German Society of Polar Research

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Polarforschung e.V. (DGP), known in English as the German Society of Polar Research, is a German non-profit scientific society dedicated to the study of polar and high-mountain regions. Founded in 1926 in Kiel by the geophysicist Max Grotewahl as the Archiv für Polarforschung, it was renamed Deutsche Gesellschaft für Polarforschung in 1959. The society serves as an open network for all those interested in polar and high-mountain research, from experienced scientists to engaged laypeople, and currently has over 500 members, including about 40 corporate members. The DGP pursues exclusively non-profit goals, with a particular focus on dialogue between research in polar and high-mountain regions and society. It is led by a board and advised by an internationally renowned scientific advisory council, which includes the speakers of its seven working groups. The society promotes interdisciplinary exchange, international cooperation, and the targeted support of early-career scientists through access to knowledge, mentoring, and networks. Events, working groups, and its journal Polarforschung provide platforms for dialogue and new impulses. Since 1931 the DGP has published the journal Polarforschung, today jointly with the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research. The society also awards the Weyprecht Medal at irregular intervals for outstanding scientific achievements in polar regions. Since 1951 it has organized International Polar Conferences (Internationale Polartagungen) every two to three years; the 27th took place in Rostock in 2018, and the 28th was held in Potsdam from 1 to 5 May 2022 after being postponed from October 2021. The DGP maintains several working groups (Arbeitskreise) that discuss subject-specific questions and stimulate new programs, including Biological and Ecological Processes in Polar Regions, Geology and Geophysics of Polar Regions, History of Polar Research, Permafrost, Polar Geodesy and Glaciology, and Polar Teachers. It also engages in polar education and outreach, offering seminars, specialist events, and excursions for young researchers, school students, and interested laypeople. The society is headquartered in Bremerhaven and its board includes Cornelia Spiegel-Behnke as First Chair, Jens O. Herrle as Second Chair, Frank Wilhelms as Managing Director, and Mirko Scheinert as Treasurer.

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Polarforschung (DGP) traces its origins to 1926, when the geophysicist Max Grotewahl founded the Archiv für Polarforschung in Kiel, a central collection of scientific knowledge about the polar regions. Two years later, the Vereinigung zur Förderung der Polarforschung (Association for the Promotion of Polar Research) was established, dedicated to documentation, organization, and support of expeditions. A key milestone was the introduction of the journal Polarforschung in 1931, which continues to serve as a medium for scientific contributions to polar and glacial research. The relevance of German polar research was underscored in 1951 with the first Internationale Polartagung (International Polar Conference) in Kiel, which decisively strengthened international exchange. In 1959 the association received its current name, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Polarforschung e.V. (DGP), establishing itself as a platform for German and international polar research. The society has been led by a series of chairs: Alfred Ritscher (1959–1963), Karl Weiken (1963–1972), Walther Hofmann (1973–1976), Dietrich Möller (1976–1996), Georg Kleinschmidt (1996–2010), Eva-Maria Pfeiffer (2010–2021), and Cornelia Spiegel since 2021. Today the DGP is an open network for all those interested in polar and high-mountain research, from experienced scientists to engaged laypeople, with over 500 members, including about 40 corporate members. It promotes exchange, knowledge transfer, and new impulses for research, and is particularly committed to supporting early-career scientists through access to knowledge, mentoring, and networks. Events, working groups, and the journal Polarforschung provide platforms for dialogue and new impulses. The society also engages intensively in polar education and outreach, offering seminars, specialist events, and excursions for young researchers, school students, and interested laypeople. The DGP maintains several working groups (Arbeitskreise) that discuss subject-specific questions and stimulate new programs. Current working groups cover Biological and Ecological Processes in Polar Regions, Geology and Geophysics of Polar Regions, History of Polar Research, Permafrost, Polar Geodesy and Glaciology, and Polar Teachers. The Working Group on the History of Polar Research, established in 1991, examines not only advances in individual disciplines and technical developments in expedition logistics but also national and international research cooperations and the steps toward institutionalizing polar research, considering the history of polar research in political, economic, and cultural context. Its members include polar researchers, historians, science historians, and other interested parties from Germany and abroad. Since 1951 the society has organized International Polar Conferences every two to three years. The 27th Internationale Polartagung took place in Rostock in 2018. The 28th was planned for October 2021 in Potsdam but was held from 1 to 5 May 2022. The DGP also awards the Weyprecht Medal at irregular intervals for outstanding scientific achievements in polar regions. The journal Polarforschung, published since 1931, is today issued jointly with the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research. The society is headquartered in Bremerhaven and pursues exclusively non-profit goals.

• 2022

  28th Internationale Polartagung held in Potsdam from 1 to 5 May (postponed from October 2021).

• 2018

  27th Internationale Polartagung held in Rostock.

• 1991

  Working Group on the History of Polar Research established.

• 1959

  Association renamed Deutsche Gesellschaft für Polarforschung e.V. (DGP).

• 1951

  First Internationale Polartagung held in Kiel.

• 1931

  Journal Polarforschung introduced.

• 1928

  Vereinigung zur Förderung der Polarforschung established.

• 1926

  Max Grotewahl founds the Archiv für Polarforschung in Kiel.

Non-profit scientific society and open network for polar and high-mountain research, bridging science and society.

• Journal Polarforschung

  Scientific journal published since 1931, today jointly with the Alfred Wegener Institute.

• Internationale Polartagung

  International polar conference held every two to three years since 1951.

• Weyprecht Medal

  Awarded at irregular intervals for outstanding scientific achievements in polar regions.

• Working groups (Arbeitskreise)

  Subject-specific groups discussing questions and stimulating new programs.

1. 1Startseite - Deutsche Gesellschaft für Polarforschung e.V.polarforschung.de
2. 2Über uns - Deutsche Gesellschaft für Polarforschung e.V.polarforschung.de
3. 3Geschichte - Deutsche Gesellschaft für Polarforschung e.V.polarforschung.de
4. 4Geschichte der Polarforschung - Deutsche Gesellschaft für Polarforschung e.V.polarforschung.de
5. 5Deutsche Gesellschaft für Polarforschungde.wikipedia.org
6. 6Deutsche Gesellschaft für Polarforschungwikidata.org