Mail from … Brisbane Physics student Bastian Brömer reports from Down Under

General Information

This is where I live at the moment:

I live in Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland, on the east coast of Australia.

This is what I am doing in Brisbane:

At the University of Queensland, I am conducting a laboratory experiment to investigate the electrical properties of partially saturated sand. The aim is to gain a better understanding of how water and air distribute in porous media and how this affects electrical conductivity. This is important for facilitating the interpretation of geoelectric measurements in the field. Geoelectric measurements provide a means of obtaining information about the subsurface from the surface, without the need for drilling or excavation.

For the laboratory experiment, the sand is initially fully saturated in a conductive salt solution. Subsequently, the water level is altered to entrap air bubbles in the pores. At various saturation levels, I measure the frequency-dependent complex specific resistivity using a so-called four-point arrangement, where two electrodes pass a current through the sample material and two other electrodes measure the voltage difference.

In Braunschweig, I am working on numerical simulations of such partially saturated porous media as part of my master’s thesis. To compare my simulation results with reality, I am now collaborating with the Geotechnical Department at the School of Civil Engineering in Brisbane to obtain experimental measurement data under controlled conditions.

My stay will last a total of:

… about five weeks and is self-organised. I receive financial support from the PROMOS programme, which aims to enhance the mobility of students from German universities through the DAAD.

That’s why I decided to go abroad:

In my studies with a focus on geophysics, I have had the opportunity to conduct measurements in many exciting locations around the world, but I also wanted to gain the experience of working in a different research group. I was particularly convinced by the interdisciplinary exchange with geotechnics, and the time just before graduation seemed like a good opportunity for that.

Local life

Here’s how I live in Brisbane:

I have a room in a privately rented house where several people are living as sub-tenants. In Brisbane, it is quite unusual for students to live alone, as the housing market is very tight.

What distinguishes studying/researching in Australia from that in Germany?

Education in Australia is a business, comparable to the system in the United States. Students pay high tuition fees, and universities rely on large student numbers to remain profitable, which is why failure rates are extremely low. As I have heard here, this results in a lower academic standard compared to Germany. Additionally, students provide evaluations, which have a significantly greater impact on the academic careers of lecturers here than in Germany.

The research structure also differs from that in Germany. While I am familiar with research groups in Germany led by professors who have decision-making power over all the group’s projects, in Australia there are considerably more independent research staff. They have the freedom to choose their research areas, write their own project proposals, and are overall less dependent on individual professors. This offers young researchers many opportunities, especially at the start of their careers.

Particularly typical of my host country is:

In Australia, people are very friendly and relaxed. This stood out to me particularly on the bus: there is no pushing, seats are promptly and voluntarily given up for those in need, and everyone thanks the driver when getting off. It is also typical for many Australians to start work early but finish earlier as well. As a result, many shops close by 5 PM, which sometimes made it a bit challenging to fit in with my university schedule.

Here are a few things I learned during my first three days:

• Brisbane is located in the subtropics. The warm end of spring was a stark contrast to the grey beginning of winter in Germany. During the summer, there are many intense rainstorms with impressive lightning, which lit up the night sky upon my arrival. The days in Brisbane are noticeably shorter compared to Germany – even on the longest summer days, the sun sets before 7 PM.
• Public transport in Brisbane is almost exclusively based on buses (and ferries). The rail system plays a very minor role. However, I have never seen such a well-developed bus infrastructure before. There are dedicated bus lanes, multi-storey bus stops, and in the city centre, some bus services operate underground with subway-like stations. Nevertheless, as the third-largest city on the continent, Brisbane has a somewhat small-town feel in certain aspects. After 8 PM, buses run only sporadically, and by 10 PM, one usually has to look for alternatives.
• The university campus is surrounded by plenty of greenery, and there are numerous water dragons (a type of lizard) that inhabit the lakes there. They often sunbathe on the pathways. Since they blend in well with their surroundings, I find myself getting startled whenever they suddenly jump up.

The biggest challenge I’ve faced during my stay so far:

Since many people at the university work quite independently, it was sometimes challenging to find out who was currently using the equipment or materials that I needed for my experiment. It took a while to gather everything necessary. Another challenge was the unforeseen delays in setting up the experiment, as there were some unexpected technical issues. Despite these difficulties, I was still able to set up the experiment in time before my departure.

The funniest misunderstanding I had due to language issues was:

There were no major misunderstandings; communication in English generally worked well.

I will keep telling this anecdote to my friends at home:

The building where my workplace is located is a relatively new (and hence impressive) university building, so it often hosts conferences or events. One of the PhD students always lets everyone in the office know when a buffet is being set up. Then everyone quickly heads out to grab a little snack. It always creates a fun sense of community and has almost become part of our everyday office life!

That’s what I will take home with me:

In addition to new contacts in the geoelectric community and ideas for future collaboration, I’m bringing home a snorkel that I used to observe fish on the Gold Coast.

Good to know

My top tip for anyone travelling to Brisbane:

Near the botanical gardens, there is an open-air stage where world-renowned artists regularly perform. I highly recommend listening to a free concert while enjoying a picnic or taking a stroll in the park.

This is a local dish you definitely have to try:

Vegemite! I’ve heard that only “true” Australians can really enjoy the salty spread.

This is a tip I give to other students and researchers who want to go abroad:

Vegemite! I’ve heard that only “true” Australians can really enjoy the salty spread.