How stony corals have survived for millions of years
New Nature paper with contribution from Münster
Stony corals can survive in nutrient-poor, tropical seas because they form a special symbiosis with photosynthetic microorganisms. This partnership has a long history - but it was previously unclear how far back in Earth's history it goes. An international research team has now shown that some coral species already hosted photosymbionts 385 million years ago.
Dr. Till Söte contributed to the current Nature paper during his doctorate at the Institute of Geology and Palaeontology at the University of Münster.
Archaeology meets Geology
Scientists from the Institute of Geology and Palaeontology are involved in the return of an ancient art object
The University of Münster has now returned a marble head of unknown origin to the Greek state. The University's Archaeological Museum was given the head from a private collection in Essen in 1989, but it remains unclear how the donors obtained the ancient piece, who removed it from its original location and when it was removed.
Prof. Dr. Laura Stutenbecker and Prof. Dr. David De Vleeschouwer examined the composition of the marble and compared it with analyses carried out last year on selected marble objects in the Archaeological Museum in Thessaloniki.
Pollutants in shipping: researchers recommend stricter regulations
New study on the toxicity of ship waste water from the working group Applied Geology
The international maritime shipping industry contributes to air pollution, particularly in coastal areas and port cities. A research team led by Prof. Dr. Christine Achten has analysed the wastewater from exhaust gas cleaning systems for their contamination with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their toxicity. This is one of the most comprehensive studies on this topic.
"We experience the geosciences directly"
Dr. Torsten Prinz describes the long-standing excursion tradition to Kleinwalsertal valley
For more than 20 years, students from the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Münster have been going on excursions to Kleinwalsertal. Now the time has come again: at the end of August, they will be going for eleven days to the Austrian village about 700 kilometres away at an altitude of 1,400 metres in the Allgäu Alps. 15 students, two excursion leaders and a tutor will explore the geological, geobotanical and geographical features of the region. Kathrin Kottke spoke to Dr Torsten Prinz, who is leading the excursion with Prof. Dr Harald Hiesinger, in the run-up to the trip.
The Geomuseum: a treasure trove of superlatives
Opening on 10 August: The Geomuseum displays 2,300 exhibits from 13.8 billion years of Earth's history.
Descending twelve steps and going through 200 million years, experiencing the 13.8 billion years since the Big Bang in about an hour, retracing two billion years of Earth's history in a single room using 700 original exhibits - the new Geomuseum at Münster University is a museum of superlatives. With the opening on 10 August, Münster's museum quarter around Pferdegasse is complete. In addition to the LWL Museum of Art and Culture, it includes the Bible Museum and the University's Archaeological Museum. The team of the Geomuseum gave the editorial staff of wissen|leben the opportunity to take a detailed tour in advance.
Are you interested in studying geosciences at the University of Münster? Are you just starting your studies and want to find out everything about the Bachelor's programme or are looking for a Master's programme?
Here you will find up-to-date information on the Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes in Geosciences.
The Water Sciences degree programme is a cooperative Master's degree programme between various departments at Münster University and Münster University of Applied Sciences, in which the Institute of Geology and Palaeontology is also a involved partner.
Further information on the Water Sciences degree programme can be found here.
Alumni*ae network of the Institute of Geology and Palaeontology
It is an important concern of the Institute of Geology and Palaeontology to establish a close and long-lasting relationship with its alumni*ae. The common ground of all alumni*ae is to have studied in Münster and to have written a thesis at the Institute of Geology and Palaeontology or to have worked at the institute.
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Alumni*ae network of the Institute of Geology and Palaeontology