Four enthusiastic 12th-grade students joined the Sedimentary Systems group on August 19th, 2026, as part of SommerUNI 2026, to gain first-hand experience of university research and explore how scientists investigate changing landscapes.

The workshop “Wenn Landschaften aus dem Takt geraten – Langzeitfolgen abrupter Klimasprünge” introduced the students to a range of methods used in modern Earth and environmental sciences. Through physical experiments, sediment analysis, and numerical modelling, they learned how climate change can influence erosion and landscape evolution over timescales of thousands of years.

Working with sediment samples, experimental setups, and computer simulations, the participants gained practical insights into the interdisciplinary nature of geoscience research. In addition to the scientific activities, the workshop provided an introduction to the broad field of geosciences, highlighting its importance for understanding environmental change and addressing societal challenges.

The students also learned about study opportunities in geosciences at Freie Universität Berlin and the diverse career paths available to graduates in the field. Throughout the day, the participants showed great curiosity and engaged actively in discussions about climate, landscapes, and Earth system processes.