Courageously into the Future: Crossing Boundaries!

… was the motto of the ceremony for the prominent marine biologist Antje Boetius, director of the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) and professor at the University of Bremen. She was awarded this high distinction in early October – in the company of Alexander Gerst, Udo Lindenberg, and the pastor Rainer Eppelmann (resistance in the GDR). Boetius teaches microbial oceanography and uses her research to engage in the highest committees of the federal republic, in order to find ways against the destruction of the environment and for ways out of the climate crisis.

You can find more information on the awarding of the Order of Merit in the statement of the Office of the Federal President in Berlin here (German only).

On the buten un binnen website by Radio Bremen, there is a current interview with Antje Boetius as well as a video portrait of her.

And there was yet another, major distinction for the renowned marine biologist: the awarding of the Leibniz Ring by the press club Hannover. These pieces of jewelry are specially made for the respective recipient in their own competition by gold- and silversmiths. In his laudation, Hannes Jaenicke stated that the ring is proof and guarantor for Boetius’ commitment to the climate and her extraordinary dedication. He called her the Marie Curie of marine biology. “Antje Boetius understands perfectly well to publicly present her scientific findings understandably and eloquently far beyond the specialist audience. She therefore significantly shapes many important discussions.”

More than 400 guests attended the ceremony, among them Minister President of Lower Saxony Stephan Weil. We congratulate professor Boetius and are happy for her about that much honor and recognition.