CLEWS experiences - much more than studying

CLEWS is much more than just studying in lecture halls and sitting in libraries. Together with our partners, CLEWS offers exciting opportunities to get involved in cutting-edge projects in the field of environmental and climate science, to find a job as a student assistant and gain your first work experience, or to do an interesting internship. We also offer the opportunity to study abroad for a term or two, taking advantage of our diverse ERASMUS partnerships across Europe. And all students will take part in the compulsory CLEWS excursion to the Alps. Here are just a few examples of the exciting experiences students have had while studying CLEWS...

CLEWS mandatory exciting field trip to the Alps

In summer 2022 was the first field excursion of the new Master’s program CLimate, Earth, Water and Sustainability was conducted in the unique environment of the upper Ötztal in southwest Austria. 26 Students from nine different countries were taking part in this eight-day intense excursion early September. The goal of the field trip was to sensibilize the students to the ongoing impacts of climate change - directly in the field. Experiencing the impacts of climate change in the real world makes a difference. By this, the students see the pressing changes in what they learn to understand and analyze during the CLEWS master program.

A traditional beautiful hut with room for the students in the small village of Zwieselstein was taken as a base camp to perform day trips and tours to explore the surroundings. Every excursion day there was a new overarching theme defining the structure of the procedure and topics. Starting with the geological genesis of the alpine mountains, moving on to the specific abiotic and biotic formations present in the Alps, and ending with the anthropogenic usage and impacts in the alpine region. Every student was an expert in one specific topic sharing this knowledge with fellow students by holding a presentation. This gave everybody broad insights into the past and present climate changes processes and impacts in the alpine region.

The most remarkable part of the excursion was the three-day tour to the alpine hut “Vernagthütte” close to the Vernagtgletscher located at over 2.700m in height. A challenging and exhausting hike starting from the small village Vent to the hut brought the whole group to its limits. But the task was mastered and the beautiful views in the upper mountains could be enjoyed with some taking a bath in the glacier water pool. An astonishing sunset and starry sky enhanced the enjoyable moments of an overall exhausting and demanding day.

The next day then was taken to explore the glacial areas of the famous Vernagtgletscher. With the geological expert, Prof. Bernhard Dieckmann from AWI special insights and knowledge have been shared. Reaching the glacier the group explores the glacial processes first-hand. Many of the participants have never seen a glacier before, hence it was a unique experience for most of the group members. After one more night in the hut, the whole group hiked down to the village in Vent to get all the things together and travel home to Potsdam.  The whole excursion was an important and educational trip to the Alps in which the students could gain broad and hands-on knowledge about the actual impacts of climate change.

Text written by CLEWS student Johannes Wilk, 2022

Exchange at the northernmost University Center in Svalbard - Tessa Möller

In April 2023, I went to Svalbard for six weeks to take part in a block course at the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS) on "Marine Cryosphere and its Cenozoic History". This stay abroad not only gave me the opportunity to acquire theoretical knowledge about the cryosphere, but also allowed me to apply what I had learnt in the field by taking measurements of sea ice and glaciers during the fieldwork.

A stay on Svalbard allows for an intensive immersion into the adventurous and remote polar life. I also had the opportunity to encounter polar bears, seals, walruses, puffins, Arctic foxes and whales at a safe distance. During my stay in Svalbard, I lived in a student residence with other enthusiastic Arctic students and was also able to make some friends.

My highlights included the fieldwork and all the hikes and outdoor adventures. The experience of the omnipotence of the glaciers was particularly impressive. It was also a special experience to be on site during the polar day and therefore not experience night for a longer period of time. I was also able to experience the "Northernmost" sauna and then bathe in the fjord - an unforgettable experience. As part of the course, I also learnt how to drive a snowmobile and had to take part in a safety course on site, which also included obtaining a firearms licence to protect me from polar bears in an emergency. However, the main focus was on avoiding confrontations with the polar bears and protecting them from humans.

Text written by Tessa Möller, January 2024

Erasmus exchange semester at the Istanbul Teknik Üniversitesi (ITÜ) - Johannes Wilk

In the winter term 2022/23 I had the opportunity to spend a semester abroad at the Istanbul Teknik Üniversitesi ITÜ. I wanted to take part in the Erasmus exchange programme because it gives students the opportunity to immerse themselves in another culture, fostering intercultural understanding and personal growth. Beyond the academic benefits, the programme encourages students to navigate new environments, make international connections and develop valuable life skills that extend far beyond the classroom. The organisation and approval of the scholarship went smoothly and without any problems. 

Thus, in September, I started my journey to the fascinating scenery of Istanbul, a metropolis that impresses not only with its sheer size, but also with the division of two continents by the Bosphorus, its rich historical past, the exciting coexistence of different cultures and the exciting urban landscapes. Every day was a new chapter of discovery, whether in the colourful bazaars, the winding alleyways of the European or Asian old town, or the constant chaos of a large Turkish city. 

My favorite experiences included connecting with locals over tea in charming cafes and exploring the city with friends from all over Europe. Additionally, being a part of the university's Handball Team was a lot of fun. The classes at the university were very interesting and enriched my knowledge considerably. I was able to transfer all my credits to the CLEWS Masters programme which made it a fruitful stay abroad. In addition, I started learning Turkish so that I could communicate better and connect with the local culture. I would recommend it to everyone because it opens so many doors and gives respect to the local community. The language course was even sponsored by the University of Potsdam.

At the end of the semester, I had the opportunity to explore the country further. I visited impressive ancient sites such as Antalya, Ephesus and Pamukkale. I also discovered the east of the country with the fascinating cities of Mardin, Van and Dogubayazit. These experiences broadened my horizons and will stay with me for a long time to come.

Text written by Johannes Wilk, January 2024

Echo-sounding traineeship on AWI research vessel Polarstern - Aparna Prasannakumar & Paula Allertseder

We had an amazing opportunity to take part in a 2-week traineeship offered by the Alfred Wegner Institute for Polar and Marine Research on Echo-sounding techniques aboard the famous research vessel, Polarstern! Our transit started from Bremerhaven on the 23rd of October and reached Gran Canaria, Canary Islands on the 4th of November. With Echo-sounding techniques, we can map the sea floor and get geologic information by measuring sound waves reflected from the sea floor to the ship. The traineeship had a very hands-on approach where the students had the responsibility to make sure the echo-sounding systems were always operating and collecting data at all times. For this, each of us had 4-hour shifts, along with lectures every day on marine geology, bathymetry and parasound systems. At the end of the training, we gave presentations on the geology of the seabed we passed through by visualizing and interpreting the data from the echo-sounding that we collected during the transit. Overall, the traineeship immensely increased our interest in marine geology and equipped us with tools that we might need in our academic journey forward.

Text written by Aparna Prasannakumar & Paula Allertseder, January 2024