Hildegard Westphal

Prof. Dr. Hildegard Westphal is Professor for Geology of the Tropics at University of Bremen and Programme Area Lead (PA 4) and Working Group Leader for Geoecology and Carbonate Sedimentology at Leibniz-Zentrum für Marine Tropenforschung (ZMT) in Bremen, Germany. She previously served as Director of the Leibniz-Centre for Tropical Marine Research (2010-2020) and Scientific Vice President of the Leibniz Association (2011-2017). Currently, she also holds a Visiting Faculty position at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia since 2021.

Her academic career includes undergraduate studies at Tübingen University (1988-1994), doctoral research at GEOMAR Forschungszentrum (1995-1997), postdoctoral work at University of Miami (1998-1999), and Assistant Professor position at Hannover University (1999-2003). She received her Habilitation in 2004 and held a Heisenberg grant from University of Bremen (2005-2010) before becoming Chair for Sedimentology at Heidelberg University in 2010.

Prof. Westphal's research focuses on carbonate sediments as environmental and climate archives, examining how carbonate systems, particularly coral reefs, respond to sea-level fluctuations. Her work investigates coral island dynamics and carbonate coastlines while studying ocean acidification effects on skeletal structures. Through fieldwork in tropical regions worldwide, she has established herself as a leading expert in tropical carbonate systems and their responses to environmental changes.

Her recent publications reveal a strong emphasis on climate change impacts on marine carbonate systems, with particular attention to coral reefs, foraminifera, and carbonate sedimentation processes. The research spans marine geology, paleoclimatology, and marine biology, often employing proteomics and metabolomics to understand physiological responses to environmental stressors. A notable trend is the increasing focus on anthropogenic impacts like microplastics alongside traditional climate change factors.

• Albert Maucher Award of the German Science Foundation DFG (2004)
• Walter-Schall Award of the Gesellschaft für Naturkunde in Württemberg e.V. (2003)
• Hans Cloos Award of the Geologische Vereinigung (2003)

Prof. Westphal has led numerous international research projects examining carbonate systems across tropical environments worldwide. Her work involves collaborations across multiple continents, investigating coral reef systems from Indonesia to the Galápagos Islands. She has supervised numerous students and researchers, contributing significantly to capacity building in marine tropical research while influencing global research directions through her leadership roles in major scientific organizations.

She leads the Working Group Geoecology and Carbonate Sedimentology at ZMT, which conducts research in various tropical regions worldwide. The group examines how these sensitive ecosystems respond to environmental changes through field studies, laboratory analyses, and innovative methodologies. They maintain strong international collaborations and contribute significantly to understanding tropical marine environments under changing climate conditions.