Last month, MBARI President and CEO Antje Boetius was an invited guest at the Thomas Mann House Los Angeles for a meeting of thought leaders, entrepreneurs, scholars, and experts working in the climate and renewable energy sectors.

A residency center owned by the Federal Republic of Germany, the Thomas Mann House brings together interdisciplinary global thought leaders for intellectual exchange to address fundamental contemporary and future issues related to politics, society, and culture. 

During her visit, Boetius also participated in a dialogue with journalist Uwe Jean Heuser, the 2026 fellow-in-residence at the Thomas Mann House. Boetius and Heuser discussed key developments in ocean and climate research, with a particular focus on the Arctic and Antarctica, and the role of science for society and policy. Their discussion was part of Heuser’s Thomas Mann Fellowship, which focuses on transatlantic approaches to create new narratives about climate change that engage audiences from diverse backgrounds.