12.09.2017 | The Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT) and Bremen-based publishing house Edition Falkenberg recently presented their new book “Smart usage, better conservation − Bremen research at tropical coasts” with a series of readings on the passenger ship Oceana. Editors Gotthilf and Irmtraut Hempel and Anna-Katharina Hornidge as well as several of the book’s authors attended the event. Music was provided by the cello quartet “Not Sweet”.
We dream about secluded palm-lined beaches and vibrant coral reefs. Bremen’s tropical researchers take a closer look. In more than thirty illustrated essays they vividly describe regional and social processes in coral reefs, seagrass meadows or mangrove forests and analyse the threats through climate change, sea-level rise, overexploitation or urbanization as a result of population pressure and social disparity. These processes are also affecting every-day life in Europe, Germany and Bremen through global commodity, finance, and migration flows.
The book is about using natural resources sustainably and protecting tropical habitats. With its broad range of marine scientific institutes, the Land Bremen has become Germany’s centre for tropical coastal research. This publication presents these institutions to a general public and gives an insight into marine ecosystems which are not only used but also heavily shaped by humankind.
The contributions have been divided into two main themes: dealing with the ecology on the one hand and with the interrelation between humans and resources in tropical coastal zones on the other. These parts are framed by articles about the historical development of tropical marine research in Bremen and the measures to further develop scientific expertise and capacities in tropical countries.
During the presentation some of the book’s authors read from their chapters about e.g. biodiversity in Papua’s waters, survival through symbiosis in tropical sediments and competition between fishery and whale tourism in Ecuador. More than two centuries have passed between the first expeditions of Bremen’s explorers and the founding of the Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research. We would have also liked to include contributions about sea-level rise, pates and pirates of Sulawesi or the sedimentation of a Javanese lagoon but the authors have long since returned to their exotic job locations.
Hempel, Gotthilf; Hempel, Irmtraut; Hornidge, Anna-Katharina, Hrsg. (2017) “Klüger nutzen – besser schützen. Bremer Forschung an tropischen Küsten” l 1st Edition, Edition Falkenberg, Bremen 2017 l ISBN 978-3-95494-134-6, 12,90 Euro
About the Editors
Dr. Gotthilf Hempel is Professor emeritus in marine science and fishery biology at the University of Kiel. He is the founding director of the Alfred-Wegener-Institute Helmholtz-Centre for Polar and Marine research (AWI) in Bremerhaven and of the Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT) in Bremen.
Dr. Irmtraut Hempel was a plankton researcher at the Institute for Polar Ecology in Kiel and is a co-editor of marine and polar scientific journals and books.
Dr. Anna-Katharina Hornidge is Professor for Sozial Sciences in the Marine Tropics at the University of Bremen and head of the department for social sciences at the Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT) in Bremen.
PROGRAM
Greeting
Prof. Dr. Anna-Katharina Hornidge and Linda Falkenberg
ABOUT MARINE BIOLOGICAL BOOKS
Dr. Irmtraut Hempel
ABOUT THE BOOK’S CONCEPT AND CONTENT
Prof. Dr. Gotthilf Hempel
A FIREWORK
of seven brief readings
MUSICAL FRAMING
Cello quartet »Not Sweet« under the direction of Götz Kelling-Urban
AFTERWARDS
Opportunity for open conversation
Contacts 
Working Groups 
Former Working Groups