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- INTERCOAST PhD Students Clarisse Niemand and Rachel Harris Take in the Sights and Sounds While Expanding Their Scientific Horizons During Their Research Stay in Germany
INTERCOAST PhD Students Clarisse Niemand and Rachel Harris Take in the Sights and Sounds While Expanding Their Scientific Horizons During Their Research Stay in Germany
View from the flight over the East Frisian Islands during the INTERCOAST workshop field excursion.
Open ship event during the 'Wochenende an der Jade' in Wilhelmshaven from 28 June - 1 July 2012.
Public outreach on board the FK Senckenberg (left to right: Ruth Gutperlet, Rene Kallen, Rachel Harris, and Clarisse Niemand).
Deployment of a benthos sampler on board FK Senckenberg.
Rachel Harris hard at work on the muddy tidal flats of the Wadden Sea.
Following our visit to Bremen last year for our first INTERCOAST workshop, we had the opportunity for an extended research stay, which started with the annual INTERCOAST workshop, held at the MARUM Institute at the University of Bremen from 16 - 23 June 2012. As always, it was nice to catch up with our fellow INTERCOAST PhD students and listen to presentations by all the students on the current status of their research projects.
During the 2 week workshop we also had the opportunity to re-discover the city of Bremen and the surrounding areas in the evenings and to participate in several field excursions. One of the workshop highlights was a ferry ride to Spiekeroog Island, which is one of the East Frisian islands lying off the North Sea Coast of Germany. The visit to Spiekeroog was followed by an aerial flight over all the East Frisian Islands, which afforded some breath-taking views!
After the INTERCOAST workshop, we set off for Willhelmshaven, where we spent the next three months. There, we worked with Dr. Ingrid Kröncke, the marine biology group, and others within The Senckenberg Institute. This was a most rewarding experience!
During our time at the Senckenberg Institute, we were able to participate in a few educational events and research cruises with colleagues from the Marine Biology group, as well as the Sedimentology and Actuopalaeontology groups. While always learning about Wadden Sea ecology, the collaborations between working groups allowed us a broader perspective through exposure to a diverse range of research areas.
During the 'Wochenende an der Jade' (the summer carnival at the Jade Bay) in Wilhelmshaven, we were able to assist in an “open ship” event, which was designed to engage and educate the public about the research being conducted at the Senckenberg Institute. Throughout the weekend, we took turns playing 'tour guide' on the ship and showed curious carnival-goers the inner workings of the ship and explained the various educational displays set-up in the ship's wet labs. One local boy set up camp on the ship for most of the weekend and by the end was calling himself 'Captain' and showing the locals around by himself!
Another highlight of our stay in Wilhelmshaven was our participation in a research cruise to the island of Norderney (another of the East Frisian islands off the North Sea coast of Germany). During the cruise, we sampled the benthos for seasonal variability at long term monitoring stations using a variety of sampling devices.
Back on land (well sort-of!), we got our hands dirty collecting samples in the muddy tidal flats of the Wadden Sea for a comparative study of the native Blue Mussel beds (Mytilus edulis) and the invasive Pacific Oysters (Crassostrea gigas) that was being undertaken by researchers of the Senckenberg Institute. Learning first hand about this ecological hot topic demonstrated the need for research to better understand the competitive dynamics between the two species in hopes that future potential invasions can be properly mitigated.
Amongst the intense research activities, we also had time for a little bit of fun! We learned to play Kubb (Vikings chess), enjoyed the carnival in our free time during the 'Wochenende an der Jade', biked all around Wilhelmshaven, and took a trip to Berlin. Our stay in Germany was an amazing learning experience that we will never forget. We would like to thank you our German “family” and especially everyone at the Senckenberg Institute who supported us.
During the 2 week workshop we also had the opportunity to re-discover the city of Bremen and the surrounding areas in the evenings and to participate in several field excursions. One of the workshop highlights was a ferry ride to Spiekeroog Island, which is one of the East Frisian islands lying off the North Sea Coast of Germany. The visit to Spiekeroog was followed by an aerial flight over all the East Frisian Islands, which afforded some breath-taking views!
After the INTERCOAST workshop, we set off for Willhelmshaven, where we spent the next three months. There, we worked with Dr. Ingrid Kröncke, the marine biology group, and others within The Senckenberg Institute. This was a most rewarding experience!
During our time at the Senckenberg Institute, we were able to participate in a few educational events and research cruises with colleagues from the Marine Biology group, as well as the Sedimentology and Actuopalaeontology groups. While always learning about Wadden Sea ecology, the collaborations between working groups allowed us a broader perspective through exposure to a diverse range of research areas.
During the 'Wochenende an der Jade' (the summer carnival at the Jade Bay) in Wilhelmshaven, we were able to assist in an “open ship” event, which was designed to engage and educate the public about the research being conducted at the Senckenberg Institute. Throughout the weekend, we took turns playing 'tour guide' on the ship and showed curious carnival-goers the inner workings of the ship and explained the various educational displays set-up in the ship's wet labs. One local boy set up camp on the ship for most of the weekend and by the end was calling himself 'Captain' and showing the locals around by himself!
Another highlight of our stay in Wilhelmshaven was our participation in a research cruise to the island of Norderney (another of the East Frisian islands off the North Sea coast of Germany). During the cruise, we sampled the benthos for seasonal variability at long term monitoring stations using a variety of sampling devices.
Back on land (well sort-of!), we got our hands dirty collecting samples in the muddy tidal flats of the Wadden Sea for a comparative study of the native Blue Mussel beds (Mytilus edulis) and the invasive Pacific Oysters (Crassostrea gigas) that was being undertaken by researchers of the Senckenberg Institute. Learning first hand about this ecological hot topic demonstrated the need for research to better understand the competitive dynamics between the two species in hopes that future potential invasions can be properly mitigated.
Amongst the intense research activities, we also had time for a little bit of fun! We learned to play Kubb (Vikings chess), enjoyed the carnival in our free time during the 'Wochenende an der Jade', biked all around Wilhelmshaven, and took a trip to Berlin. Our stay in Germany was an amazing learning experience that we will never forget. We would like to thank you our German “family” and especially everyone at the Senckenberg Institute who supported us.