Geo.Science.Day 2025

Impressions

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On 30 October 2025, the Department of Geosciences hosted this year's Geo. Science.Day.

In addition to tried-and-tested formats, it also offered new elements. The highlight was undoubtedly the so called "Lehrreise" by the Vice-Rector for Studies and Teaching, Prof. Dr. Ulrike Weyland.

The lecture programme addressed the research foci of the department's new structure and development plan. Prof. Dr. Benjamin Risse gave a lecture on the topic: How “intelligent” is artificial intelligence? - Grounding AI in the Geosciences, which represented the focus area ‘Open Spatial Data Science’. In the second lecture on the focus area ‘Sustainability and Transformation’, Prof. Dr. Tillmann Buttschardt reported on the real-world laboratories in the context of the Ulysseus Innovation Hub Social-Ecological Sustainability with the topic: Co-creating Sustainable Futures: Inter- & Transdisciplinary Research in RealworldLab Contexts. A third lecture on the ‘Focus Area Ecosystem, Earth and Planetary Science’ unfortunately had to be cancelled due to illness.

Traditionally, prizes are also awarded at Geo.Science.Day. Vincent Flemming received the Jeannine Böhmichen Prize, awarded by the Institute of Landscape Ecology for outstanding bachelor's theses in the Landscape Ecology programme, for his thesis entitled: Understanding the cooling effect of peatland ecosystems through measured energy fluxes.

The 2024 Teaching Award, presented this year by the Geosciences Student Council, was also awarded. This year's winner is Junior Professor Dr David de Vleeschouwer.

Last year's graduates were honoured by Dean Prof. Dr. Edzer Pebesma in a festive ceremony.

The Young Researchers Day programme was very well attended, with over 20 posters and other works presented, particularly by doctoral and postdoctoral researchers from all institutes in the department.

The highlight of the day was undoubtedly the visit by the Vice-Rector for Studies and Teaching, Prof. Dr Ulrike Weyland, who visited the Department of Geosciences as part of her ‘Lehrreise’. In a kind of trade fair, the department presented itself with various stands in GEO 1, showcasing its diverse range of courses and special concepts.