Mara Weinelt

Mara Weinelt is a Senior Lecturer and scientific researcher at the Institute for Pre- and Protohistory, Christian-Albrechts-University in Kiel, Germany. She is affiliated with the ROOTS Cluster of Excellence, focusing on paleoclimatology and the intersection of environmental change with human development. Her work bridges geosciences and archaeology, contributing to major interdisciplinary research initiatives such as the graduate school 'Human Development in Landscapes' and the Excellence Cluster 'The Future Ocean'.

• Christian-Albrechts-University in Kiel (2002–Present)
• Scientific Coordinator, Graduate School 'Human Development in Landscapes' (2008–)
• Head, Excellence Cluster 'The Future Ocean' (2007)
• Senior Assistant, Institute for Geosciences (2002–2010)
• Civil Servant (Academic Councillor) (2010–Present)

Her research centers on reconstructing past climate variability using high-resolution marine archives. She specializes in geochemical proxies from foraminifera, including stable isotopes and trace metals, to quantitatively reconstruct paleotemperatures, salinities, sea ice cover, and ocean circulation patterns. A key focus is understanding the stability of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) during interglacial periods as an analog for future climate change. She also investigates the paleoecology of planktonic foraminifera and the role of ocean gateways in climate evolution.

The 15 most recent publications reflect a strong trend in multiproxy paleoclimatology, with emphasis on Holocene and deglacial climate dynamics in the North Atlantic. Her work frequently integrates geochemical data (Mg/Ca, δ18O) with micropaleontological analysis to reconstruct sea surface conditions, winter temperatures, and ocean circulation changes. There is a growing interdisciplinary dimension, linking climate variability to human societal changes in the Mediterranean and along the Silk Road.

No scientific awards were explicitly mentioned in the provided text.

Mara Weinelt has played significant advisory and leadership roles in large-scale research programs. She has coordinated graduate education and excellence clusters, indicating mentorship and academic guidance. She has secured third-party funding from the DFG and participated in international programs like IODP and ESF-EUROMARC. Her research has been supported through projects such as 'The Transpolar Gateways' and 'AMOCINT', reflecting sustained grant acquisition and collaborative science.

She is actively involved in the ROOTS Cluster of Excellence and previously led or contributed to the 'Human Development in Landscapes' graduate school and 'The Future Ocean' cluster. These initiatives represent large, interdisciplinary teams integrating natural and cultural sciences to explore human-environment dynamics across time.