Summer School Marine Biotechnology - from the ocean to the lab

Since 2009, students from the Zurich University of Applied Sciences ZHAW and the School of Life Sciences FHNW have been spending one week a year immersed in marine biotechnology. The Summer School takes place in Flensburg, a port city on the Baltic Sea in northern Germany near the Danish border.

Our host - the University of Applied Sciences Flensburg - has around 4000 students and is the ideal location for maritime excursions. As with the University of Life Sciences FHNW, research plays a major role in everyday life at Flensburg University of Applied Sciences.

This is a unique opportunity to be on the Wadden Sea, collect samples of marine microorganisms and evaluate them in the laboratory, all in the same week. The analysis, which normally takes several months, can here be done in days. This makes the Summer School very popular among students and, as in past years, all places are already taken.

In addition to practical work, the program also offers a number of interesting lectures given by specialists from international marine biotechnology firms. One example is Pharma Mar, based in Madrid, which focuses on oncology research inspired by molecules of marine origin.

One evening is always reserved for the mountain festival, which has become a tradition where Swiss participants can exchange ideas with local students and make new contacts.

"The Marine Biotechnology Summer School was super exciting! We went to the Baltic and the North Sea, to the Wadden Sea, ate traditional fish rolls and had a guided tour of a rum distillery. Of course, we did a lot of marine biotechnology too! The lunch seminars with experts and the lab work gave us a deep insight into this field of research. In addition to Armin Zenker (HLS lecturer), a professor and students from the University of Applied Sciences Flensburg accompanied us throughout the week."

David Borer, BSc Molecular Life Sciences student in bioanalytics
Participant Summer School 2019

Summary:

• Research in the sea! A privilege for the landlocked Swiss
• From sampling to product - the whole spectrum of marine biotechnology
• Continuous positive feedback from participants
• Good timing! Exams are over and you can get involved in the project without distraction
• Open to environmental engineers, biotechnologists and chemists
• Application deadline for the Summer School 2021 is 28 February 2021