The primary mission of the Institute for Marine and Atmospheric research Utrecht (IMAU) is to perform high quality fundamental climate research and teaching so as to contribute to solving grand societal challenges related to the global climate crisis, including the training of a new generation of climate scientists with a physics background.
In the spotlights
Focus and impact
Research
IMAU research addresses fundamental processes in the climate system, and is organised in five themes.
Education
IMAU staff members and PhD students teach and develop courses at Utrecht University, especially in Physics bachelor's programme, the Climate Physics master's program and the Graduate School of Natural Sciences.
Impact
The fundamental research of IMAU generates impact through collaboration with our partners and stakeholders inside and outside of Utrecht University.
IMAU in the news
Research highlights and IMAU researchers in the media.
Facts and figures
There are 58 fte scientific researchers working on our mission.
In 2024, IMAU researchers published 113 scientific articles.
In 2024-2025, a total of 82 students attend our Master's programme Climate Physics.
View more facts and figures from the IMAU.
Highlights
Anna von der Heydt
Leads new EU-HORIZON project Past to Future (P2F)An European consortium of 24 partners is working intensively together to enhance existing climate models by incorporating paleo data.
Erik van Sebille
receives Vici grantVan Sebille aims to better understand the accumulation of marine plastic in northwestern European waters with the grant.
Hans Oerlemans
winner of prestigious Balzan PrizeProfessor Hans Oerlemans has been emeritus for three years now, but his work continues to be honored.
Henk Dijkstra
Awarded ERC advanced grantDuring the next five years, he will study the probability of a weakening of the Gulf Stream, and the possible consequences.
