Students:Martin Pirkl: Difference between revisions

I liked nearly every part of our´s trip. However what I enjoyed and what I appreciate the most is the visit of landfill in Neu Wulmstorf. Our guider in that complex, Tilmann Wolfsteller was greatly symphatic and willing to explain and show us everything what we wanted to. I was pleased to see how can everything work, if there is professionality and will to do so. One of the common landfills in the 80´s was sealed with several layers of different composition so that the leakage of wastewater into the underground of the landfill could be limited to a minimum. The rainwater which soaks to the soil also cannot penetrate into the landfill. The experts also took into consideration natural process when bacterias decompose the organic waste. The outcome of this process is actually gass, which can be and in the case of Neu Wulmstorf really is drained through the pipe and subsequently burned. Photovoltaic panels and wind mills are also components of this site, which ensure that the compound is completely energy independent. I think that this idea, which came out from the initial survey was the best one (there were also proposals like create a pound for fishing or playground for children). There is also need to stress the fact, that this project is provided by private company. This fact proofs the bottom-up approach to sustainability movements in Germany.  

Definitely there are prevailing positives over negatives. I´ve tried to find out something which was not so good and it was really hard. I appreciate enthusiasm of all participants, especially our leaders. Their endeavour accompanied by efforts of all lecturers, guides and coordinators resulted in very enriching and inspiring trip. Therefore I would not like to criticize any point of the agenda. Yet one thing, which comes to my mind is non-fuctional air conditioning in our minibus. That was really pain in the ... :) Maybe one more thing, which crosses my mind is that I would prefer to work in smaller groups of people and have possibility to talk with lecturers within this groups, because I am little bit shy when it comes to talk before more people. I mean the Monday session, when we worked on the project was good and so the Friday lessons with PhD students.

 

All in all I appreciate this one week experience, I have met new great people, saw beautiful places and gain new motivation to continue with the study of sustainable development. However I feel that I have huge deficiency in my knowledge of some areas which is on the other hand probably the biggest outcome of this trip, for I now have better illustration, what I should be aware of. This trip also uncovered my language imperfection.  

 

I would like to take part of the trip to Graz in September but I will be in Netherlands, where I´ll be improving my knowledge of sustainability and my language skills, my two main gaps, which uncovered our trip to Luneburg :)