Norbert Frank

Prof. Norbert Frank is a leading researcher at the University of Heidelberg, where he serves as Professor and Managing Director of the Institute of Environmental Physics. His work focuses on high-resolution climate archive dating using 230Th/U and 14C methods, with a particular emphasis on reconstructing past climate parameters and biogeochemical cycles through trace elements and radiogenic isotopes in natural archives like sediments, corals, and speleothems.

• Academic Leadership: Director of the Institute of Environmental Physics (2023–2025), Bridge Professor at Heidelberg (2012–present)
• Key Institutions: Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement (France), Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (USA)

His research spans Quaternary climate systems, particularly the nonlinear dynamics of ocean circulation and freshwater cycles during climatic instabilities. Current projects include:

• 2023–2025 DFG: Northern Hemisphere source of the Mid-Pleistocene Transition
• 2022–2025 DFG: Maya culture hydroclimate reconstruction
• 2019–2023 DFG: Radiocarbon in speleothems

Scientific awards include the 2018 Physics Faculty Teaching Award, 2009 CEA Outstanding Achievement Prize, and 2001 EU Marie-Curie Fellowship. He has established two fully funded geochemical laboratories in France and Germany, trained hundreds of students, and contributed to over 30 funded projects totaling more than €10 million. Despite numerous rejections, his perseverance led to significant breakthroughs in cold-water coral dating and Quaternary climate dynamics research.