The future of humankind greatly depends on the development of the oceans. The oceans play a key role in the global climate; they pose a threat to the coasts due to global sea level rise, the occurrence of tsunamis and submarine land slides or the progressing acidification of the oceans caused by the increased uptake of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2). But at the same time, the oceans also offer vast opportunities in the form of resources that can be harnessed by mankind. Chances are opening up in many fields including marine medicine, fishery or new sources of energy. The research focus Marine Science pursues these topics by closely collaborating with biologists from the Helmholtz Center for Maritime Research (GEOMAR) and scientists at the Research and Technology Center (FTZ) located in Büsum. In the past ten years, this successful collaboration has resulted in the formation of two Collaborative Research Centres (SFB) and the Excellence Cluster Future Ocean. The latter teams up scientists from Kiel University, GEOMAR, the Kiel Institute for World Economy (IfW) and the Muthesius Academy of Fine Arts and Design (MKHS) teaming up.

Graph of topographic and bathymetric structures

The Excellence Cluster is a wide-ranging inter-disciplinary endeavor that involves scientists and experts from various disciplinary areas such as economics, international law, politics, and social and ethical science. The aim is to develop general models that will contribute to a better understanding of the oceans and the results of interference by mankind and environmental changes. These will establish the bases for scientific scenarios and forecasts. In accordance with a number of inter-disciplinary scientists and decision makers we hope to formulate necessary sustainable approaches for healthy oceans.

The Excellence Clusters integrative approach is also visible in the newly founded Kiel Academy of Interdisciplinary Marine Science (KAIMS). It will support Marine Science with knowledge transfer, proactive public relations and international activities as well as the academic programs such as the Integrated School of Ocean Sciences (ISOS) and Integrated Marine Postdocs (IMAP). Furthermore, scientists will be able to use networks in the field of Tracer Analysis, Modelling, Data Management, Ethics and Genomics. All in all, the Excellence Cluster will further strengthen research and education at Kiel University and its partner institutions, proving Kiel to be a top international location for inter-disciplinary ocean science.