GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel is one of the leading marine science institutions in Europe. GEOMAR investigates the chemical, physical, biological, and geological processes in the oceans, as well as their interactions with the seafloor and the atmosphere.

Research at GEOMAR is organized in four Research Divisions: Ocean Circulation and Climate Dynamics, Marine Biogeochemistry, Marine Ecology and Dynamics of the Ocean Floor. In cooperation with the University of Kiel, GEOMAR also contributes to the research network “Future Ocean” and the Collaborative Research Centre (SFB) “Biogeochemistry Interactions in the Tropical Ocean” (SFB 754) and a number of projects focusing on applied questions.

In the framework of the programme-oriented research funding of the Helmholtz Association GEOMAR is contributing to the research division "Earth and Environment" with the programme "OCEANS" and a contribution to the programme "Geosystem - The changing Earth" of the German Research Centre for Geosciences. These programmes have a duration of five years, starting 2014 (the programme has been extended until end of 2020).