"Summer School is a very effective format for our doctoral students!", this is how Prof. Dr. Martin Lames evaluates the scientific exchange in South Africa. The Graduate Center of the Department of Sports and Health Sciences (FGZ-SG) organized the event together with the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) from March 26th to April 1.
Detailed feedback on the doctoral project
Prof. Lames, spokesman of the FGZ-SG, along with the three doctoral candidates Veronica Bessone (Department of biomechanics in sports), Thomas Blobel and Florian Korte (Department of training science and sports informatics), traveled to South Africa. Prof. Brendon Knott, as well as a post-doctorate and three doctoral candidates from Cape Town University, also took part. "The meeting was a very nice mix of cultural and interpersonal exchange, scientific input as well as feedback on our own doctoral project," says Blobel, who had obtained his doctorate at the Department of Training Science and Sport Informatics under Prof. Lames.
"The Summer School is part of our comprehensive doctoral program and is designed to provide graduates who are relatively advanced in their projects and are already able to present results," explains Dr. Felix Ehrlenspiel, managing director of the FGZ-SG.
Accordingly, in South Africa, each of the doctoral students presented their project, which was subsequently discussed in the interdisciplinary group. "I think that the detailed feedback is very valuable for the doctoral students. Since the participants come from very different disciplines, which, in turn, have different emphases, the doctoral students have obtained a very broad view of their projects," says Prof. Lames.
Key notes of the professors and a visit to two national parks
In addition to the lectures by the doctoral students, the key-notes of the professors complemented the scientific program. For example, Lames reported on evaluation research and statistical methods of sports science. Prof. Knott gave a lecture on scientific ethics. Other highlights included a day and a night safari to the Kruger National Park and a visit to the Blyde River Canyon National Park.
The "Wits Rural Facility", a research and event center near the Kruger National Park, operated by the Johannesburg University of the Witswatersrand, served as our quarters. At the center, scientists carry out ecological studies and projects on problems in the Townships. "The center offers great facilities and good accommodations, taking advantage of the special flair of the region - for example, the animals that live on the site," says Lames.
Visit to further universities
After the Summer School, the four participants from Germany individually visited further South African universities in Stellenbosch, Pretoria and Cape Town, and made new contacts with other scientists. "During our visits, we had the opportunity to meet thematically similar facilties and to exchange views with individual scientists. It was very interesting to see that a whole series of intersections exist in research and also in concrete projects," explains Blobel.
For the doctoral students, the trips to South Africa were organized through the EU project "Carnival" - which is financed by the Department of Sports and Health Management of Prof. Dr. Jörg Königstorfer. Participation in the event was funded by the FGZ. "I think the fact that we can offer such a summer school is already an integral feature of TUM and a very effective measure for our doctoral students," Lames concludes.
Information about the Graduate Center for Sport and Health Sciences
Contact:
Dr. Felix Ehrlenspiel
Managing Director of the FGZ-SG
Georg-Brauchle Ring 60/62
80992 Munich
Telephone: 089 289 24545
E-Mail: Felix.Ehrlenspiel(at)tum.de
Text: Fabian Kautz
Photos: Thomas Blobel