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Farewell party of Prof. Dr. Friedrich Widdel

Aug 31, 2018

On August 29, 2018, Friedrich Widdel, our institute’s director from day one, bid farewell with a company outing and a joint party at our institute to his well-deserved retirement.

The assembled guests of the farewell party.
The assembled guests of the farewell party. (© MPIMM)

He has been there since the first day and has shaped the fate of the institute for 26 years. Together with our founding director, Prof. Dr. Bo Barker Jørgensen, Friedrich Widdel founded the Bremen Max Planck Institute in 1992. Since then it has grown strongly to now more than 200 employees from 30 nations. Yesterday, on August 29, 2018, the microbiologist retired from his work at our institute with a social gathering for all members of the institute and a reunion with friends, colleagues and companions.

In addition to his directorate at the Max Planck Institute in Bremen, Friedrich Widdel was also Professor of Microbiology in the Biology/Chemistry Faculty at the University of Bremen. His research focuses on the growth, metabolic capabilities and chemical impacts of microorganisms from naturally oxygen-free habitats, for example in the seabed. A special emphasis of his work lies on the anaerobic degradation of long-lived substances such as hydrocarbons and the physiology of sulfate-reducing bacteria.

"Our institute owes so much to Friedrich Widdel", says Prof. Dr. Nicole Dubilier, managing director of the institute. "So we are very pleased that he will still be a part of our institute and keep an office as an emeritus director."

Prof. Dr. Bo Barker Jørgensen, who founded Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology in Bremen together with Prof. Dr. Friedrich Widdel, knows the exciting stories from the institute’s early days. Jørgensen himself retired in 2011.
Prof. Dr. Bo Barker Jørgensen, who founded Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology in Bremen together with Prof. Dr. Friedrich Widdel, knows the exciting stories from the institute’s early days. Jørgensen himself retired in 2011. (© MPIMM)
As a farewell present, Friedrich Widdel is presented the information sign that marked the entrance to the first lab rooms of the Bremen Max Planck Institute – long before it even had ist own buidling.
As a farewell present, Friedrich Widdel is presented the information sign that marked the entrance to the first lab rooms of the Bremen Max Planck Institute – long before it even had ist own buidling. (© MPIMM)
Our company outing took us to the bird park in Walsrode - where our founding directors Friedrich Widdel and Bo Barker Jørgensen got in touch with the park residents.
Our company outing took us to the bird park in Walsrode - where our initial directors Friedrich Widdel and Bo Barker Jørgensen got in touch with the park residents. (© MPIMM)

Please direct your queries to:

Head of Press & Communications

Dr. Fanni Aspetsberger

MPI for Marine Microbiology
Celsiusstr. 1
D-28359 Bremen
Germany

Room: 

1345

Phone: 

+49 421 2028-9470

Dr. Fanni Aspetsberger
 
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