About us
Who we are and what we do
We strengthen the sustainable use of coasts, seas and oceans through research and transfer, data management and digitalisation, and by coordinating the infrastructures.
Seas and oceans cover around 70 percent of the Earth’s surface. Connected by currents, they form the largest interconnected ecosystem in the world: a habitat for millions of species that also forms the basis of life for a growing world population. By storing heat and CO₂ and producing oxygen, the seas and oceans also have a significant influence on the climate. significant influence on the climate. The oceans are vital for survival – but they are under threat: Man-made climate change, overexploitation and pollution threaten the oceans, their climate-regulating effect and many other functions that are important for our existence on this planet. In order to protect our coasts, seas and oceans and use them sustainably, we need to better understand their complexity. German marine research, which occupies a leading international position, is making a decisive contribution to this.
In 2019, the federal government, represented by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), and the northern German states founded the German Marine Research Alliance (DAM), which brings together the leading institutions in German marine research. Through its activities in the core areas of research, data management and digitalization, coordination of infrastructures and transfer, the DAM develops orientation and practical knowledge for politics, business and civil society – as a basis for the necessary change towards greater sustainability and the protection of the oceans.
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Who we are
Evaluation of the DAM
In order to review the effectiveness of the DAM, an external strategic and structural evaluation of DAM’s activities to date was carried out in 2024 and the evaluation report was published in March 2025:
We are delighted with the positive assessment and would like to thank everyone for their past and future support!
Together with the German Marine Research Consortium (KDM), we are now devoting ourselves to the next important task: the merger into a joint organisation for German marine research.
Contact for enquiries about the evaluation:
Joachim Harms, Chairman of the DAM Executive Board
DAM and KDM – merger into a joint association
(Status: 11.03.2025)
With the German Marine Research Alliance (DAM) and the German Marine Research Consortium (KDM), there are currently two associations that are founded and run with complementary tasks and objectives, but represent German marine research with a comparable focus.
The aim is to merge both organizations into a joint association and to bundle activities based on previous achievements and objectives so that German marine research is strengthened nationally and internationally and perceived as a single entity.
After a preparatory phase lasting several years, the members of both associations unanimously formulated their intention to merge at a joint meeting on February 21, 2025.
The concrete preparations for the merger – planned for fall 2025 – are underway.
Contact for queries
Joachim Harms, Chairman of the DAM Executive Board
Ulrich Bathmann, Chairman of the KDM Executive Board and member of the DAM Executive Board
What we do
DAM Statutes (in German)
According to its statutes, the purpose of the German Marine Research Alliance is the promotion of science and research, which is realized in particular by strengthening German marine research. The term marine research encompasses the relevant disciplines of coastal, marine and polar research.
DAM Administrative Agreement (in German)
The administrative agreement on the establishment and funding of the German Marine Research Alliance (DAM) came into force on July 18, 2019. It defines the tasks and objectives as well as the organization and committee structure of the DAM.
DAM-Flyer
Brief overview of the objectives and focus of the DAM
DAM AnNual Reports
The annual reports provide an overview of DAM’s activities in the respective financial year (January to December):
Reports 2019 to 2021 in German
Newsletter
Always up to date with the DAM newsletter. (German only)
Our Sponsors
The federal government and the governments of the five northern German states support the current development and sponsor the DAM.
