Status Conference Research Vessels 2026

The Status Conference Research Vessels is an integral part of the process for allocating ship time on the German research vessels. The status conference usually takes place every two years, organized by a host marine research institution, with the support of the GPF office and PtJ on behalf of BMFTR.

The next Status Conference Research Vessels will take place at GEOMAR in Kiel on March 04–05, 2026.

Conference relevant information on venue, conference proceedings, agenda and posters will be constantly updated or added.

Cruise Tracks

Here you will find links to the tracklines of the individual sessions of the Status Conference Research Vessels 2026, assigned by session topic. Cruise events for ELISABETH MANN BORGESE are available, but the corresponding trackline data are not yet included.

All cruises

Marine Biogeochemistry

Registration

The invited Chief Scientists and lead PIs, member of the Review Panel German Research Vessels (GPF), as well as guests can register at the following link: Registration Status Conference Research Vessels 2026

Please register for the conference! Your registration enables us to provide you with further important documents and information.

Proceedings of the Status Conference Research Vessels 2026

About two years after the conclusion of their research cruise, Chief Scientists receive a request from the GPF head office to present key scientific findings of the cruise. These scientific contributions to the conference are summarized in a proceedings volume. Based on the scientific contributions made prior and during the Status Conference, the GPF decides whether a cruise is considered as formally completed.

Agenda

On 4 and 5 March 2026, the Status Conference will be implemented via four parallel sessions. The subdivision into four parallel sessions, each focusing on a distinct field of research, enables the conference participants to engage in informed professional discussions among experts. Sessions are divided into the following topics: Marine Biology, Oceanography, Marine Biogeochemistry, Marine Geology, and Marine Geophysics. GPF Panel members and experts in the field will be in charge of convening and moderating the individual sessions. The Status Conference will be held in English.

Oral presentation

For the oral presentation of the scientific results, 12 min are allocated, with additional 8 min slated for discussion. This duration also applies to talks presenting results from several research cruises jointly. Preferably, the Chief Scientist of the respective cruise should present the results.

Poster presentation

Posters can be provided as PDF file of up to 10 MB in size prior to the conference so that they can be uploaded and previewed on the event page. For this purpose, the required poster PDF shall be submitted to the PtJ event management, Christiane Wolf, as soon as possible.

Both the presentation during the poster session at the Status Conference as well as the upload at this event page requires a poster in portrait format and a print in DIN A0 for the conference venue. The posters will be presented on March 4th, followed by the poster award ceremony.

Poster abstracts can be submitted no later than 13 October 2025. Please submit your final poster version no later than 31 January 2026.

Event Location

GEOMAR – Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel kindly hosts the Status Conference Research Vessels 2026.

The event will take place in Building 5 (New building) as well as in the Lecture Hall of Building 8.

Campus Map of GEOMAR

Registration: Foyer, Building 8 in front of the lecture Hall

Plenary room: Building 8, lecture Hall

Oral sessions: Building 5, 1^st floor, Room Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, North Sea, Baltic Sea (1.211-1.214)

Poster session: Lithotheque, Building 8 next to the lecture Hall

Floor plan of Building 5 and 8

Campus and Parking Map

Accomodation:

The following accommodations are within reasonable walking or public transport distance from the event location and respective occupancy quota can be used for room reservations.

Hotel overview and room quota for the Status Conference Research Vessels 2026

Support

If you have any questions, you can contact Christiane Wolf from the PtJ event management: Christiane Wolf, or via phone +49 2461 61-85275.