Next generation of Wadden Sea experts trains at trilateral summer school
Sixteen Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD students from the Wadden Sea region and beyond have embarked on a ten-day journey to explore one of the world’s most unique coastal ecosystems. The second trilateral Wadden Sea World Heritage Summer School “Wadden Sea under Pressure” will take participants from the Danish Wadden Sea around Ribe, where it was launched on 18 August, to the German island of Sylt. The programme will conclude at the Wadden Sea Day in Wilhelmshaven, Germany – an annual symposium and networking event led by the Lower Saxon Wadden Sea National Park Authority and the Common Wadden Sea Secretariat.
The programme offers a rich mix of expert-led lectures and hands-on fieldwork, covering environmental science, social sciences, economics, and law. Students will gain insights into the Wadden Sea’s complex ecology, conservation challenges, sustainable development opportunities, and governance structures. Field visits will bring theory to life, testing ideas in real-world settings and fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration in international teams.
“In times of climate change, when we are faced with so-called “wicked problems”, we want to convey a deep understanding of the complex tasks involved in the conservation, management and governance of the Wadden Sea,”, says Anja Domnick, lead organiser from the Common Wadden Sea Secretariat. “At the same time, we want to offer them a platform to connect with experienced professionals and peers and by that help shape a new generation of leaders ready to safeguard one of the world’s most important natural areas.”
The Wadden Sea World Heritage Summer School 2025 is jointly organised by the Alfred Wegener Institute, FH Westküste University of Applied Sciences, the Common Wadden Sea Secretariat, and the Waddenacademie. It is supported by the Trilateral Programming Committee on Wadden Sea Research, the Danish Wadden Sea National Park, the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park Authority, and the Partnership Hub within the framework of the Trilateral Wadden Sea Cooperation.