MBARI is pleased to announce renowned deep-sea polar biologist Antje Boetius as its incoming president and CEO. Boetius joins MBARI from the Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research in Bremerhaven, Germany, where she has served as the director of the Alfred Wegener Institute for the past seven years. Taking the reins from retiring MBARI President and CEO Chris Scholin, Boetius will step into her new role May 1, 2025.

“Antje Boetius brings extensive experience in deep-sea research and has worked with many MBARI scientists over her impressive 30-year career. Her reputation as a strong leader and researcher, combined with her global approach, make her a perfect match for MBARI. We’re excited to have her lead MBARI into our next chapter of groundbreaking work to understand the ocean and guide solutions for its protection,” said Julie Packard, chair of MBARI’s Board of Directors.

As director of the Alfred Wegener Institute, Boetius embarked on ambitious international collaborations that have helped shape polar and ocean science and adapt research strategies and infrastructures to meet the rapid pace of global change. She brings a deep understanding of the scientific and technological challenges associated with expanding our presence in the ocean and for conducting observations and experiments in the most remote and extreme locations.

Boetius’s arrival comes amidst several new developments at MBARI next year, including the opening of its state-of-the-art robotic technology lab and the arrival of MBARI’s new flagship research vessel, the David Packard. This added expertise and technology will greatly expand MBARI’s ability to explore the deep sea and discover a host of new findings to help resource managers and decision-makers protect and promote ocean health.

“Technology innovation is crucial for revealing previously unknown ocean processes and facilitating responsible stewardship of the ocean and its resources. With a focus on complex multi-scale processes and society’s interactions with the ocean, I don’t know of a better place than MBARI to advance ocean research,” said Boetius. “As a hub of cutting-edge marine science and engineering, MBARI is a dream opportunity for me to build on my work to date and engage in new methods and collaborations to understand and protect the ocean.”

Outgoing MBARI President and CEO Chris Scholin will remain at MBARI through the leadership transition and plans to continue working on a number of long-running projects to make MBARI’s innovative Environmental Sample Processor (ESP) technology available to the broader science and conservation community. Scholin joined MBARI in 1992 as a postdoctoral fellow. He has served as president and CEO since 2009. Under Scholin’s leadership, MBARI has made significant advancements in new technologies to assess and track the health of aquatic ecosystems.

Adapted from a press release (German, English translation) from the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research. For additional information or images relating to this article, please email pressroom@mbari.org.