Structure of the Institute

The Max Planck Institute for Meteorology comprises two departments: Climate Physics and Climate Variability. Each of these departments is headed by a director who, as a scientific member of the Max Planck Society, is responsible for his own research activities. The directors jointly decide on the affairs of the institute and take turns in dressing the office of managing director every three years. Since 2020, this has been Prof. Bjorn Stevens.

The institute runs an international PhD program together with the University of Hamburg and cooperates with independent research groups. Several central service units support the work of the scientific departments. The institute's research work is reviewed by an international scientific advisory board, which reports to the president of the Max Planck Society at regular intervals. The Board of Trustees is responsible for promoting the relationship between the institute and its social environment as well as the public. Its members include representatives from the domains of politics, business, science, the media and other individuals who are particularly committed to the institute's concerns or who can make a significant contribution to its support.