Kimberley Peters

Kimberley Peters is Professor and Head of Marine Governance at the Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity (HIFMB), jointly affiliated with the Alfred Wegener Institute and University of Oldenburg (Faculties I and V). Her research examines how ocean governance operates spatially, focusing on territory/borders, shipping mobilities, and emotional connections with marine environments.

Major projects include:

• 'Ocean Governance (Beyond) Borders' (Palgrave 2024)
• 'Ocean Infrastructures' with Christian Bueger
• 'Aquariums in a Time of Crisis' with Rachael Squire
• 'Ocean Ontologies' theoretical project with Philip Steinberg

Her publications demonstrate how ocean spaces challenge geographical conventions, with recent articles exploring emotional dimensions of governance and acoustic engagement methods.

Honors include the Gill Memorial Award for geographical research. She has secured major grants including:

• ERC AdG 'TRANSFORMER'
• FET-OPEN 'OPTOlogic' (coordination)
• VELUX FONDEN for 'Ocean Infrastructures'

Peters leads interdisciplinary teams investigating governance frameworks for marine biodiversity conservation.