AWI Alfred Wegener Institut // Relaunch
A New Digital Presence for Polar and Marine Research
From the polar ice of the Arctic and Antarctic to deep-sea exploration on the ocean floor—AWI, the Alfred Wegener Institute, conducts research in the most extreme environments on Earth. With a fresh visual identity, high-quality content, and state-of-the-art technology, sitegeist has relaunched the institute’s website to reflect its exceptional mission.
Expedition “New Website”
The Alfred Wegener Institute – Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research is one of the world’s leading institutions in its field. Its work significantly contributes to understanding climate change, ecosystems, and Earth sciences.
To make this vital scientific research accessible to the public, a modern, functional website was essential. As a specialized digital agency, sitegeist took on the full relaunch of AWI’s online presence. The goal: to technically and visually modernize the site while providing users with an improved, user-friendly platform that meets the high expectations and global relevance of the institute.
Stay Connected: APIs and RSS Integration
One of the biggest challenges was to create an intuitive user experience despite the website’s comprehensive content and complex institutional structure. To achieve this:
- We integrated the open-source enterprise search engine Solr
- Developed a smart off-canvas navigation for smartphones
- Built a custom LDAP interface for the employee directory
Enriched staff profiles with publication and data links from internal databases like ePIC and PANGAEA
We also implemented multiple RSS feeds, so journalists and researchers can stay up-to-date with AWI’s latest press releases and research results. Additional features include a job database, an events calendar, and Google Maps integrations for location overviews.
content pages
A Fresh Design for a Global Mission
For the relaunch, we designed a modern, science-forward interface that reflects AWI’s global relevance and research excellence. Clear structures, intuitive navigation, and a compelling visual identity ensure that even complex content—ranging from scientific results to vast data repositories—is presented in a clear and accessible way.
We chose TYPO3 as the CMS for its robustness and flexibility—ideal for the diverse demands of a scientific institution. TYPO3 enables efficient management of large volumes of content and ensures fast, stable performance even during traffic peaks.
Special attention was given to responsive design, so the site works seamlessly across all devices—from desktops to smartphones.
A Future-Proof Platform for Science
Beyond the technical upgrade and fresh look, we developed a number of special features tailored to AWI’s needs:
- Interactive maps to visualize research data
- An extensive publications section
- Powerful search capabilities for quick access to relevant content
- Expanded multilingual support to foster international collaboration and communication
The result is a modern, user-centered website that supports AWI’s scientific mission and international reach. We are proud to present this project as part of our portfolio and honored to support AWI on its path to digital excellence.
Highlights
- Fully responsive—even operable with cold fingers in the field
- Top performance—even in remote regions with low connectivity
- Enhanced filtering and search via Solr integration
- RSS feeds to stay informed on the latest AWI research findings
