The Details

I first heard about the Nordic Water Network (NWN) when I was taking the course “Stromungsmaschinen – Auslegung” at the TU Berlin. Thanks to the Nordic Water Network, I had the possibility of participating in the course “Advanced measurement techniques for different flow fields” offered at the Cracow University of Technology with lectures from the cooperating universities in the NWN. I really liked the topics from that course and, for that reason, I decided to pursue my master’s thesis within the NWT. This led me to the Dublin City University in Ireland, where I completed my master’s thesis with the topic “Experimental characterisation of flexible membrane dynamics due to fluid structure interaction”.

The Dublin City University (DCU) is a young university located in the north of Dublin. DCU is a small university in comparison with TU Berlin with a vibrant student live and excellent facilities. During my stay, I was working with measurement equipment, such as Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) or Digital Image Correlation (DIC), which is a great opportunity for a master’s student. My supervisor, Dr. Yan Delauré, was always available for any questions about the project, which is really helpful for the development of a good master’s thesis.

Dublin is a beautiful city with welcoming people, which makes anyone living there feel comfortable. Before going there, I was told that the weather in Dublin was really bad. This was, however, not my experience. It is true that it is sometimes windy and that it can spontaneously rain but, during the day, it is usually sunny, and temperature is pleasant. Irish people have a rich culture that is reflected in the amount of pubs, live music or live sport events that are all around Dublin. Regarding Ireland and its landscapes, I must say that it is impressive and that everyone should come here once in their live. I will never forget my time there.

There are some drawbacks about Dublin, though. Rent prices in Dublin are extremely high, making it one of the most expensive cities in Europe. Finding accommodation in Dublin is not easy and it should be planned in advance. The best way to do this is to fly to Dublin some weeks before starting at DCU and visit several accommodations before choosing one. The best webpage for accommodation in Ireland is, in my opinion, daft.ie. In contrast to Germany, public transport is not for free for students in Ireland, which can also be really expensive if living far away from DCU. Although the scholarship provided by the NWN is high, it may not be enough to cover all the expenses of the stay.

I would like to thank the Nordic Water Network and the Dublin City University, and specifically Markus Fischer and Dr. Yan Delauré, for this opportunity. I am grateful to have been involved in this European project and hope that more student take part in such projects to increase cooperation among European universities.