ESS-CC PhD Trip 2012

The trip was organized by ESS-CC PhD students with great support and facilitation from senior scientists, providing a special occasion for PhD students to visit two renowned research institutes in Germany: the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Jena and  PIK - Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. The main purpose of this trip is to help students getting to know more about researches at the host institutes as well as strengthening the scientific bonds between the ESS-CC group and the two German institutes. The students very well represented  our institute and its key research topics by giving oral and poster presentations of their projects. This resulted in lively discussions between scientists from the institutes, which opened the way for more in-depth discussions and opportunities to think about collaborations. Some students already made agreements to collaborate on their researches, for instance working together with researchers at PIK on the LPJml model.

The trip started with a two-day visit to the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry in Jena. During these two days PhD students presented and discussed with the host institute’s staff and PhDs about their research. They also had chances to learn more about research and facilities at Jena. The students were especially interested in the field trip to The Quasom Field Experiment site, where they were guided by the host institute’s staff through an impressive field site for experiments on soil carbon stabilization and mobilization.

Leaving Jena, the group then headed West to visit PIK Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. In Potsdam, the students had a first day fully dedicated to presenting and exchanging research ideas with the PIK’s researchers. They also arranged individual and focus-group meetings to further discuss the topics of interest, including adaptation assessment, monitoring and evaluation of adaptation, modeling vegetation- biosphere interactions, scenarios for ecosystem services and modeling of environmental flow. Here, appointments for further contact and exchange of research ideas were made which will certainly be followed up.

Intensive but very inspiring and with lots of fun! That is the general impression of the participants who joined the trip. Next to the valuable professional experience and new collaboration opportunities, it was a very nice way to get to know each other a lot better!