PEP Students on Practical Marine Research

The master program Environmental Physics at the University of Bremen offers students the unique opportunity to deepen theoretical knowledge by doing practical reasearch. One example is an excursion to Heligoland in May 2024 which impressively shows how closely linked research and teaching might be.

In co-operation with the Alfred Wegener Institute, Hemholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), students and researchers went on an excursion on board of the research vessel „Heincke“ into the waters of the German Bight around Heligoland from 02 – 06 May 2024. This „educruise“ offered the participating students not only the possibility to use state-of-the-art scientific instruments such as the Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) as well as Multibeam-Sonar and Conductivity-Temperature-Depth-Sondes (CTD), but to collect and analyse valuable data directly on board of the vessel.

In addition to the practical research activities, the excursion was supplemented by scientific lectures by researchers from the AWI. The scientists provided the students with valuable insights into current research topics and methods applied in oceanography.

The highlight of the excursion was that students had the chance to carry out and evaluate measurements in different areas and with different measuring instruments. The data collected not only contribute to the scientific knowledge about the dynamics in the German Bight, but provide the students with the special opportunity to gain practical research experience in a real marine environment.

This practical approach of actively involving students in research forms a unique part of the master program Environmental Physics at the University of Bremen. It prepares graduates optimally for a career in natural sciences.