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Underestimated Hazard and Resource at the
Bottom of the Sea
New dinoflagellate identification guide highlights the importance of marine single-celled organisms for science and society
Today, marine biologist Dr. Mona Hoppenrath from Senckenberg am Meer in Wilhelmshaven, together with international colleagues, presents the second, expanded edition of the world’s most comprehensive identification guide for marine benthic dinoflagellates: “Marine Benthic Dinoflagellates – Their Relevance for Science and Society.”more

PM_Oasen — Date Palm Diversity
Oases are hotspots of biological and cultural diversity – for their protection and sustainable use, a new study recommends that culture and biodiversity should be considered together
A research team has investigated the relationship between cultural and biological diversity for selected oases in the Sahara, using Algeria as a concrete example.more

Pressemeldung menschliche Skelette — Various evolutionary forces shape the human skeleton
Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment at the University of Tübingen explores skeletal features as an alternative to DNA analysismore

Pressemeldung Fundstätte — Database with 2,400 prehistoric sites
The role of culture in human expansions: Large-scale collection of digital data summarizes the results of 150 years of research and can be used by amateurs and scientists alikemore

Everything in Flux? First Recovery, then
Stagnation: The Status of Biodiversity in
European Waters
Long-term study shows that recovery of European freshwater biodiversity has stalled since the 2010s
Senckenberg researchers, in collaboration with a large international team, have examined the state and development of invertebrate biodiversity in European inland waters. After biodiversity in river systems increased significantly from 1968, this positive trend has stagnated since 2010.more

Carapace Size: How Turtles Developed Over The Past 200 Million Years
Diversity of body size in turtles studied
International researchers have compiled the most comprehensive data set to date on body sizes of recent and fossil turtles.more

Underestimated Hazard and Resource at the
Bottom of the Sea
New dinoflagellate identification guide highlights the importance of marine single-celled organisms for science and society
Date Palm Diversity
Oases are hotspots of biological and cultural diversity – for their protection and sustainable use, a new study recommends that culture and biodiversity should be considered together
Various evolutionary forces shape the human skeleton
Database with 2,400 prehistoric sites
Everything in Flux? First Recovery, then
Stagnation: The Status of Biodiversity in
European Waters
Long-term study shows that recovery of European freshwater biodiversity has stalled since the 2010s
Carapace Size: How Turtles Developed Over The Past 200 Million Years
Diversity of body size in turtles studied

Senckenberg – Leibniz Institution for Biodiversity and Earth System Research

New Applications Round starting at 1st of September
Starting September 1, young scientists (PhD students, post-docs) from the Global South can again apply for a Global Fellowship grant.
More informations here

All open positions for scientists

Water as a Weapon
Statement on the destruction of Kakhovka Dam in Ukraine
On March 3, 2023, an international team of researchers warned of the impact of Russia’s war of aggression on freshwater resources, water infrastructure, and the environment in Ukraine. Now, with the blasting of the Kakhovka Dam on June 6, 2023, the worst-case scenario has become a reality. In a joint statement, Dr. Oleksandra Shumilova of the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) and Prof. Dr. Klement Tockner, Director General of the Senckenberg Society for Nature Research (SGN), draw attention to the drastic consequences of this ecological catastrophe.
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Link to the complete statement

Senckenberg Distinguished Lecture Series

The ocean faces a biodiversity crisis driven by direct and indirect human impacts; however, our knowledge of global marine biodiversity is insufficient for ocean management. With species in decline and extinction a real possibility, species discovery and description has to accelerate and address the policies needed to conserve marine life. Alex Rogers, Science Director of the Nippon Foundation, will present the new Ocean Census programme on how to accelerate species discovery in the oceans.

German Diversity Day 2023
Senckenberg celebrates diversity
This year the German Diversity Day celebrates its 11th anniversary. The aim of the initiative, which was launched by Charta der Vielfalt (Diversity Charter) on 31 May 2012, is to advance the recognition, appreciation and inclusion of diversity in the workforce across Germany. Members of the Charta, including Senckenberg, strive to create a working environment that is free from bias. We work to support and value all our employees, regardless of age, ethnic origin and nationality, gender and gender identity, physical and mental abilities, religion and belief, sexual orientation or social origin. As a signatory of this diversity network, the Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung will be flying the flag for diversity with creative actions on Tuesday 23 May 2023 as part of a Diversity Week.
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More on Diversity

Anakonda & Wasserschwein — Donate now!
For our highlight exhibit anaconda with capybara
Since the beginning of February, the public’s favorite has been in the workshop of the Senckenberg Naturmuseum Frankfurt’s zoological taxidermy department. In order to avoid dry cracks in the skin of the animals in the future, they are to move into a showcase with permanent humidity control following their “wellness vacation”. Here we are dependent on your support! Donate so that future generations can still admire the anaconda with capybara in amazement!
Donate now

Find out more about the anaconda with capybara

The changing Arctic - How life reacts in the ice and the deep sea

The Senckenberg Distinguished Lecture Series kicks off with Prof. Dr. Antje Boetius’ report on the diversity of habitats in the ice-covered Arctic Ocean, and on the processes that create a direct link between the fate of sea ice and the benthic communities. Furthermore, she presents future strategies for studies in the polar regions.

Discover more lecture series on our YouTube channel

Sammlung Ichthyologie Dr. Tilman Alpermann — Archive of our Planet's History
Groundbreaking global database connects more than 1 billion objects in collections of natural history museums
Senckenberg is part of an initiative that has mapped the total collections from 73 of the world’s largest natural history museums in 28 countries. Organized by the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC, the American Museum of Natural History Museum in New York City, and the Natural History Museum in London, the survey is the first step in an ambitious effort to inventory the global holdings of natural history collections. As a unique archive of our planet’s history, they can help scientists and decisionmakers find solutions to urgent, wide-ranging issues such as climate change, food insecurity, human health, pandemic preparedness, biodiversity and wildlife conservation.
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Senckenberg International Affairs

Understanding Climate
Special exhibition
How do natural scientists study the climate of the past? And how can this knowledge help us to better understand our climate future? These questions are addressed by the new special exhibition “Understanding Climate – Lessons from the Past” at the Senckenberg Natural History Museum.
Mehr Informationen

See more of our special exhibitions

The three museums of the Senckenberg Society for Nature Research display exciting results of Senckenberg research as well as globally unique exhibits and changing exhibitions on important topics of natural science.

Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut Frankfurt Außenansicht

Adrian Giacomelli

Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum

Frankfurt/M.

Frankfurt am Main is the headquarters location of Senckenberg – Leibniz Institution for Biodiversity and Earth System Research (SGN). It is the home of the Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, which also comprises the research stations Weimar, Gelnhausen, and the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Messel Pit.”more

Senckenberg Museum of Natural History

Görlitz

The roots of the Senckenberg Museum of Natural History Görlitz go back to the year 1811, when the “Ornithological Society of Görlitz” was founded. Today the scientists at the museum record the diversity of life on earth, the interactions between organisms, and the organisms’ status and function within the ecosystems. Experts around the globe make use of these museum collections to find answers to their scientific questions.more

A. B. Meyer-Bau, Außenansicht, Foto F. Höhler, 2003

Senckenberg Natural History Collections

Dresden

Since January 1, 2009 the group formerly known as the State Natural History Collections of Dresden has been a member of the Senckenberg – Leibniz Institution for Biodiversity and Earth System Research, together with the Zoology Museum and the Museum for Mineralogy and Geology. The roots of the Dresden Natural History Collections extend back into the 16th century.more

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Senckenberg Distinguished Lecture Series
Emerging Frontiers in Nature Research
The Distinguished Lecture Series brings internationally renowned scholars and other intellectual and civic leaders to Senckenberg. In addition to the featured lecture, each visit typically includes discussions or a public event designed to engage a wide range of Senckenberg scientists. With this lecture series Senckenberg aims to create a new, primarily internationally oriented platform for networking and exchange, for creating synergies and inspired discussions – in short: a further component to add to Senckenberg’s lively scientific and curiosity-driven in-house culture.
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More Information about the Program

Published by Senckenberg

Senckenberg Publications

New Publications

Scientific Journals

The Senckenberg Science Magazine

Senckenberg Books

Support Senckenberg
The extensive research and outreach of the Senckenberg Society for Nature Research is only possible because committed citizens have promoted and supported Senckenberg since its foundation. Help to set up our society for the next 200 years with a donation!
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More ways to get involved

Senckenberg up close

SGN Senckenberg

Senckenberg up close

The Hidden Beauty of the Deep Sea

Interview with Dr. Gritta Veit-Köhler

Her first expedition to Antarctica happened more than 20 years ago. Since then, Gritta Veit-Köhler has been researching the peculiarities of organisms in the seafloor that are smaller than one millimeter and represent the so-called meiofauna.

Auslesen einer archäobotanischen Probe auf bestimmbare Taxa im Labor für Archäobotanik

Simone Riehl Uni Tübingen

Senckenberg up close

Why are we the way we are?

An Interview with archaeologist Bárbara Rodriguez Álvarez

Since Bárbara Rodriguez Álvarez got a fossil of an ammonite by her dad when she was a kid, she has been studying the traces of the past as an archaeologist.

Michael Larosa Unsplash

Senckenberg Topics

Wolf monitoring at Senckenberg

Interview with Dr. Carsten Nowak

There have been wolves in Germany since they returned twenty years ago. This has caused controversy in politics and the media to this day. Dr. Carsten Nowak from the Senckenberg Research Institute speaks about wolf monitoring and Senckenberg's role as a reference center in Germany.

SGN, Krister T. Smith

Senckenberg up close

A big and very challenging puzzle

Interview with Dr. habil. Krister T. Smith

How does climate (change) influence ecological cycles and what can fossils teach us about the climate of past times? Paleontologist Dr.Smith is fascinated about the roots of life. In this interview, he explains the origins of his excitement for Paleoherpetology and sheds light on the secrets hidden in the Messel Pit.

Tockner Talks

In “Tockner Talks”, Klement Tockner, Director General of the Senckenberg Society for Nature Research, answers questions on current Earth system research that concern many people. From species loss or the acute and much-discussed topic of invasive species to climate protection and whether technology can stop global warming – the range of topics extends into all spheres of earthly life and makes this series a must for anyone interested in biodiversity.

Watch all Episodes

Prof. Dr. Klement Tockner
Director General of the Senckenberg Society for Nature Research

Episode I

Check out our Youtube channel

Our Collections

SGN

Knowledge Resources

Collections

Program Research Infrastructure

Natural history collections constitute Senckenberg’s largest and most important research infrastructure.

More about Senckenberg Collections

Markus Spiske

Knowledge Resources

Databases

Program Research Infrastructure

Ready for future with the collection databases.

AQUiLA

New search portal for Senckenberg collections

From SeSam to AQUiLA - Senckenberg's customized solution for digital collection management.

www.edaphobase.de

Edaphobase

Open access Data Warehouse for Soil Biodiversity

Edaphobase is a non-commercial data infrastructure developed and hosted by the Senckenberg Museum of Natural History Görlitz in Germany, combining data from heterogeneous sources on soil animals and making this data available to the public in open access.

Underestimated Hazard and Resource at the Bottom of the Sea

New dinoflagellate identification guide highlights the importance of marine single-celled organisms for science and society

Date Palm Diversity

Oases are hotspots of biological and cultural diversity – for their protection and sustainable use, a new study recommends that culture and biodiversity should be considered together

Various evolutionary forces shape the human skeleton

Database with 2,400 prehistoric sites

Everything in Flux? First Recovery, then Stagnation: The Status of Biodiversity in European Waters

Long-term study shows that recovery of European freshwater biodiversity has stalled since the 2010s

Carapace Size: How Turtles Developed Over The Past 200 Million Years

Diversity of body size in turtles studied

Underestimated Hazard and Resource at the Bottom of the Sea

New dinoflagellate identification guide highlights the importance of marine single-celled organisms for science and society

Date Palm Diversity

Oases are hotspots of biological and cultural diversity – for their protection and sustainable use, a new study recommends that culture and biodiversity should be considered together

Various evolutionary forces shape the human skeleton

Database with 2,400 prehistoric sites

Everything in Flux? First Recovery, then Stagnation: The Status of Biodiversity in European Waters

Long-term study shows that recovery of European freshwater biodiversity has stalled since the 2010s

Carapace Size: How Turtles Developed Over The Past 200 Million Years

Diversity of body size in turtles studied

Senckenberg – Leibniz Institution for Biodiversity and Earth System Research

New Applications Round starting at 1st of September

Water as a Weapon

Statement on the destruction of Kakhovka Dam in Ukraine

Senckenberg Distinguished Lecture Series

German Diversity Day 2023

Senckenberg celebrates diversity

Donate now!

For our highlight exhibit anaconda with capybara

Find out more about the anaconda with capybara

The changing Arctic - How life reacts in the ice and the deep sea

Archive of our Planet's History

Groundbreaking global database connects more than 1 billion objects in collections of natural history museums

Understanding Climate

Special exhibition

The three museums of the Senckenberg Society for Nature Research display exciting results of Senckenberg research as well as globally unique exhibits and changing exhibitions on important topics of natural science.

Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum

Frankfurt/M.

Senckenberg Museum of Natural History

Görlitz

Senckenberg Natural History Collections

Dresden

Senckenberg Distinguished Lecture Series

Emerging Frontiers in Nature Research

Published by Senckenberg

Senckenberg Publications

New Publications

Scientific Journals

The Senckenberg Science Magazine

Senckenberg Books

Senckenberg – Leibniz Institution for Biodiversity and Earth System Research

Support Senckenberg

Senckenberg up close

Senckenberg up close

The Hidden Beauty of the Deep Sea

Interview with Dr. Gritta Veit-Köhler

Senckenberg up close

Why are we the way we are?

An Interview with archaeologist Bárbara Rodriguez Álvarez

Senckenberg Topics

Wolf monitoring at Senckenberg

Interview with Dr. Carsten Nowak

Senckenberg up close

A big and very challenging puzzle

Interview with Dr. habil. Krister T. Smith

Tockner Talks

Prof. Dr. Klement Tockner

Our Collections

Knowledge Resources

Collections

Program Research Infrastructure

Knowledge Resources

Databases

Program Research Infrastructure

AQUiLA

New search portal for Senckenberg collections

Edaphobase

Open access Data Warehouse for Soil Biodiversity

Your donation for the Senckenberg Society

Underestimated Hazard and Resource at the
Bottom of the Sea

Everything in Flux? First Recovery, then
Stagnation: The Status of Biodiversity in
European Waters

Underestimated Hazard and Resource at the
Bottom of the Sea

Everything in Flux? First Recovery, then
Stagnation: The Status of Biodiversity in
European Waters