German Ocean Award 2026

On November 5, 2026, GEOMAR will host the award ceremony for the 2026 German Ocean Award, presented by the Prof. Dr. Werner Petersen Foundation. This year’s prize goes to Prof. Dr. Angelika Brandt in recognition of her outstanding scientific achievements in deep-sea biological research, including her seminal contribution to our understanding of Antarctic deep-sea biodiversity.

Since 2009, the German Ocean Award has honored individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the protection and conservation of the ocean. Since 2024, it has been awarded alternately to prominent public figures and scientists in cooperation with the Prof. Dr. Werner Petersen Foundation. Minister President Daniel Günther serves as the patron.

About Angelika Brandt
Angelika Brandt is a marine biologist at Goethe University Frankfurt am Main and, until recently, headed the Department of Marine Zoology at the Senckenberg Society for Nature Research, where she remains active. Her work focuses on the diversity of life in the deep sea. She is particularly fascinated by how organisms adapt to extreme conditions and how species are distributed over vast areas or separated from one another by barriers. To this end, she combines classical zoological methods—based on careful observation and description—with modern molecular biological approaches. Her research highlights just how little we know about the deep sea and what a vast treasure trove of diverse marine life exists there that must be preserved. She has received numerous awards for her scientific achievements and her commitment to communicating scientific findings in an accessible way.

Date: Thursday, November 5, 2026, starting at 6:00 p.m.
Location: GEOMAR Building 8, Foyer and Lecture Hall, Wischhofstr. 1-3, 24148 Kiel
Further information: www.deutscher-meerespreis.de