Home B2B Area Leibniz Association Leibniz-Institute of Marine Sciences at the University of Kiel

Leibniz-Institute of Marine Sciences at the University of Kiel

The Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences at the University of Kiel (IFM-GEOMAR) was founded in January 2004 through the merger of the Institut für Meereskunde (IfM) and the Research Center for Marine Geosciences (GEOMAR). The institute is a member of the Leibniz-foundation and employs approximately 400 scientific and technical staff.

The institutes’ mandate is the interdisciplinary investigation of all relevant aspects of modern marine sciences, from sea floor geology to marine meteorology. Research is conducted worldwide in all oceans.

The institute has four major research divisions: ocean circulation and climate dynamics, marine biogeochemistry, marine ecology and the dynamics of the ocean floor. In addition, IFM-GEOMAR contributes to the Cluster of Excellence "Future Ocean" and the centre of excellence, SFB 574 "Volatiles and Fluides in Subducton Zones" funded by the German Science Foundation (DFG).

The Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences is associated with the University of Kiel in undergraduate and graduate teaching in the following fields: oceanography, meteorology, biological oceanography, fisheries biology, marine chemistry and geology.

In addition, the institute operates four research vessels, several major laboratories and an attractive aquarium.

IFM-GEOMAR cooperates with a number of small companies active in marine technology and science, partly founded by former staff members of the institute.

*****

The Institute was founded as a research and teaching department of University of Kiel in 1937. In 1968, as a result of the constantly growing importance of marine research and the necessity to fund it at a federal level, a cooperation agreement was signed by the Federal Government and the State Government of Schleswig-Holstein providing equal support by the Federal Government and the State of Schleswig-Holstein. This agreement was replaced in 1977 by the "Guidelines for Financing of Research" according to Art.91b of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Germany from 1975, and by associated "Agreement on the Execution of the Guidelines for Research Institutions", of 1977.

As a result of its federal importance and national scientific interests, the IfM at the University of Kiel was included in the so-called "Blue List" which means that funding is carried jointly by the Federal Government, the Government of Schleswig-Holstein and the Assocition of States. The Institute was reviewed by the Research Council of the Federal Government in 1987. In the final report of December 12,1988 the federal importance of the Institute was confirmed and continued financial support was confirmed according to Art.91b of the Constitution. The IfM is member of the "Association of Research Institutions of the Blue List" (AG BL). The IfM was again reviewed by the Research Council in 1992 within the context of an overall review of environmental research in Germany, again with positive results.

The IfM at the University of Kiel has a mandate to carry out marine research on a global basis.The research aims primarily at increasing the fundamental knowledge of the physical, chemical and biological processes in the ocean, of the physical processes in the marine atmosphere and of their interactions. Apart from the studies within these disciplines the system-oriented investigation of the ocean requires interdisciplinary work.

Part of the research consists of applied activities such as the investigation of transports, storage, effects and dissipation of contaminants and the use of the living resources of the sea. The exchange of scientists with institutes abroad, and participation in governmental and nongovernmental scientific organizations play an important role for the Institute´s research.

The IfM Kiel, as an integral part of the University, is involved in the teaching curriculum of the University of Kiel. The faculty members at the Institute are part of the university teaching staff and represent the following oceanographic disciplines:

Physical Oceanography
Meteorology
Marine Chemistry
Biological Oceanography
Fishery Biology

Because of the wide range of teaching disciplines and the large number of students taking part in the research activities all over the world, the Institute differs from the other marine institutes in Germany. Besides the freedom of research as the basis of the Institute´s research - supported by the basic funding - participation in almost all national and international programmes assures a combination of scientific and social interests and interaction with other groups of scientists and institutes in Germany and abroad.

Public relation activities have been intensified in the past few years. They are essentially supported by a public aquarium and the activities of a non-profit-making "Society for the support of the Institut für Meereskunde".

Leibniz-Institute of Marine Sciences at the University of Kiel
Wischhofstraße 1-3
24148 Kiel
Tel: +49 (0)431 / 600-0
Fax: +49 (0)431 / 600-2805
E-Mail: info@ifm-geomar.de

Press releases

Further Information: www.ifm-geomar.de

Top