Knowledge Transfer

Helmholtz Climate Initiative conference February 2022 in Berlin. Photo: Ulf Büschleb

Knowledge Transfer

Knowledge transfer and interaction with stakeholders form an integral part of GEOMAR research. Third-party funded projects and scientists at GEOMAR are for example involved in political consultations and committees as well as studies and expert assessments or development of guidelines. They engage in dialogues with political decision-makers in a variety of ways.

Within the framework of the GEOMAR 2030 strategy, internal structures for coordination, consultation and support of knowledge transfer activities are being established, and knowledge transfer is being further institutionalized. In this context, aspects of knowledge transfer will also be integrated into the talent support of young scientists in order to strengthen a “Transfer-Welcome” mindset. All measures contribute to further increasing the effectiveness of knowledge transfer.

In the German Marine Research Alliance (DAM) and the German Marine Research Consortium (KDM), GEOMAR is involved in the development of an agenda for coastal and marine research. On an international level, GEOMAR contributes to various activities of the European Marine Board (EMB) – the European think tank for political communication with a focus on marine issues. The involvement of GEOMAR in the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) is particularly relevant for knowledge transfer.

Already since 2003, various educational formats have been part of the GEOMAR transfer activities, including joint projects with secondary schools in Schleswig-Holstein and a support program for particularly talented and motivated young people. The goal of these activities is to pass on findings from research to young talents in schools. In addition, GEOMAR is involved in the training of young scientists (teaching activities in the bachelor and master area), as well as capacity building in cooperation with the Ocean Science Center Mindelo (OSCM), a branch of GEOMAR in Cabo Verde as well as their administration and central facilities.