Maximilian Owen

Affiliation:

Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research
30 Aug 2022 to 29 Sep 2022

Research subject:

Coastal Ecosystems

Supervisor:

Prof Karen Wiltshire

Short cv:

In 2016, I received a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences at the Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Germany. Currently, I am enrolled in the Master’s program Environmental Management at the Christian-Albrechts-University in Kiel, Germany. My Bachelor thesis evaluated the environmental condition of a golf course on the island of Sylt, GC Budersand, which was formerly used for military purposes. The focus of my Master’s studies are environmental planning and management such as marine nature protection and marine ecology. Throughout my academic career, I attained broad knowledge in different environmental disciplines and learned the importance of interdisciplinarity in scientific research.

Beside my studies, I founded a company together with two fellow students. From 2019 to early 2022, we produced and retailed protein powder based on edible insects and received awards for innovative and sustainable projects and business ideas in 2020 and 2021. In this experience, I noticed a great passion and talent for developing and accompanying projects.

My function at the shiptraining on RV Polarstern is to accompany the Miniboat-Project, which will be constructed by high school students. I look very forward to work together with this group of students in order to exchange project results and discuss the further project development with them during the expedition. To me, it is of great importance to awaken interest in young people for oceans and hopefully motivate them to engage in natural sciences later. The more we know about oceans, the clearer we know how to improve their health and resilience in order to tackle climate change.