Meet Hannah Sauer - Master's student in Sea and Society
At the Sea and Society Master's Programme, Hannah Sauer from Germany was able to combine two of her interests: sustainability and the sea. In the future she can see herself working as a research assistant or starting a PhD, preferably with a focus on biodiversity or sharks.
Why did you want to study the master's programme in Sea and Society?
"I'm very interested in sustainability, and I also did my bachelor degree in management of natural resources with a focus on sustainability. I've always had a deep interest and passion for the ocean and I wanted to further explore sustainability with an ocean focus. The sea and society programme was the only programme I found that really matched these expectations. Besides that, I have also heard good things from people who had been in Sweden on exhange. Therefore I chose the master's programme in Gothenburg."
What’s it like to study the programme?
"I like that the programme gives me a lot of possibilities to find my own path and follow my own interests. Besides that, you also get to meet a lot of people from different backgrounds and nationalities, which is really important for the sustainability area. One of the highlights was the week we spent in Kristineberg, where we had different lectures on, for example, ocean acidification and eco-toxicology. That was really interesting.
Where did you do your internship?
"I enjoyed the week in Kristineberg so much that I decided to do my internship there. During my internship, I supported a PhD student in one of her projects about climate impacts on coastal fisheries. We did some field work and examined how the biodiversity in areas with eelgrass changed over the years. It was a really good experience, and I had the opportunity to look into a lot of different research projects. It also gave me a good idea of what life as a doctoral student and researcher could be like."
What did you learn during the internship?
"I learned that I can see myself working in marine research. The internship really helped me to find my focus and what I want to do more. I also learnt a lot more about marine biology and fish biology. Besides that, I gained a lot of confidence in what I am capable of doing."
What are your plans after the programme?
"I will see how everything goes with my thesis, and if my thesis goes well, I could really see myself working as a research assistant or even maybe pursuing a PhD if the right position comes up, preferably in marine sciences. I would really like to learn more about fish or maybe do a study on biodiversity, or sharks."
What tips do you have for students who are going to enter the programme?
"The programme can really help you get a clearer picture of what you want to work with. However, it depends on you taking initiatives of your own. When you meet people that work with an interesting topic, you need to approach them. In general, it's important to be very active."
