Bayreuth alumnus becomes climate protection manager in Friesland

When I think of Bayreuth, I think of ...

... a very pleasant master's degree period that I wouldn't want to have done without - especially the time "before coronavirus".
I think of a lively campus where you always meet familiar faces.
I think of the delicious dishes in the cafeteria, which must be the envy of other universities in Bavaria.
I think of the fellow students and lecturers of my "Global Change Ecology" master's programme and the many wonderful shared experiences, such as participating in the seventh plenary meeting of the World Biodiversity Council (IPBES) in Paris in 2019.
I think of the beautiful Ecological Botanical Garden and the very interesting guided tours that take place there.
I think of the various places in Bayreuth and the memories associated with them (Hofgarten, Wilhelminenaue, Eremitage, Siegesturm ...).
I think of the numerous hikes in the Franken Jura and the Fichtel Mountains, and I can whole-heartedly recommend hiking in the region, e.g. on the Franconian Mountain Trail.

In my studies I learned ...

.. to look at the huge topic of "global environmental change" from different perspectives. In an increasingly complex world, interdisciplinary thinking and working are playing an ever greater role. This focus on interdisciplinarity of the still comparatively young University of Bayreuth is a great advantage it boasts over other universities.
In addition to the interdisciplinarity of my degree programme, I also benefited greatly from the internationality of the degree programme and the campus. Together with the interdisciplinarity, the intercultural experience and varied perspectives helped me to see the various challenges facing humanity more realistically.

You should study Global Change Ecology because...

... otherwise you would be missing out on a huge opportunity. The Master's programme has several special features, but there are three I would like to highlight.
Interdisciplinarity: As already mentioned, the programme attaches great importance to not taking a one-dimensional view of the major challenges of this century such as climate change and the loss of biodiversity. It is not enough to approach these topics only from a natural science perspective, but other issues, such as those in the politics, economics, and law, play an equally important role.
People: The interdisciplinary and international composition of the students is an enormous enrichment over the entire programme and beyond. You learn lessons not just during lectures and seminars, but also through interactions and friendships beyond classes. In general, I really appreciated the motivation and positive vibes of my fellow students and lecturers/supervisors.
UN observer status: Thanks to the observer status with some UN organisations, students from the study programme are always able to participate in international environmental assemblies. My participation in the seventh IPBES General Assembly greatly enriched my understanding of international biodiversity policy.

If I were to study again, then ...

... I would study the "Global Change Ecology" Master's programme at the University of Bayreuth again. Given the numerous possibilities, topics, and people you encounter, you could do the Master's programme again and again and never get bored.

I wish all current and future students in Bayreuth all the best for their studies, and that it will be possible to return to "pre-coronavirus" times. Under these conditions, I’m sure that, as an alumnus or alumna, you will be able to look back on your time in Bayreuth with gratitude and positive feelings.