ZIJ was awarded an Alexander von Humboldt Award for Research and exchange in Germany. The AvH Foundation is a foundation set-up by the government of the Federal Republic for the promotion of international co-operation between German institutes of higher education and leading academics from around the world. Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859) was a nature researcher and explorer, universal genius and cosmopolitan, scientist and patron. His lengthy Latin American journey from 1799 to 1804 was celebrated as the second scientific discovery of South America. Members of natural science disciplines such as physical geography, climatology, biogeography, ecology or oceanography see Humboldt as their founder. ZIJ is studying German at the Universität Bremen and working with Prof. Wolfgang Hess at the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg on the genomics of cyanobacteria.
