From New Zealand back to Bayreuth
Prof. Dr. Christina Roth spent the lecture-free period in New Zealand. Through the contacts she had made through the HighHy project, she was a guest lecturer at the University of Canterbury.
After the last summer semester, Prof. Dr. Christina Roth, Chair of Materials Process Engineering, did not have a lecture-free period at all: she took on a two-month guest lectureship in the Erskine Programme in Christchurch (New Zealand).
"In New Zealand, I did research on resource-saving catalysts for green hydrogen production with my host Prof. Aaron Marshall in our bilateral BMBF-funded project HighHy," says Prof. Roth. But not only that: "The guest lectureship allowed me to experience teaching on the other side of the world. More than 60 3rd semester chemical engineering students listened to my thermodynamics lecture. It was a swell experience."
Prof. Dr. Christina Roth did not only focus on teaching, but also on research.
"Without the annoying time difference, which previously required many an extra coffee, we were able to discuss even the smallest details and even spontaneously submit a joint measurement time request at the Australian synchrotron," says Roth, explaining the advantage of working together on site. From January 2024, Anouk Soisson, an engineering student and currently a student assistant at Professor Roth's department, will continue the personal contact and complete parts of her bachelor's thesis in Christchurch.
Soisson can then enjoy all the things Prof. Roth will miss. "Starting with culinary discoveries like Pourover Philadelphia, loaded wedges and Flat White. And continuing in the open-minded hospitality of New Zealand colleagues at the weekly 'cake hour' and the end of the week together at the Faculty Club with an after-work IPA and the latest gossip from all the faculties," Roth looks back. . "Such a change of scene to the other side of the world is a real new beginning - until you discover that everyone faces the same challenges after all." Because, Roth points out, even though there are around 18,000 kilometres between Bayreuth and Christchurch, the students face similar problems.
"Students there have also suffered from Covid and virtual teaching," says Roth. "In addition, the topic of climate change is omnipresent. Activists meet there weekly and even in private, for example when shopping, I was approached about the topic of climate change and German involvement."
Looking back, Professor Roth is certain: "Collaboration across borders is very fruitful - whether from the researcher's or the teacher's perspective."
Jennifer OpelDeputy Press Officer
University of Bayreuth
Phone: +49 (0)921 - 55 5893 57
Mail: jennifer.opel@uni-bayreuth.de