Students:Martin Pirkl: Difference between revisions

I liked nearly every part of our trip. However, what I enjoyed and what I appreciate the most is the visit to the landfill in Neu Wulmstorf. Our guide in that complex, Tilmann Wolfsteller, was very sympathetic and willing to explain and showed us everything what we wanted to. I was pleased to see how everything can work if there is the 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 waste water into the underground of the landfill could be limited to a minimum. The rainwater which soaks the soil also cannot penetrate into the landfill. The experts also took into consideration natural processes when bacteria decompose the organic waste. The outcome of this process is actually gas, which can be and in the case of Neu Wulmstorf really is drained through pipes and subsequently burned. Photovoltaic panels and wind mills are also components of this site and ensure that the compound is completely energy independent. I think that this idea, which came out of an initial public survey was the best one (there were also proposals like creating a pound for fishing or a playground for children). There is also a need to stress the fact that this project is provided by a public-private company. This proves the bottom-up approach to sustainability movements in Germany works.  

The positives definitely prevail over the negatives when it comes to a summary of aspects of the trip. I tried to think of something which was not so good and it was really hard. I appreciate thte enthusiasm of all participants, especially our leaders. Their endeavour was accompanied by efforts of all the lecturers, guides and coordinators which resulted in a very enriching and inspiring trip. Therefore, I would not like to criticize any point of the program. Yet one thing which comes to my mind is the non-functioning air conditioning in our minibus. That was a real 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 these groups because I am a little bit shy when it comes to talking in front of more people. I mean the Monday session when we worked on the project was good and so were the Friday lessons with the PhD students.  

All in all, I appreciate this one week's experience, I met great new people, saw beautiful places and gained new motivation to continue with the study of sustainable development. However, I feel that I have a 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 a better picture of 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 our trip to Luneburg uncovered :).