Exkursions
The ABC/J excursions take students to exciting regions of the world and bring young members and students together at an early stage. This lays the foundation for future collaborations. The Geoverbund ABC/J awards scholarships on application to committed students for participation in the ABC/J excursion.
ABC/J-Excursion 2024 | NORTH GREECE | 07.09. - 19.09.2024
From Meteora to the Aegean - explore northern Greece with the Geoverbund ABC/J!
Scientific title:
"Interactions between geoscientific, geoarchaeological and cultural-historical factors in the development of Thessaly and Macedonia, Northern Greece"
This year, the Geoverbund ABC/J will take you on a 12-day journey through varied northern Greek landscapes between the mountains and the sea. Under the guiding theme "Interactions between geoscientific, geoarchaeological and cultural-historical factors in the development of Thessaly and Macedonia (Northern Greece)", the interdisciplinary excursion is aimed at Bachelor's and Master's students from all institutes affiliated to the Geoverbund ABC/J. The Geoverbund ABC/J is funding each of the 20 excursion places with 500.00 euros! So prepare your documents and send us your applications by 15 March 2024!
Date & excursion guide
- The excursion begins on Saturday morning, 7 September in Thessaloniki at the White Tower. It ends on Thursday morning 19 September at the port of Kavala. The journey leads through the regions of Thessaly and Macedonia and combines diverse landscapes with important historical sites.
- The distance covered in the 12 days is more than 1,000 kilometres and the journey to and from Germany must be organised independently. The Thessaloniki airport is ideal for the outward flight. Both Kavala Airport and Thessaloniki Airport can be used for the return flight. Before the official start of the excursion on 7 September and after the official end of the excursion on 19 September, it is of course possible to travel around the country on a private basis.
- The excursion is planned and organised by the Geoverbund ABC/J without the involvement of external tour operators.
- The excursion will be led and organised by Prof. Dr. Frank Wendland and Dr. Konstantin Ntageretzis from the Institute of Bio- & Geosciences - Agrosphere at Forschungszentrum Jülich and the coordination office of the Geoverbund ABC/J.
- Throughout the excursion, PD Dr. Chrysanthi Kallini, from the Archaeological Institute of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, will accompany the excursion and contribute her (geo)archaeological and cultural-historical expertise.
- The excursion will also be accompanied on site by colleagues from renowned Greek research institutions with which the Geoverbund ABC/J cooperates, including
Dr. Andreas Panagopoulos | Soil and Water Resources Institute - Thessaloniki
Dr. Vassilios Pissinaras | Soil and Water Resources Institute - Thessaloniki
MSc. Marinos Vardakis | Bergbau-Ingenieur F.H.L. I.KIRIAKIDIS Marbles – Granites S.A
Madia Angelakaki | Administration F.H.L. I.KIRIAKIDIS Marbles – Granites S.A
- Due to the accompaniment by Greek colleagues, lectures will be given in English and German during the excursion.
Thematic contents
Greece, embedded in the Balkan Peninsula, is characterised by a diverse geomorphological structure, which is largely due to young mountain formations attributed to the Alpidic orogeny. A striking feature of the country is the varied formation of the land surface and coastline. Here, steeply rising mountains with deep valley incisions, intramontane basins of varying sizes, steep coasts and alluvial plains meet in close proximity. The contrast between the mainland and the extensive island world emphasises this scenic diversity.
Greece's climate can be categorised as Mediterranean. This subtropical winter rain climate is characterised by mild and humid winters and hot and dry summers, which often last from mid-May to October. Nevertheless, the north and the mountainous regions are always somewhat cooler than the south and the flatter areas of the country.
The favourable climatic conditions and diverse natural features have always favoured the life and work of people, which was accompanied by early cultural development. The human influence on the landscape therefore stretches back to (pre)historic times. The rich cultural heritage has significantly shaped today's European understanding of science, politics and art, which is why Greece is regarded as the cradle of Europe.
The excursion topics and locations were selected to be as diverse and varied as the country and its culture. Looking at the genesis of the landscape, the focus is on geological-tectonic as well as geomorphological and hydrological aspects, which in turn are intertwined with anthropogenic factors. Looking at past and modern land use and cultural development, (geo)archaeological, historical, cultural-geographical and agricultural topics from antiquity to the present are examined.
All in all, we can expect a multifaceted intra- and interdisciplinary programme that is aimed at all ABC/J students who want to look beyond the boundaries of their own discipline!
Excursion areas (as of 01/2024 - subject to change)
Provision of services for a certificate of attendance
Bachelor's and Master's students Students associated with the Geoverbund ABC/J have the opportunity to have the excursion recognised as a course or examination achievement after individual examination of the requirements. The respective contact persons at the universities are available to answer any questions regarding the recognition of academic achievements.
On one day of the excursion, each participant will prepare a detailed progress report with a scientific reference to the respective locations. The day of the excursion to be recorded will be determined at the preparatory seminar (see below). This will give those taking the minutes the opportunity to prepare the day of their protocol well, so that they have the relevant thematic and site-specific prior expertise in the field, which they should bring to bear on site. The protocols are to be prepared following the excursion and will be assessed and evaluated by the excursion organiser with regard to the performance for a certificate of participation or examination. The plan is to summarise all records in an excursion report. Depending on the location and degree programme, a presentation may be required in addition to participation in the excursion and the report in order to receive credit for the examination. Therefore, there will be a follow-up meeting after the excursion for all those interested and for those participants who may also have to give a presentation (see below).
Therefore, please get in touch with the contact persons at your study offices or examination boards at your locations before you apply for an excursion place, with regard to the location-specific recognition of individual academic achievements.
Preparatory seminar
A preparatory seminar is an integral part of the excursion and a prerequisite for the recognition of academic achievements.
- Date & time: Sat. 20 April 2024, 10:00 - 16:00 (Save the date!)
- Location: Geographical Institute of the University of Cologne, Zülpicher Straße 45, 50674 Cologne
- Contents: Introduction & getting to know each other Information about the organisation and the course of the excursion General information about Greece and the local conditions
- General thematic introduction and overview of the locations
- Assignment of protocols related to the excursion route
- Communal conclusion
Submission of the excursion reports
- Mon. 21.10.2024 until 12:00 noon in digital form as a PDF document
Follow-up meeting for presentations incl. post-colloquium
For some degree programmes, it is also necessary to give a presentation in order to obtain credit. The following date is planned for this, to which all other excursion participants are also invited:
- Date & time: 07.11.2024 at 16:00 - 20:00 (Save the date!)
- Location: Geographical Institute of the University of Cologne, Zülpicher Straße 45, 50674 Cologne
- Presentations on the excursion protocol
- Communal conclusion
Excursion contribution
The excursion fee for excursion places sponsored by the Geoverbund ABC/J is € 850.00 per person. This fee already includes the scholarship of the Geoverbund ABC/J. The excursion fee is therefore calculated as follows:
1.350,00 € p.P.Logistics costs
- 500,00 € p.P. Scholarship Geoverbund ABC/J
= 850,00 € p.P. Excursion contribution
The following logistics costs are covered by the excursion fee:
- 12 overnight stays in 3-4 star hotels, preferably in twin rooms
- Breakfast at the accommodation
- Daily lunch snack in the form of a picnic
- Sufficient drinking water daily
- 4 communal (evening) meals in traditional taverns
- Companionship throughout in an air-conditioned coach with enough space for all participants
- Entrance fees
- Excursion reader in printed form
The excursion fee is due upon confirmation of an excursion place and receipt of the invoice. Invoicing and billing are carried out by Forschungszentrum Jülich.
Further costs
The excursion fee of 850 Euro does not include the costs for travelling to and from the excursion (usually flights), the costs for dinners except for the above-mentioned communal meals, the costs for any other individual meals that go beyond the daily breakfast at the hotel and the daily picnic, the costs for any travel documents that may need to be obtained individually, any necessary vaccinations and certificates and general personal expenses on site. These costs must be borne by the excursion participants themselves. Flight bookings and accommodation before or after the excursion are also the responsibility of the excursion participants.
Information on entry requirements, medical advice and further information is provided by the Federal Foreign Office at
https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/aussenpolitik/laender/griechenland-node
Organisational processing
The organisational handling of the excursion (including the application for an excursion place) is carried out for all participants by the ABC/J Coordination Office located at Forschungszentrum Jülich.
Conditions of participation & application
The excursion offers all student members of the Geoverbund ABC/J the opportunity to participate. Enrolment in a degree programme affiliated to the Geoverbund ABC/J is required.
For the purpose of insurance cover, appropriate insurance will be taken out for all participants via the Geoverbund ACB/J or Forschungszentrum Jülich. Nevertheless, participants are expected to take out additional international health insurance (€ 30.00-50.00), as leisure activities, e.g. sporting activities after the end of the official daily programme, are generally not covered by the FZJ insurance.
All student members of the Geoverbund ABC/J can apply for one of the 20 excursion places sponsored by the Geoverbund ABC/J. The application consists of a letter of motivation, which must also include details of your main scientific interests, and a curriculum vitae in tabular form with your full address and telephone number. Please do not forget to enclose a current certificate of enrolment. Please also be sure to state your dietary requirements in your application. All documents must be submitted in the form of a single PDF document via this application portal!
Application ended on Friday, 15 March 2024, 12:00 noon.
The final 20 excursion participants will be selected from the applications received. Notification of acceptance or rejection will take place at the end of March - beginning of April 2024. All applicants should therefore keep the above-mentioned date for the preparatory seminar blocked until then as a precaution.
The information on this page has been carefully compiled. Nevertheless, no guarantee can be given that it is complete, up-to-date or correct. Information is subject to change and may be updated, corrected and supplemented.
Contact
Dr. Konstantin Ntageretzis, Head of the Geoverbund ABC/J Coordination Office, will be happy to answer any questions regarding the conditions of participation, the application procedure and general organisational matters.
