Oldenburg. On 1 October, the head of ICBM research group Paleoecology, Prof. Dr. Heribert Cypionka, retired after 26 years at the University of Oldenburg.

Since 1992, his scientific work focused on ecology, physiology as well as on composition of microbial communities in water and sediments. One exploratory focus and main target of global research expeditions by ship was the so-called deep biosphere, where microoganisms and viruses remain active for millions of years in depths hundreds of meters below the seabed.

Cypionka studied biology and philosophy at the German universities of Muenster and Goettingen. For his dissertation on the respiratory chain of carbon monoxide oxidizing bacteria he was awarded a doctor’s degree in Goettingen in 1982. In 1989 he habilitated in microbiology and microbial ecology at the University of Konstanz with a professorial dissertation on „Energiekonservierung aus der Reduktion von Sulfat“ (Conservation of Energy by Sulfate Reduction).

From 1999 to 2001, Cypionka was director of ICBM. For many years as an elected member he assisted in several national and international boards and committees, such as DFG Panel „Microbiology“, DFG Senatskommission für Ozeanographie, International Ocean Drilling Program (IODP). He authored the textbook „Grundlagen der Mikrobiologie“ (Basics of Microbiology) and initiated and headed for many years the international Master’s programme Microbiology and the PhD Research Training Group within the Transregional Collaborative Research Centre „Roseobacter“.

Since 2003, Cypionka operates the virtual „Mikrobiological Garden“ and develops the image processing programme PICOLAY which also can be used to create 3D images of microorganisms. Some of these were displayed in different exhibitions.

Cypionka wants to continue his work on programming and visualizing the microcosm during his retirement, for which directorate and staff of ICBM wish him all the best.