Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht Becomes Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon

Over the last few decades, the Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht has evolved thematically and has successfully expanded its locations beyond the borders of Schleswig-Holstein. “The description ‘materials and coastal research’ in our old name no longer encompassed the entirety of our research fields,” says Prof. Matthias Rehahn, scientific director of the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, expressing one reason for the research center’s name revision. “One further current and societally-relevant topic for us is climate change,” he adds. Research at the Hereon is dedicated to questions such as how change affects the world’s coasts and is engaged in solutions to make the energy industry as well as mobility more climate friendly. At GERICS – Climate Service Center Germany, institution of Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, an interdisciplinary team is also developing scientifically based prototype products and services to support decision-makers in politics, business and public administration in adapting to climate change. GERICS is located in Hamburg.

Researchers from various institutes are working on new knowledge about offshore wind farms: environmental chemists are studying pollutant release, surface researchers are looking at corrosion, analysts are calculating wind turbulence, and hydrogen researchers are finding ways to store wind energy in H2. Photo: Hereon/Anna Ebeling

Another large research campus outside of Geesthacht is the Hereon’s site in Teltow near Berlin. There, at the Institute for Active Polymers, multi-functional polymer materials and their interactions with living systems are the focus of research. Information-based design approaches strive for sustainable innovations in regenerative medicine, senior living and bio-based consumer products. In addition, Hereon maintains additional sites at the Deutsche Elektronensynchrotron in Hamburg, at the Christian Albrechts University in Kiel, at the Charité in Berlin, and at the Forschungs-Neutronenquelle Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II) in Garching bei München.

“The main location of the Hereon continues to lie in Geesthacht and we feel very connected to the region. It is, however, important for us to unite all locations where we work under one name in presenting our public image in the future,” says Silke Simon, administrative director of the Hereon. “In this way, we aim to become even more visible internationally together.”

Cutting-edge research for a changing world

The re-naming was preceded by an important internal restructuring process oriented on the Helmholtz Association’s new funding period while at the same time following the recommendations of international scientific experts. “We must strengthen the development of interdisciplinary technologies and generate knowledge so that, despite a reduction in resource availability, rapid climate change and population growth, we can hand over a planet to our children that is viable for the future. To this end, we want to provide scientific advice to support policymakers in their decisions for creating a better environment. At the same time, innovations are needed to maintain or even improve our quality of life in the course of demographic change,” says Rehahn, summarizing the current aims and functions of the center.

A new logo and a new design

The name “Hereon” comprises the words “Helmholtz”, “Resilience” and “Innovation”, and is derived from the current mission’s core messages. The Hereon logo consists of a symbolic triad, representing the topics: “climate” (blue), “coasts” (green) and “technology” (red). Intertwined, the symbolism conveys the interdisciplinary collaboration of the individual fields.

There are three variations of the new standard logo of Hereon. The transformability illustrates the dynamism of the center.

What is special about the logo is its deliberate transformability. This is illustrated by the current claim “cutting-edge research for a changing world” and underscores the research center’s dynamism. The colors of the new logo are the basis for the new design, which will be found throughout the center in the future. With the renaming of the center, the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon is launching a new website: www.hereon.de

Our Mission: Cutting-edge research for a changing world

You can find the new mission of Hereon here hereon.de/mission

The Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon in overview

The Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon conducts international cutting-edge research for a changing world: approximately 1,100 employees generate knowledge and innovations toward more resilience and sustainability. The Hereon’s scientific spectrum comprises high-performance materials, processes and environmentally friendly technologies for mobility and new energy systems. Furthermore, research is conducted on biomaterials for medicine and increasing quality of life. Through research and consulting, the Hereon addresses the challenges of climate change in a solution-oriented manner and facilitates sustainable management and the protection of the coastal and marine environment through comprehensive scientific understanding. From basic understanding to practical applications – the interdisciplinary research spectrum covers a unique range.

As part of an international network and as a member of the Helmholtz Association, the Hereon supports political, economic and societal institutions through the transfer of its expertise. Founded in 1956, the center is the largest non-university research institution in Schleswig-Holstein. In addition to its main location in Geesthacht and its site in Teltow near Berlin, the Hereon has branches in Hamburg, Kiel, Berlin and Garching bei München. The research center has an annual budget of approximately 100 million Euros. Read more about the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon