Transcript

Transcript: Geobotany in Hannover

[Prof. Richard Pott – Institute of Geobotany]

Geobotany studies the composition, diversity, and structure of the earth’s vegetation. Hannover is said to be Europe’s greenest city, it’s vegetation unique. The municipal forest still features old oak-hornbeam groves, very rarely seen throughout Europe. But Hannover still has them. And Herrenhausen Gardens is the only one of its kind in the world.

We teach a lot at Berggarten. Here students get to see tropical plants, desert plants, and plants from all over the world without having to travel. During our on-site ecological practical trainings, we conduct measurements of the ground, micro climate, climate of surface air layers, and vegetation.

We take full advantage of this great infrastructure, located right at our doorstep.

[Anna Kowalski – Landscape Sciences student]

I’m taking many courses in geobotany because I’m interested in environmental interactions, e.g. between vegetation and climate, or soil. At the Institute of Geobotany we learn a lot about these matters.

[Timm Pikos – Landscape Sciences student]

I like to combine things. I didn’t want to specialize too much for my master’s degree, because I’d have to drop many subjects I’d studied in the bachelor program. My aim was to maintain as wide a range as possible to gain a holistic insight into matters. And that’s just what this degree program requires – not only knowledge of chemistry and biology, but also the soil, rock, and weather. That’s what makes it so much fun.

[Prof. Richard Pott – Institute of Geobotany]

Apart from the theoretical lectures in the auditorium, we get to teach outdoors – that’s just wonderful.