From Chicago to the Elbe

25 March 2019, by CEN Universität Hamburg

Photo: UHH/CEN/M.Bachmann

Visitors from Chicago: Researchers from Northwestern University and Universität Hamburg in front of the CEN’s main building in Bundesstraße 53.

A delegation from Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois, USA, visited the Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability (CEN). The visitors, from areas including climate research, environmental and atmospheric chemistry, and energy systems, not to mention journalism and media studies, took part in a one-day workshop at Bundesstraße 53. The main goal: for the experts from Northwestern and the CEN to work together to identify overlapping or dovetailing research interests, laying the groundwork for potential future collaborations.

“With the Institute for Sustainability and Energy at Northwestern, or ISEN for short, the Chicago-based university is home to a research center with similar focus areas to those of the CEN. Therefore, collaborating is a natural fit: by exchanging notes, we stand to learn a great deal from one another,” explains CEN Director Detlef Stammer. The discussions were correspondingly lively: Which working groups are investigating which topics, and what have their findings been to date? How do project development, support for young researchers, and communications work at the respective institute? How does the media handle the subject of climate change in Germany and the United States?

Since January of 2018, Northwestern has been a valuable strategic research partner for Universität Hamburg. In this context, Hamburg’s International Affairs Department regularly coordinates exchange opportunities for seasoned and young researchers alike. A further “Matchmaking Workshop” is planned for next year, this time in the USA.

More information on Universität Hamburg’s partner universities