Discussion during poster session. From left to right: Maximilian Bernt, Lukas Seidl, Thomas Mittermeier, Ludwig Asen, Benedikt Brandes (hidden).
Networking and knowledge exchange are at the heart of the newly established Munich student chapter.
“We wanted to establish an easy way to find people you could talk to when you encounter problems, want to vent your ideas about your experiments, or get some help,” says Thomas Mittermeier, chair of the student chapter and PhD student at Technische Universität München.
The student chapter, which pulls students from multiple universities across Munich, is working to assist in connecting themes and ideas happening in electrochemical research across the city. For Mittermeier and the rest of the students, it provides an avenue to transfer knowledge and bring more depth to research with ease.
“Since we’re from different individual research groups that all relate in some way to electrochemistry, the initial idea to start a student chapter was sparked from that,” Mittermeier says.
Establishing the Chapter
From ideas to research tools, the Munich student chapter is using an organized flow between universities and research groups to make research easier, producing better results. While the idea for this collaboration was sparked from the diversity and depth in research happening in Munich, the ideal platform was not always as apparent.
As a student member, Mittermeier regularly received ECS’s student newsletter. After seeing a list ranking universities by their number of student members, Mittermeier thought it was strange that his own university— Technische Universität München—was so high on the list but did not have a student chapter. With this, the ball started rolling for what would be the Munich student chapter.
Exchanging Knowledge
Soon, Mittermeier had gathered a group of willing individuals and the student chapter was on its feet. With 30 active members, the young group has already had an internal workshop and poster session with talks from members of subgroups and has started a journal club to regularly meet and discuss the latest scientific literature. Futher, Mittermeier and his fellow students plan on a future symposium with a high-level, invited speaker.
Lukas Seidl explaining his poster to Thomas Mittermeier during the poster session at the ECS Student Chapter Munich Workshop.
Of the 30 current members, many were not involved with ECS prior to the establishment of the student chapter.
“The students now gain all the pros you have when you’re an ECS member, from accessing articles to getting involved with the network that ECS provides,” Mittermeier says.
With the focus on the exchange of knowledge and commitment to excellence in electrochemical research, Mittermeier and the group are currently laying the groundwork for a successful future.
Lear more about ECS student chapters.
