Enhancing Science Partnerships for Innovation and Sustainable Development

Thirteen young students from South Africa and Namibia exchanged views on current climate and environmental themes with representatives of the political and scientific spheres at Brandenburg University of Technology (BTU) in Cottbus from 10 to 12 May.

The scholarship students from the research programme SPACES (Sciences Partnership for the Assessment of Complex Earth System Processes) are currently studying in special Masters programmes in Bremen, Cottbus, Greifswald and Kiel.

The SPACES programme is financed with funds from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). SPACES observes and analyses the interaction between the land and the sea and between the biosphere and the atmosphere in order to gain insights into climate-induced and man-made influences on the environment and to derive recommendations for action. The accompanying scholarship programme "SPACES Scholarships for Post Graduate Studies in Germany", which is being run by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), aims to supplement the research activities with specialised education and training for up-and-coming scientists in Namibia and South Africa.

At the opening ceremony in Cottbus, representatives of the BMBF and DAAD welcomed the SPACES programme's scholarship students. Representatives of the Namibian and South African embassies, as well as scientists from the University of Namibia, were also present at the ceremony. The event, which was held as part of the national "Science Year 2012 – Project Earth: Our Future", provided the opportunity to exchange views and engage in some networking across national boundaries.

The research topic of climate change is also one of the seven focal points of the German-South African Science Year 2012/2013. Up-to-date reports and background information on the Science Year is provided continuously on this website.

Further information about climate change within the German-South African Year of Science 2012/2013 (in English)

Further information to the DAAD "SPACES" project (in German)