Between formulas and rivers: studying and researching in the environmental sciences

Victoria Juston is in her seventh semester, is currently writing her Bachelor's thesis and is already taking her first modules on the international Master's degree course in Ecotoxicology. In addition to theory, her studies are characterized by practical experience: in the field, in the laboratory and in exchange with international researchers. Her career demonstrates how versatile the study of environmental sciences is and what is possible if you follow your interests.

Victoria Juston stands by a river and observes dragonflies. She measures, notes and tracks flight movements. The observations are part of her bachelor's thesis, in which she is investigating the influence of bridges on the migratory behavior of insects.

It is no coincidence that she is already working intensively on her own field study during her bachelor's degree. Victoria Juston made a conscious decision to study environmental sciences at RPTU's Landau campus because she didn't just want to learn theory: "I wanted to understand how research works in practice," she says.

When enthusiasm determines the path

Victoria Juston has been interested in water for a long time. She was particularly fascinated by rivers, lakes and their habitats when she was at school, for example in her advanced biology course. She originally considered studying marine biology. "However, I deliberately opted for environmental sciences because I wanted to broaden my subject knowledge and specialize later," she explains.

Several factors played a role in her choice of university. A degree program with in-depth content, exciting research questions and the opportunity to gain practical experience were important to her. In the end, RPTU won her over not only in terms of subject matter, but also in terms of organization. "The quick feedback, the proximity to my home town and the opportunity to gain practical experience early on were the deciding factors in the end."

A challenging start in a strong team

After a Voluntary Ecological Year, Victoria Juston first has to get used to everyday university life again. "To be honest, the beginning was difficult," she recalls. "The first few semesters in environmental sciences involve a lot of exams and a heavy workload."

The close exchange with her fellow students helps her to overcome the challenging initial period. "We students stuck together right from the start and supported each other," she says. "We went to lectures together, formed study groups and carried each other through the exam phases." This cohesion helped her to keep going.

Because the exchange within the degree program gives her support, she decides to become active in the student council. There she makes contact with higher semesters, receives practical tips on studying and passes on her experiences to younger students. "This not only helped me professionally, but also gave me the feeling of really being part of a community."

First steps into research

With the particularly learning-intensive first semester behind her, she specifically looks for opportunities to gain practical research experience. The desire to go into research has been with Victoria Juston from the very beginning of her studies.

At RPTU, she experiences a culture that supports initiative. "I simply went to my lecturer and said: I would like to work on a research project, do you have any ideas?" she says. "He immediately took my wish seriously and opened doors for me."

Dr. Jakob Wolfram brings Victoria Juston into contact with the SystemLink research network, which investigates ecological processes in networked projects at RPTU. As a student assistant, she began working at the mesocosm facility (RSM site) in Landau: an experimental facility with artificial river courses in which ecological relationships are researched under realistic conditions.

Research in the field, in the lab, in exchange

Victoria Juston's work on the facility initially takes her into the field, and later into the laboratory. She supports experiments, helps look after the facility and sits for hours over petri dishes to sort spiders for a food web analysis. In this way, she experiences research in all its facets.

A particularly formative moment came when international researchers from the SystemLink network came to visit. Victoria Juston is able to take part in lectures, join in discussions and make contacts over dinner. "The exchange with the researchers was incredibly interesting and they were very interested in us students," she says. "The discussions opened up new perspectives for me. It made me realize once again that I want to go deeper into research."

Research for the Bachelor's thesis

Victoria Juston made a conscious decision to conduct her own field study for her Bachelor's thesis. She wants to work outside and collect her own data. She is observing dragonflies in several watercourses in the region and investigating whether bridges interrupt or divert their flight routes.

The work is embedded in an ongoing doctoral thesis - a framework that she has deliberately chosen. The close connection to a larger research project allows her to classify her results and share them with other researchers.

Supervision at eye level

For Victoria Juston, this close support continues throughout her studies. "You're on a first-name basis here very quickly and you get the feeling that questions are really welcome," she says. This openness has given her confidence, especially during challenging phases.

Victoria Juston recommends that students actively approach lecturers and fellow students. She also believes it is important to give yourself time and not put yourself under pressure. "In the end, it doesn't matter whether it took you a few semesters longer," she says. "The key thing is to be interested in the content and to actively shape your own path."

Victoria Juston is not yet sure where her path will take her in the long term. She can well imagine doing a doctorate and working in areas where research, practice and social issues come together in the future.

Victoria Juston sees the fact that she was able to gain the necessary insights and experience early on at RPTU as a great advantage. "I've noticed here how many opportunities there are to try things out during my studies," she says. "And when I look back on my semesters so far, I can say that I've had a lot of fun the whole time!"