Dr. Wolfgang Fennel is professor emeritus of physical oceanography at the University of Rostock and he was head of the section of physical oceanography of the Baltic Sea Research Institute, (IOW). His background is theoretical oceanography and he is a specialist in oceanic circulation and wave processes. He is also working on the coupling of physics and marine biology. Wolfgang Fennel was President of SCOR (2008-2012) and is now Past SCOR President until 2016. He promoted interdisciplinary co-operation.