Scientific Advisory Board of the German Maritime Museum elects new leadership

At the meeting of the Scientific Advisory Board of the German Maritime Museum (DSM) / Leibniz Institute for Maritime History on October 6, a new leadership team was elected. Historian Dr William O'Reilly will take over as chair. Economist Dr Carolin Decker-Lange was elected as deputy chair.

The Scientific Advisory Board meets regularly as an advisory body to the DSM. Renowned scientists from Germany and abroad contribute their expertise and provide constructive support for the museum's research work. The new leadership of the board was determined at the most recent meeting.

Dr William O'Reilly is currently Professor of History at the University of Cambridge. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and the Society of Arts and was awarded the Leibniz Chair of the Leibniz Association in 2018. He has previously held various academic positions, including visiting professor at Harvard University, the Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, and the Institute of Advanced Study in Budapest. He completed his doctorate at the University of Oxford. Prior to that, he studied history and German at the University of Galway in Ireland and at the University of Hamburg.

Dr O'Reilly has been associated with the DSM for many years: he visited the museum as a student and has held the Leibniz Chair since 2018.

"I am deeply honored to have been elected Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board of the German Maritime Museum (DSM) and am very grateful for the trust placed in me with this appointment. The DSM occupies a unique position at the interface of science, innovation, and public responsibility. I look forward to supporting its work with commitment and conviction. It will be an honour to work closely with the scientific director, the advisory board, and all my colleagues at the museum to further strengthen the DSM's role as an outstanding institution—rooted in the local community, committed to the state of Bremen, and recognized nationally and internationally for its contribution to research, culture, and public understanding. Together, we will continue the DSM's mission: to illuminate the maritime world in all its historical depth and contemporary relevance – and to ensure that our work continues to stimulate curiosity, dialogue, and cross-border connections," said O'Reilly.

Dr Carolin Decker-Lange has been elected to the position of Deputy Chair. She has been a Senior Lecturer in Strategy and Entrepreneurship at Brunel Business School in London since February 2023. She completed her “habilitation” (post-doctoral lecture qualification) in business and economics at Freie Universität Berlin. Previously, she held academic positions in Germany (including at WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management and the University of Bremen) and in the United Kingdom (UWE Bristol Business School, Open University).

"I am delighted and grateful for the trust placed in me with my appointment as Deputy Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board of the German Maritime Museum. This role gives me the opportunity to contribute my scientific expertise to strategic decision-making and help shape the future direction of the museum together with dedicated colleagues. I am particularly looking forward to contributing perspectives from the field of the blue economy – an area that is very close to my heart. The sustainable development of maritime areas, the promotion of innovation and new industries using marine resources, and the strengthening of entrepreneurial initiatives are central concerns of my research. In my new role, I see an opportunity to bring these issues even more strongly into the academic and societal discourse," explains Decker-Lange.

Decker-Lange has been closely associated with the DSM since 2014. She initiated collaborations in research and teaching and supervised dissertations and teaching projects together with the museum and the University of Bremen.

Prof Dr Ruth Schilling, Executive Director of the DSM, is very pleased with the selection: “It is a great honor and pleasure for our institution to have two outstanding experts at our side in Dr William O'Reilly and Dr Carolin Decker-Lange.”

The Scientific Advisory Board advises the Executive Board and the Foundation Board on fundamental scientific issues relating to the research program, national and international networking, and museum activities. It actively participates in workshops, expert discussions, and discussion formats on the core topics of the DSM. The Advisory Board consists of six to twelve internationally recognized scientists who are closely associated with the DSM's research priorities and tasks.