MBARI is proud to share that our President and CEO Antje Boetius has been elected to Germany’s Order Pour le Mérite for Science and Arts. Admission to the order is among the highest honors that can be bestowed upon a scientist or artist in Germany.

“I’m honored to be included alongside other leaders in science and the arts in the prestigious Order Pour le Mérite for Science and Arts. The intersection of science, art, and society offers a rich source of innovation and discovery. I’m excited to develop new global partnerships that will enable the MBARI team to share our expertise with peers around the world. With the ocean facing a critical crossroads, collaboration is essential to safeguarding the future of marine life, ecosystems, and resources,” said Boetius.

The Order Pour le Mérite recognizes men and women who, through widespread recognition for their contributions to science and art, have made an eminent name for themselves. Membership currently includes 36 German and 37 international members, including 17 Nobel laureates. Boetius’s election to the order took place at its meeting in Münster, Germany, on September 28.

A global leader in deep-sea and polar sciences, Boetius is also affiliated with several other international scientific groups, including the Max Planck Society, the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, the Royal Swedish Academy, and the UK’s Royal Society. 

MBARI’s mission is to advance marine science and engineering to understand our changing ocean. Collaboration is at the heart of our work. International collaborations have expanded the reach of MBARI’s scientific expertise and innovative technology. Together with our peers around the world, we are gathering information about ocean health and biodiversity that can guide decision-making about the future of marine life, ecosystems, and resources.

The Order Pour le Mérite for Science and Arts was established in 1842 by King Frederick William IV of Prussia as an association of artists and scholars. The order was revived in 1952 by Federal President Theodor Heuss and is now under the patronage of Germany’s Federal President, with financial and organizational support from the German Minister of State for Culture and Media.

Story by Senior Science Communication and Media Relations Specialist Raúl Nava

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