Bremerhaven, the 21.05.2007. -- Korean and German research institutes would like to increase their collaboration in the area of Polar and Marine research. In order to achieve this, scientists from both countries are coming together for a meeting in Bremerhaven from 22nd-25th May. The Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine research (a member of the Helmholtz Association) is the host.

During a small celebration, Prof. Dr. Jrn Thiede, Director of the Alfred Wegener Institute will sign a cooperation agreement with three Korean partner institutes.

"Germany is a world leader in the area of Polar and Marine Research" said Dr. Seung-Il Nam from Korea Institute for Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM)". "Korea is unable to undertake any large research projects in the Arctic Ocean, due to its weak research infrastructure. A cooperation, between Germany and Korea will strengthen Koreas competence in the area of Polar and Marine research". In addition to KIGAM, the other two AWI partners are, Korea Ocean Research and Development Institute (KORDI)" and Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI).

During the workshops in Bremerhaven, where already, various meetings in Korea have been planned for the International polar Year 2007/2008, the German and Korean scientists will discuss other joint projects, as well as plans for the new icebreaker that the Korea is planning to build very soon. Professor Thiede said We have a cooperation with KORDI in the area of marine aquaculture, that will be very promising. Korea is a world leader in the area of marine aquaculture and this collaboration will be a great win for the AWI". The collaboration between the Alfred Wegener Institute and the three Korean Institutes is part of the initiative "Korea and Germany Partners in Research and Development", from the Federal Ministry for Education and Research in Germany.