Charlotte Teall, USA
EES Class of 2018
What do you like most about the Jacobs EES program?
“First of all, the class sizes at Jacobs are so small that most of our classes are held as discussions rather than lectures, which is something I didn’t really see other Bachelor’s programs. After first semester, you go into more specialized classes, and all of a sudden you have 6 people in your class instead of 50, and you become super close with the other EES majors. The opportunity to go on so many field excursions and be able to apply what we learn has also been really beneficial, and helps me process what I actually enjoy doing, rather than just learning.”
Leon von Koslowski, Germany
ESS Class of 2017
What was your favorite thing about excursions?
“My favorite thing about the excursions is how you learn about something from more than just lectures, so it’s really nice to see concepts that you have studied in class applied in the field. It’s also great to be able to spend so much time with the professors outside of normal campus life. Excursions help you see firsthand what geoscientific research entails and can help you decide where you would like to specialize. My favorite excursion was the Heincke excursion, a 5-day trip on a research vessel in the North Sea, where we got an insight into oceanographic research, which helped me choose my specialization area. It’s quite unique for undergraduates to be able to participate in such a research cruise.”
Max Reinicke, Germany
Class of 2017
What do you think is next for you after Jacobs?
“I already applied for my masters, which was an incredible amount of work, but was manageable in third year, even with thesis. I applied for geoengineering in the Netherlands and Zurich even though I could study in Germany, but after doing an international BSc, I want to do an international masters as well. Geoengineering is the career choice I’m thinking of, but I also applied for an industrial ecology program, which is a very new research field, but I’m not sure where I could go with that yet. So now I wait to see where I get admitted, and then how I feel about both. Now I just need to finish my thesis, and I should be good to go.”
Ibra Wane, Senegal
EES Class of 2018
What motivates you to study Earth and Environmental Science?
“The whole reason I’m here is because of where I come from. Senegal is experiencing desertification to the East, and dealing with rising sea-levels to the West. This is characteristic of the Sahel (the belt of the Sahara Desert extending from Senegal to Sudan), which is why I’m most interested in climate change adaptation. I came to Jacobs with the desire to study EES, to learn how I, as a scientist, could contribute to the ongoing battle against climate change.”
Ludwig Reiser, Hong Kong
EES Class of 2018
What made you leave your home country?
“I feel like where I come from this isn’t a path that’s normally taken. A lot of people go to the more well known universities in North America or the U.K., but I feel like Germany has a really high standard for education, especially in the field of Earth Science. They have remarkable developments in environmental technology and law. By studying in the epicenter of this green revolution, I feel I can gain the most balanced and in depth education possible.”
Daniel Secaira, Guatemala
EES Class of 2018
In your opinion, what are the benefits of going to a school like Jacobs for EES in terms of the program, school size, and diversity?
The EES program at Jacobs University allows you to understand the diversity and complexity of the Earth and environment. Whether you want to study volcanoes, or marine environments, the oceans, the geochemistry of different tectonic plates, geological structure of the Earth, or the physics behind geological processes, the EES program has the benefit of allowing you to study what you are most passionate about, while also making sure you understand that all disciplines work as a dynamic system that are constantly changing each other. On top of classroom skills and knowledge, Jacobs also lets us go into the field to put what we learn into practice. I think that all of this combined is why I chose Jacobs initially, and most definitely the reason I would recommend our program to anyone with a passion for any Earth system.
