The Communicator-Preis is awarded annually by the Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) and the Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft. It is endowed with 50,000 euros and is intended to strengthen the dialogue between science and the public. Professor Robert Arlinghaus from the Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) and Humboldt-Universit?t zu Berlin will receive the 2020 award for his outstanding communication on sustainable fisheries in the area of conflict between water use and the conservation of underwater biodiversity.
2020 is a 20th anniversary - for the Communicator-Preis and for this year's award winner. Social ecologist and fisheries scientist Robert Arlinghaus (44) has been researching the social, economic and ecological aspects of sustainable fishing since he began his doctorate in 2000. As a five-year-old, he was already drawn to the Mediterranean with his fishing rod; today, recreational fishing is the subject of his research. Fishing is characterised by close and dynamic human-environment relationships - and these need to be developed sustainably.
The research carried out by Robert Arlinghaus and his team helps to preserve bodies of water in a near-natural state, ensure the supply of fish as food, improve the recreational experience of angling by the water and protect fish populations. The latter is an important social goal in view of the rampant extinction of species in inland waters. "He succeeds in linking an apparently specialised topic such as angling with the socially relevant issues of sustainability, environmental protection and the responsible treatment of nature," said the jury of the Communicator Award.
Angling is an important part of fishing, not a niche hobby
The first scientific findings of Robert Arlinghaus have already turned the view of the supposed niche hobby of angling on its head: Recreational fishing is the most important form of fishing in inland waters in all industrialised nations. In total, around 3.3 million people fish in Germany, taking around ten times more fish from the waters than commercial lake and river fishing. In economic terms, angling is at least as important as the rest of the fishing industry - including industrial fishing and fish processing and marketing. Recreational angling provides 52,000 jobs. Where many people have an impact on bodies of water, effects on fish species and ecosystems cannot be ruled out. On the other hand, around 10,000 angling clubs are actively involved in the protection of water bodies and fish species. How can this commitment be optimised? Robert Arlinghaus and his team are finding science-based answers to precisely this question and communicating them effectively to water managers, conservationists, fisheries policy-makers and anglers.
Research at the interface of natural and social sciences and transfer to society
Robert Arlinghaus and his team use scientific methods to investigate the ecological effects of angling on fish stocks and water bodies. From a social and economic science perspective, the group deals with the psychology of anglers, the behaviour of staff members and fishermen, society's perspective on fishing and ethical issues. Robert Arlinghaus' projects are always practical and transdisciplinary in the best sense of the word: users and political decision-makers are involved in the research from the development of the research concept to the realisation and implementation of the scientific findings. "We can learn a lot about how people deal with nature and the environment as a whole from the way anglers deal with the waters," says the prizewinner, adding "Anglers and their waters are a good example of closely coupled socio-ecological systems - that also makes the whole thing scientifically exciting and a contribution to the sustainability sciences."
Diverse science communication
Robert Arlinghaus uses a variety of modern science communication formats to communicate his findings: social media, podcasts, comics, explanatory films, science slams, columns, extensive lecture tours and joint experiments with fishing clubs.
The jury also recognised this commitment at eye level in its statement: "This year's Communicator award winner creates spaces for personal experience and achieves a high level of acceptance and trust in research and its results with this approach. He also succeeds in repeatedly embedding his research topic of angling in larger socio-ecological contexts. Last but not least, he manages to support the development of guidelines for sustainable fishing in a science-led manner by specifically addressing political decision-makers at regional, national and international level."
Robert Arlinghaus is delighted with this honour: "The Communicator Award is a great recognition of our long-standing efforts in science communication. In addition to the Communicator jury, my special thanks go to my team at IGB and Humboldt-Universit?t zu Berlin as well as the Berlin Senate Chancellery for Science and Research and the Federal Ministry for Education and Research with its focus on socio-ecological research. Without them, the work and - in a double sense - the prize would not have been possible. Good science communication requires time and financial resources and a highly motivated team. I am privileged and grateful that all this is guaranteed and practised in our working group. I am proud of my team!"
Congratulations from the Director of IGB, the President of Humboldt-Universit?t and the President of the Leibniz Association
The Director of IGB, Professor Luc De Meester, appreciates Robert Arlinghaus' commitment:
"Freshwater ecosystems are essential to society and are heavily utilised as a resource. Sustainable management is therefore of central importance. This can only be achieved if the human factor is taken into account and if reliable data is available on the ecosystems, their utilisation and the perspective of the people who use them. Robert Arlinghaus manages this balancing act with great personal commitment and a high level of professionalism. With his research and his communication, he succeeds in finding the right balance between the protection and utilisation of water bodies. He manages to turn challenges into opportunities. His work has not only changed management decisions in angling clubs and associations, but has also helped to shape innovations in fisheries legislation and the social discourse on inland and angling fisheries. We at IGB are very proud that Robert Arlinghaus has been recognised for this".
Robert Arlinghaus is also a professor at Humboldt-Universit?t zu Berlin through a joint appointment with IGB, where he heads the Department of Integrative Fisheries Management at the Thaer-Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences in the Faculty of Life Science. He trains the fisheries managers of tomorrow in a degree programme for fisheries biology and aquaculture that is unique in Germany. The aquatic researcher is himself a graduate of this programme.
The President of Humboldt-Universit?t, Prof Dr Dr Sabine Kunst, says:
"It has always been a central concern of Humboldt-Universit?t zu Berlin to communicate excellent research to society. Many of our academics are uniquely committed in this respect. One of them is Robert Arlinghaus. He specialises in topics such as fisheries management, angling, fish species diversity and water protection. For the media he is a 'fish expert' and 'fishing professor', for the HU he is an outstanding researcher whose inter- and transdisciplinary work is an inspiration for many sustainability researchers at the HU. We are delighted that Mr Arlinghaus has been awarded this prize, which is so important in the German scientific community."
On behalf of the Leibniz Association, its President Prof Dr Matthias Kleiner congratulates Mr Arlinghaus:
"Robert Arlinghaus is a scientific and communicative pioneer and ambassador of angling. For 20 years now, he has dedicated himself to this topic at Leibniz-IGB, the social relevance of which few people realise at first glance. He knows how to communicate his findings in a targeted manner both to society at large and to the angling community: be it the economic importance of angling in the fisheries sector, or new findings on ecological or evolutionary influences, some of which have relativised long-held assumptions. In keeping with the self-image of the Leibniz Association, Robert Arlinghaus combines internationally recognised research achievements with skilful communication skills in society and is a worthy recipient of the Communicator Award."
Short biography of Robert Arlinghaus
Robert Arlinghaus grew up in a small town in the Münsterland region of southern Oldenburg and studied environmental engineering and later agricultural and fisheries science at the Technical University of Berlin and Humboldt-Universit?t zu Berlin. His diploma thesis and doctoral thesis at the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) won several awards. After research stays in Austria and Canada, Robert Arlinghaus was appointed to a junior professorship for inland fisheries management at Humboldt-Universit?t zu Berlin in 2006. In 2013, he was appointed to the full professorship for Integrative Fisheries Management at Humboldt-Universit?t zu Berlin in a joint appointment with IGB, which he still holds today.
The 44-year-old is editor of the leading specialist journal for fisheries science - Fish and Fisheries - and has already published 550 publications on the sustainability of angling fisheries in his 20-year scientific career, including around 250 peer-reviewed journal articles and several monographs, including the unfortunately out-of-print book "Der untersch?tzte Angler" (Kosmos).
Robert Arlinghaus received his first award for science communication in 2004 with the Bscher Media Award from the Humboldt University Society, followed by another from the American Fisheries Society in 2018. He has received several prestigious awards for his scientific work, most recently the Cultura Award for outstanding contributions to the sustainability of land use in 2016.
Robert Arlinghaus is the father of two children (aged 7 and 5) and lives with his family in Karlshorst in Berlin. In his spare time, he mainly goes fishing.
Further information
Contact
Humboldt-Universit?t zu Berlin
Faculty of Life Science
Thaer Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences
Philippstrasse 13 - House 7
10115 Berlin