Alumni Talk: The adventure of polar research Alumnus Prof. Markus Rex gave dramatic insights into climate change

Another chapter was added to the series of Alumni Talks at Technische Universität Braunschweig on 25 June. Renowned polar and climate researcher Professor Markus Rex inspired more than 300 listeners with his lecture “Frozen at the North Pole – Expedition to the Epicentre of Climate Change”.

A sun that doesn’t set for six months, six months of deep black darkness, curious polar bears in the camp, images of the icy beauty of the Arctic, but also dramatic images showing the retreat of the ice due to climate change. Professor Markus Rex, an expert in atmospheric and climate research, used pictures and videos to report on the MOSAiC expedition he led.

He took the audience on a journey through the icy expanses of the Arctic: from everyday life in the extreme conditions of the Arctic, to the logistical and planning challenges of a project that is determined by the unpredictability of nature, to the scientific findings that the researchers were able to gather on the processes of climate change in the ice.

From September 2019 to October 2020, the German icebreaker Polarstern will drift through the Arctic Ocean, frozen in the ice. The Arctic is warming more than three times faster than the rest of the world because it is the epicentre of global warming. Rex described the dramatic melting of the Arctic ice in impressive detail.

Alumni Talks promote dialogue

The event was part of the Alumni Talks series, which aims to bring together former TU Braunschweig students, academics and other interested parties. TU Braunschweig’s central alumni management aims to promote dialogue between the generations, establish contacts and support the transfer of knowledge between the university and the world of work.  “A remarkable aspect of Professor Rex’s career is his deep commitment to sustainability – a value that we at Technische Universität Braunschweig also hold dear,” emphasised TU Braunschweig President Angela Ittel in her welcoming speech. “Such examples are inspiring and show how important it is that we work as a community, both inside and outside the university, for sustainable solutions and that interdisciplinary and international cooperation is the key to solving global challenges.”

The lecture was followed by a lively discussion in which participants had the opportunity to ask Professor Rex questions and discuss with him the various aspects of climate research and its societal relevance. In particular, he motivated the first-year students to participate in the basic theoretical courses. The whole expedition is based on differential calculations.

TU Braunschweig plans to continue the ‘Alumni in the Spotlight’ lecture series next year.