head of Department Biological Oceanography at GEOMAR and professor at Kiel University, coordinator of BIOACID, deputy coordinator of EU-PF7 EPOCA. 25 years of experience in marine plankton ecology and biogeochemistry. Conception, construction and operation of Kiel Off-Shore Mesocosms for Ocean Simulations (KOSMOS). ISI WoS statistics: 173 papers, 8577 citations, hindex=53, Project Role: Task Leader WP6.6: Provision of TA to GEOMAR-KOSMOS; Task Leader WP7.2: Development and construction of offshore systems for collection of minimum disturbed natural water; Co-Leader WP3.1: Workshops on best practices and optimization of mesocosmapproaches; Co-Leader WP7.1: Conceptualisation of a pilot AQUACOSM; Contributor to all WPs.

Martin Wahl (m, PhD 1987, benthic ecology). Marine benthic community ecologists. Head of the Department Benthic Ecology with ca 35 staff. Leader and coordinator of numerous national and international projects. Consortium leader in BIOACID. Over 30 years of experience with the ecology of benthic ecosystems in the Baltic Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, NW Atlantic and E Pacific. Conception and construction of the innovative KOB system. 3200 citations, h-index=30. Project role: Task Leader WP6.7: Provision of TA to GEOMAR-KOB; Contributor to WP5.