QUEENSLAND'S GERMAN CONNECTIONS - PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

Two-way exchange visits

UQ hosts bright young German scientists Jugend forscht (Youth Researchers), a German youth science competition is the biggest youth science and technology competition in Europe with more than 10,000 participants annually. The competition, originally initiated in 1965 by famous German journalist Henri Nannen, offers winners prizes donated by industrial sponsors. As part of the competition participants are required to work on a self-initiated research project, submit a written report about their work and present their results to an expert jury who then select winners. In 2011 participants entered into the competition to win a two week long University of Queensland research scholarship. Of the 11,000 entrants, three national Jugend forscht science award winners, each with remarkable projects were selected to undertake the scholarship prize. Second-placed 17 year-old Severin Kämmerer from Bavaria impressed the German judges with his research into copper fluoride and subsequent discovery of what he believes is a ‘novel’ or new compound. As his prize, Severin spent two weeks at the UQ School of Chemistry & Molecular Biosciences (SCMB) working supervised by Dr Ulrike Kappler, researching metallo-enzyme complexes (enzymes that contain tightly bound metal atoms). Severin was fascinated by UQ’s well-equipped laboratories and said the scholarship not only enhanced his knowledge of biochemistry, it also allowed him to develop as a person.

Severin Kämmerer with Dr Anna Ciccarelli, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (International)

“The journey to and the stay in Australia required a high degree of self-responsibility and autonomy which added positively to my personal development,” he said. “I improved my English vocabulary and speech fluency day by day as well. Also of significance was the great number of international students I met and talked to. I was able to learn a lot about different cultures and mentalities.” Since returning to Germany, Severin has met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel as a guest of the German Government, an invitation issued because of his high achievement in the Jugend Forscht competition.

Australian Embassy in Germany hosts current UQ staff member

In September 2012, current UQ student and staff member Clare McEniery began an internship at the Australian Embassy in Berlin. The internship allows university students with an interest in international relations to gain an insight into the work of the Embassy,

Clare works at UQ as an Assistant Project Officer in the International Global Engagement team where she assists with the development of agreements and strengthening relationships with the University’s key partners. Clare is also studying part-time in the Master of Arts program at UQ, and is majoring in writing, editing and publishing, so she was looking forward to working in Public Affairs in Berlin.

giving them exposure to all areas of the Embassy’s activities – including political and economic research and analysis, public events and consular issues. After studying German as part of her Bachelor of Arts and Honours degree at UQ, Clare gained experience as a language assistant while living in Germany. During this time her growing love for the country and the language fuelled her desire to pursue her interests further.

“This will be a great opportunity to combine my interests and further develop my skills in all three areas of: German language and culture; international relations; and writing and communication. In addition, I look forward to learning more about Australian and European economic and diplomatic relations,” Clare said, before she exchanged Brisbane’s spring for Berlin’s autumn.

Clare McEniery (right) and sister Rebecca stand against Hamburg’s picturesque Binnenalster during Clare’s last visit to Germany.

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