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Careers - Alumni
Here we will compile examples of student and alumni careers, including interesting research projects our students have conducted in the 3. semester.
Ms Kristin Gerber
Ms Kristin Gerber started her M.Sc. studies (Global Change Management) in autumn 2006, after finishing her studies of International Forest Ecosystem Management (B.Sc.). She is now working at Germanwatch as head of the project “Mainstreaming of climate risks and opportunities in the financial sector”. The objective of the project is to develop methods, instruments and procedures for the incorporation of opportunities and risks related to climate change in asset management, financial analysis, company valuation, insurance and other related fields.
The mainstreaming project Ms Gerber is working with is by funded German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Project partners include besides Germanwatch (consortium manager), the University of Potsdam, the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW), the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy, as well as the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and the European Climate Forum (ECF).
The consortium manager Germanwatch is a non-governmental North-South Initiative founded in 1991. It is active on the German, European and international level concerning numerous issues related to environment and development and partner of the International Master Study Programme Global Change Management.
“My work at Germanwatch is very exciting. Not only am I working together with actors from the finance sector to increase company’s responsibility regarding environmental and social aspects, but also to influence investment decisions in a way we can meet the target of limiting global average temperature increase to 2°C. That is most relevant if we want to avoid dangerous climate change effects.” says Ms Gerber. She adds, “GCM has given me comprehensive knowledge, the ability to work according to time schedules, and most of all the ability to work in a team - together with people that have different objectives and preferences. Therefore, I can highly recommend the study programme GCM”.
Mr Lars Schmidt
Lars Schmidt started his M.Sc. studies (Global Change Management) in autumn 2006, after finishing his studies of International Forest Ecosystem Management (B.Sc.). From August 2007 to January 2008 he worked at Geo Risks Research Department of Munich Re, developing a forest windstorm-risk tool for the Swedish insurance market as part of his master thesis. “Forest losses by windstorm in Sweden have increased considerably in the last decade, reducing the profits from most Swedish direct insurers. So far, Munich Re has not been affected by these developments but nevertheless felt the necessity to have a closer look at the Swedish insurance market and develop the means to assess forest windstorm risk appropriately”, he says. “The model I have developed together with colleagues at Munich Re is far from perfect, but it allows for the first time to price forest risk adequately on a scientific basis. It has been an extremely rewarding experience, working for such a renowned company and I think it is a privilege to have Munich Re as a partner for GCM”.
Munich Re Geo Risks Research gives advice and provides services for all in-house departments and clients dealing with issues related to natural catastrophes and needing geoscientific knowledge. It also acts as an "information turntable" between operative underwriting. This includes on the one hand giving underwriters advice and support and on the other hand representing Munich Re in a worldwide network of scientists, associations, and political organisations, and taking part in research projects of current interest.
Following his master thesis, Lars Schmidt is now working at the German Development Institute. Here, his main responsibility is the compilation of an advisory study for the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, dealing with “Approaches and Instruments to reduce GHG emissions from deforestation in a post-Kyoto climate regime — opportunities for rural development”.
The German Development Institute sees itself as the think tank for German development policy. It builds bridges between theory and practice and works within international research networks. Since its establishment in 1964, the GDI has based its work on the interplay between research, consultancy and training. These three areas complement each other and are the factors responsible for the GDI’s distinctive profile.
“The goal of the study is to develop a strategy by which a future REDD (reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation) mechanism under the UNFCCC can help both to keep climate change under 2°C and benefit biodiversity conservation and rural development. REDD has a huge potential. It could lead to a win-win situation for climate change mitigation and biodiversity/rural development. But no doubt, it can also backfire”, Lars Schmidt adds.
“I am really looking forward to work here at GDI. It looks like a promising stepping stone to get involved in development cooperation. In this respect, picking GCM as a study program has already paid off. There really seems to be a market for people who make Global Change a cross-cutting issue”.