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Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Kiel. At GEOMAR, the Prof. Dr Werner Petersen Foundation presented this year’s early-career awards. Three prizes for outstanding doctoral theses, two knowledge transfer awards and one exchange fellowship were granted, each endowed with €2,500. The foundation thus recognises both excellent scientific work and exceptional commitment to sharing knowledge with society.
Through its early-career awards, the Werner Petersen Foundation supports outstanding scientific achievements and dedicated engagement in knowledge transfer at GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel. Six awardees were honoured this year.
“On behalf of GEOMAR, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Prof. Dr Werner Petersen Foundation for its long-standing support of young talents. The researchers we honour this year once again demonstrate how much innovation, dedication and creativity reside within the next generation of scientists. It is inspiring to see how they not only advance ocean research but also help ensure that scientific insights reach society,” said Professor Dr Katja Matthes, Director of GEOMAR.
Dr Klaus Wichmann, Chair of the Foundation, added: “The awardees embody the curiosity, courage and scientific excellence that drive progress in research. For the foundation, recognising and supporting this exceptional commitment is of particular importance.”
The Awardees and Their Work at a Glance
Outstanding doctoral theses
Dr Iason Gazis: “Quantitative mapping and predictive modelling of Mn nodules’ distribution from hydroacoustic and optical AUV data linked by random forests machine learning” (Nominated by Prof. Dr Jens Greinert)
In his doctoral research, Iason Gazis combined state-of-the-art acoustic and optical AUV-based methods with machine learning techniques to map polymetallic manganese nodules on the seafloor with exceptional precision and to predict their spatial distribution. He also analysed the largest deep-sea monitoring exercise to date. During a manganese nodule mining test, he investigated how sediment clouds spread in space and time, and how they were deposited on the seabed. His work sets new standards for spatial analysis in the deep sea and is both methodologically innovative and of high practical relevance for example in assessing potential environmental impacts of deep-sea mining. His nomination especially highlights his commitment to open science: he makes nearly all collected data publicly available and is strongly engaged in supervising students and fostering international collaborations. Through this work, he contributes significantly to transparency, scientific progress and community engagement.
Dr Vanessa Stenvers: “Midwater invertebrates in the deep pelagic ocean: adaptations, interactions and impacts of stressors” (Nominated by Dr Henk-Jan Hoving)
Vanessa Stenvers’ doctoral thesis explores how organisms such as gelatinous zooplankton and crustaceans are adapted to the extreme conditions of the deep pelagic ocean. She combined deep-sea and open-water observations with experimental approaches and analysed complex datasets, developed new software tools, and produced high-quality graphics and scientific illustrations. A highlight of her work is her study on the effects of warming and potential deep-sea mining activities on the jellyfish species Periphylla periphylla, published in Nature Communications. By integrating genomics, microbiome analyses, physiology and behavioural studies, her thesis represents an outstanding example of integrative deep-sea biology.
Dr Liam MacNeil: “Biogeography and community assembly of demersal fishes across continental shelf seas” (Nominated by Prof. Dr Thorsten Reusch)
Liam MacNeil investigated how fish communities are distributed across continental shelf seas and which environmental, evolutionary and anthropogenic factors shape their composition and ecological functions. He analysed data from the North Atlantic, the North Pacific and the Baltic Sea, developed dynamic models for multiple species, identified biogeographic boundaries and explained functional traits in fish assemblages. His work combines cutting-edge fundamental research with questions of societal relevance, such as predicting future changes in fish communities in commercially exploited shelf regions. All three thesis chapters have already been published or accepted in peer-reviewed journals.
Petersen Knowledge Transfer Prize
Dr Torsten Frey (Nominated by Prof. Dr Jens Greinert)
Torsten Frey receives the Knowledge Transfer Prize for his exceptional engagement in science communication and interdisciplinary work. In his doctoral thesis, he developed a new risk model for unexploded ordnance (UXO) in the sea, incorporating social science methods to integrate perspectives from policy-makers, authorities and industry. Since 2019, he has worked on a range of projects at GEOMAR, several of which he initiated and organised himself, and is committed to sharing scientific findings directly with stakeholders such as ministries, NGOs and industry partners. Torsten is recognised nationally and internationally as an expert on munitions in the sea and is frequently interviewed by the media. He gives public talks, contributes to conferences, moderates workshops and prepares expert reports for organisations including NATO and HELCOM. Through his clear communication and ability to engage diverse audiences, he has played a key role in strengthening the network of experts working to address munitions in the marine environment.
Dr Lara Schmittmann (Nominated by Prof. Dr Arne Biastoch and Prof. Dr Stephan Juricke)
Lara Schmittmann convinced the jury through her unique combination of biological oceanography and physical ocean dynamics. She investigates how marine organisms disperse using ocean current models and develops new statistical methods that advance both fields. Alongside her interdisciplinary research, she is strongly committed to science communication and public engagement. In public talks, she explains complex scientific concepts in an accessible way. She also contributes to initiatives such as a planned mural project with primary school pupils, aimed at raising awareness of biodiversity and climate issues in the Baltic Sea. By linking excellent research with clear and engaging communication, Lara Schmittmann plays an important role in bringing ocean science into society.
Petersen Exchange Fellowship
Dr Pauline Verdurme (Nominated by Prof. Dr Kaj Hoernle)
Pauline Verdurme receives the exchange fellowship for her outstanding research on deep-sea volcanism. She investigates the formation of sediment-hosted volcanic glass along mid-ocean ridges, combining fieldwork, high-resolution morphometric analyses and geochemistry. Her work provides new insights into the dynamics of submarine volcanic eruptions. The fellowship will allow her to spend a research stay at the Laboratoire Magmas et Volcans (LMV) in Clermont-Ferrand, France, where she will benefit from specialised analytical facilities and collaborate closely with leading experts on volcanic ash and glass morphology.
https://www.geomar.de/n10112 – Image material for download
https://www.geomar.de/zentrum/preise-und-auszeichnungen/nachwuchspreise Early-career awards of the Prof. Dr Werner-Petersen Foundation
https://www.petersen-stiftung.de Prof. Dr Werner-Petersen Foundation
https://www.geomar.de/karriere-campus/campus/doktorandin Information for doctoral researchers at GEOMAR
https://www.geomar.de/karriere-campus/campus/promovierte Postdoctoral researchers at GEOMAR
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