Category: Alumni

Manikandan is a exchange scholar from University of Kerala at RWTH Aachen University, working under Prof. Klaus Reicherter. The IGCS team asked him to share his experiences doing a research exchange in Germany. He says:

“From the outset, the allure of studying abroad was coupled with the unique chance to immerse myself in an academic culture that seamlessly blended innovation, diversity, and rigorous scholarship. The IGCS scholarship funded by DAAD provided financial support and opened doors to a world-class research environment, facilitating my pursuit of knowledge in ways I had only imagined.

I am Manikandan Subramanian, and my research area is #OrganicPollution and #HeavyMetals in the shorelines of the #ArabianSea. I was driven to the team IGCS in the 2022 IGCS winter school 2022. My journey with IGCS started in 2022, and one of the most profound aspects of this scholarship was engaging with a diverse community of scholars. I met Prof. Klaus in IGCS winter school 2023 in Chennai, and during that time, I got this opportunity to work with him on the IGCS research grants in 2023.

The topic of my research collaboration with Prof. Klaus Reicherter is ‘Interstitial water-sediment characteristics from the #tsunami-affected areas of #Kollam and #Alappuzha shoreline, Southwest Coast, India.’ The mentorship I received from distinguished faculties of RWTH Prof. Klaus Reicherter, Prof. Jan Schwarzbauer, Prof. Sven Sindern, Prof. Volker Linnemann, Philipp Schulte, and Prof. Christian Maerz from The University of Bonn was shaping my research trajectory. The guidance and expertise provided not only refined my analytical skills but also encouraged me to push the boundaries of my research. Regular meetings, constructive feedback, and collaborative discussions fuelled my intellectual curiosity and passion for the subject matter. More than that, during my depression time, Prof. Klaus Reicherter made me strong, and his room door was always open for me to discuss anything between earth and sky. My colleagues in the office always create a comfort zone for me. The laboratory facilities provided by the university uplifted my research quality, and the support from the staff was commendable.

During my scholarship period since I arrived at Aachen, the International Office for Research scholar at RWTH regularly guided me, and they conducted melaten campus and city tours. From the tour, I made many international friends who work on different streams of research and are from different countries. Then, we had several gatherings in public places in Aachen.

I am profoundly grateful for the IGCS that made this international research analysis experience possible. These three months of immense intellectual and personal growth, from the 1st of October to the 31st of December 2023, equipping me with skills, knowledge, and a global perspective that will undoubtedly shape my future endeavours in academia and beyond.”

IGCS Scholar Charlotte Draese shared positive strides made during their recent research exchange made in Chennai, India, focusing on the resilience of river systems to climate-induced floods. Exploring the Adyar and Cooum rivers, they aimed to identify accumulation areas for sediment particles, creating valuable archives of flood and pollution history.

Despite challenges, their efforts revealed insights into elevated levels of pollutants like PAHs and PCBs, shedding light on potential mitigation strategies. They also mention “the collaborative spirit with IIT Madras colleagues was truly inspiring, fostering a rich exchange of ideas.”

You can read their full experience report in our link below:

Charlotte kindly acknowledge the support and collaboration of Prof Dr. Indumathi M. Nambi (Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras), Prof. Dr. Klaus Reicherter (NUG, RWTH Aachen University), Prof. Dr. Jan Schwarzbauer (LEK, RWTH Aachen), Dr. Catherine Chagué (UNSW Sydney), Christina Schwanen (LEK, RWTH Aachen) regarding the workshop at IIT Madras. Furthermore, in addition to those already mentioned, they would like to thank Prof. Dr. Frank Lehmkuhl (PGG, RWTH Aachen), Dr. Daniel Rosado (IGCS, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras) and Max Formen (PGG, RWTH Aachen) for the provided support during the fieldwork.🌍🌱

You can read their full experience report here:

My exchange with the Indo-German Centre for Sustainability (IGCS) took place in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, India on October 13-15, 2023, however, there were also in-depth meetings and exchanges in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

The objective of the IGD (Indo-German Dialogue) is the exchange between Indian and German scientists and other stakeholders on interdisciplinary local sustainability activities. The topic of food systems and especially regional sustainable practices has become a focus of the exchange, which has been taking place for several years now. I, Peter Volz, had previously participated in this format and had a longer research stay at the IITM in Chennai in 2021. One result of this research was the publication with Dr. Christoph Woiwode titled “Towards a Sustainable Transformation of the Food System in the Chennai Region” (see online here). This topic was also addressed at this year’s meeting in Tiruvannamalai. 

Special attention was paid to the role of local processes, “Genus loci – Locality matters,” at this year’s IGD. The German side therefore focused on the importance of food councils and similar structures for shaping the food system. The Agronauts have been working on this for many years and co-founded the food council in Freiburg. In addition, Peter Volz is currently supervising an Indian scientist who is working in Germany on food councils and a possible transfer of this concept to India.

The Cologne Food Council was also represented by Managing Director Florian Sander. 

The concept of food councils was presented at the meeting in Tiruvannamalai and there was some interest in the approach from various Indian stakeholders, e.g. from the “Edible Roots” initiative from Delhi. A stronger and continuous exchange on the implementation of food councils between Germany and India was also addressed, e.g. via a blog/website and learning exchange. The IGCS could provide a good framework for this. This was a result that is now being worked on as a follow-up. 

In addition to the content-related exchange, the IGD program also included an introduction to the hosts of “F5”, a cultural program and a visit to the famous pilgrimage site of Tiruvannamalai. This time, 28 people from initiatives in the field of sustainability (e.g. regional organic food) were represented, including 5 initiatives from Germany.

What was particularly striking about the IGD was that the participants were very motivated and interested. Some had already taken part in an IGD. This created a constructive atmosphere. In addition to the presentation of the various projects, there was also an intensive exchange on how the different approaches in Germany and India can enrich each other. Continuity was also addressed. The important role of Dr. Christoph Woiwode, who has been promoting the exchange for years, was emphasized.

In addition to the participants, there were guest speakers and a visit from Tirivannamalai and a farmers’ cooperative. There was also a cultural program and very good sustainable food. 

The IGD was therefore a complete success, strengthening the links and cooperation between India and Germany in the field of sustainability.

On experiences with the IGD

The Indo-German Dialogue (IGD) was held from October 13-15, 2023 in Tiruvannamalai, South India. 28 people from initiatives in the field of sustainability (e.g. regional organic food) were represented, 5 of them from Germany. The theme was “Genus loci – Locality matters” and therefore it was very appropriate to introduce the concept of food councils. The increased focus on sustainable and climate-friendly nutrition can be addressed and ideally improved locally through food councils. Examples from Freiburg and Cologne were given during this exchange. Further exchange on the topic via blog/website etc. was considered. 

In addition to the substantive program, excursions with exchanges with small farmers and a cultural program were also offered. The exchange with the smallholder initiative was a particular highlight of the trip. The dialog between India and Germany is an enrichment for me. Impulses can be set and the continuity of the IGDs enables in-depth exchange.    The work in the research organization “Die Agronauten” deals with the topics of nutrition and agriculture. These topics are particularly close to my heart, as they have a major impact on our health, economy and health. I have been practicing exchange between Germany and South Asia (Sri Lanka, India) for many years.