Marine biodiversity institute founded

The Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity has been inaugurated at the University of Oldenburg in Lower Saxony.

At the inauguration ceremony on 31 May, Lower Saxony’s science minister Gabriele Heinen-Kljajic said that the founding of the institute meant that Oldenburg was establishing itself as a major centre for marine and climate research at the international level.

“The institute is a prime example of how excellent fundamental scientific research and social relevance can successfully be combined. The oceans represent the largest and most essential ecosystem on the planet. They have a considerable influence on climate developments, and at the same time are shaped by the impacts of climate change,” she said.