Outstanding Research Works Honored with the Partner Cities Prize

8 October 2014, by Franziska Neigenfind

Photo: UHH/CEN/M. Zapf

CEN Director Prof. D. Stammer, Senator Dr. D. Stapelfeldt, the awardees E. Wegner and Dr. M. Mathis, jury member Prof. em. J. Sündermann, J. Themlitz, Gesellschaft Harmonie (l.t.r.)

At a ceremony last night, University Senator Dr. Dorothee Stapelfeldt presented CEN alumni Dr. Moritz Mathis and Elina Wegner with the Partner Cities Prize ...

At a ceremony last night, University Senator Dr. Dorothee Stapelfeldt presented CEN alumni Dr. Moritz Mathis and Elina Wegner with the Partner Cities Prize in recognition of their outstanding theses on water and the climate.

Water is the one element that connects all of Hamburg’s Partner Cities. Whether Prague, Shanghai, Dresden or St. Petersburg – all lie on or near rivers, lakes or seas. Though climate change will affect all of them differently, as further factors also come into play, nevertheless many cities will face similar climatic conditions.

The Partner Cities Prize, which is sponsored every year by the “Gesellschaft Harmonie von 1789,” together with the association “Friends and Supporters of the Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability.” Through its support, Germany’s oldest gentlemen’s club endeavors to “underline Hamburg’s responsibility with regard to the important topic of ‘water’” and to “foster an ongoing dialog between the Partner Cities – including the research level,” as Jan Themlitz, a member of the Gesellschaft Harmonie, stated.

This year’s prize was split between two recipients, with oceanographer Dr. Moritz Mathis and geographer Elina Wegner each receiving 2,500 euros. Mathis’ doctoral dissertation offers detailed projections of how the sea level, temperature and salinity of the North Sea will most likely change in the years to come, providing a valuable basis for subsequent ecological studies – for example, on how animals and plants will respond to the changing temperatures. Given the influence of the North Sea on the central European climate, his dissertation is relevant not only for Hamburg, but Dresden, Prague and St. Petersburg as well.

Elina Wegner was recognized for her outstanding diploma thesis in the field of Geography, in which she observed how a drinking-water supply system organized by local citizens in Nicaragua works. She identified the advantages and disadvantages of this type of organization, while also evaluating an important aspect of water resource management in this developing country. Further, her work bears major relevance to León, our Partner City in Nicaragua.

Dr. Dorothee Stapelfeldt, University Senator for Science and Research, congratulated the two “rising stars” for having amply demonstrated that their time at Universität Hamburg equipped them with the tools they need to conduct exceptional research. As Prof. Dieter Lenzen, President of Universität Hamburg, emphasized: “The climate and Earth system research conducted in Hamburg enjoys a high international standing. These two outstanding works demonstrate that our youngest researchers live up to that reputation.”

The association Friends and Supporters of the CEN focuses on making essential research findings available to a broad readership. “Friends and Supporters of the CEN supports young researchers and works to promote and intensify communication across disciplines,” summarized Prof. emeritus Jürgen Sündermann, a member of the association and of this year’s prize jury, who went on to congratulate both prizewinners for their “superb and socially relevant theses.”