Day six: Free day at Münster

After last nights escapades breakfast started at 8:30 and ended at 9:30 but this was a bit to early for some of us. For some of us breakfast was not very appealing because of a typical case of sensitive stomach. But eventually everybody was ready to leave the hostel and enjoy our free day in Münster. Ina dropped us off closer to the city centre. Of course we took the necessary precautions like placing more plastic bags in the coach.  

In Münster we had a few hours to enjoy the beautiful Altstadt (old city centre). We gathered at the Domplatz at 1 o'clock to enjoy our last meal with the whole group; a wonderfull lunch. At three o'clock we walked back to the parkingplace where our coach was waiting. Obviously we couldn't leave Münster without leaving our mark. This resulted in GLV Idun stickers on random things like traffic signs and bins. 

Before leaving Münster Susanne thanked the committee by decorating every member with a lady bug medal (chocolat). Chiel, as president, was rewarded with a very nice chocolat cup. Of course we also took the liberty to thank Susanne and Ina for all they did to make this study tour the best yet by giving them a token of our appreciation.  

After a 2,5 hours drive we arrived at Groningen Noord where most of us got of the coach. Here we said our goodbyes and went to Groningen central station to let the last people of the coach. The studytour had come to an end... 

Now the time has come to share photos to keep remembering this awesome week. Plans are already in place to have a reunion so we can try to repeat some of the most awesome moments of the studytour. 

Day five: Ottobock at Münster

On May 17th we visited Ottobock in Duderstadt as our last company. After a nice breakfast we left the hostel in Göttingen for a 30 minutes drive to the company. Andreas Kannenberg, who was supervising the Ottobock team, was waiting for us at their office. We directly started off with the presentation prepared by Matthijs, Mohammed, Joyce, Job and Iris. They had a difficult case and had to work with many assumptions, but they managed to provide Ottobock with a good advice about a new knee prosthesis.  

We enjoyed lunch in the restaurant at the company and after that, we were divided into three groups. Our supervisors showed us the constructions sites in the building and an exhibition with all different kinds of prosthesis (which can replace parts of the body) and orthesis (which can support parts of the body). Do you know that there are still wooden prosthesis produced? Some people still prefer those above the modern electronic prosthesis.  

After this we left Duderstadt for a 3 hours drive towards Münster. We arrived at our hostel, which was located next to a nice lake. Receiving the keys to our rooms was a complicated process, but eventually everybody had a key to a room. After quickly unpacking our bags, we left to the town centre where we enjoyed diner and some beers in a real German foodhouse.  

To end the study tour, we went to explore nightlife in Münster. Some of us really enjoyed their beer at dinner and proved this by showing the german people how well we can sing. This wasn’t really appreciated by some security guys who told us to continue our evening stroll in silence. Finally we arrived at the Gorrila bar and had a very nice evening including many drinks which resulted in funny pictures with faces of intense happiness. After the lights went on in the bar we went to a snackbar where most enjoyed some junkfood. Most people went back to the hostel after this but some had energy left to continue partying. We are very curious to see the results of this evening tomorrow morning at breakfast.

Day four: TSE at Bad Homburg

Today was already the fourth day of the study tour. In our hostel at Frankfurt we enjoyed a nice breakfast and hopped on the bus at the railway station. Ina drove us to Bad Homburg, where we met the people from TSE at the Kronenhof hotel. There was some coffee, which some students really appreciated. 

We started off with the presentation by the TSE team. Mart, Gea, Arjan and Skander prepared a nice presentation and showed the TSE people a lot of possibilities for the application of their systems. TSE designs cages for animal behavioural research, which can be enriched with many components to measure all kinds of parameters. 

After a good lunch we continued with a presentation by Lars Breuer from TSE. He told us all about the possibilities of the different types of cages they produce. This induced some questions and lead to a lively discussion. 

Finally we drove to the TSE production site, where we had a tour. We saw how the cages are put together and packed to be shipped all over the world. It was nice to see all the theory of the day in practice. 

Our journey of today ended at Göttingen, which we reached after a 3,5 hour drive. It is clear that we are on the road for already some days now, because some people start to show signs of sleep deprivation. This can lead to two reactions: either sleeping in the bus or staying awake by making silly jokes. The latter on is the reaction mainly seen in the study tour committee members. 

We arrived at the hostel, where we unpacked our bags and walked to the town centre to enjoy a very nice meal at restaurant Bullerjahn. The evening ended with a ice cream as dessert and a view on the night life of Göttingen. After a cocktail it was time to go to sleep, because tomorrow we will visit the last company of this week: OttoBock at Duderstadt.

Day three: BASF at Ludwigshafen

Waking up way too early, we started our day at half past 6. We had a quick breakfast at 7 a.m.  and even though it was really early, everybody was  on time waiting outside for the bus. But unfortunately the bus  got stuck in the traffic while waiting to pass a railway crossing. Nevertheless we made it on time and even found the right Tor (gate) out of 15, which were spread over 10 km2, to reach the visitor centre of BASF.  We received our visitor badges and could enter the site!

We got our first look at the site of BASF while walking to the meeting building. On the site there were 15.000 bikes to transport all 20.000 employees to the places where they have to work. There even was a barber shop and a supermarket, but of course the biggest part of the buildings were production sites. 

First we got an introduction about BASF and the kind of products they make. They deliver their products to many large companies in the world, like L’Oreal and Haribo. And did you know that foundation contains the same chemicals as car coatings? Then it was time for the BASF team to present their case study. Marius, Kexin and Lanxiang did a great job and had a nice discussion with the employees at the company who are working on carbohydrate acting enzymes.

After the presentation we were brought to one of the canteens for a good lunch. We continued with a bus tour around the site: we had a view at many production plants, where all kinds of chemicals were produced. We saw the plant where BASF produces menthol: they are the only company who produce and supply this compound in Europe. So, think about BASF when you’re brushing your teeth and chewing on your gum! Our tour also included a visit to the only biochemical plant of BASF in Ludwigshafen: we were showed around and got a very exclusive look at all stages of the production process. We ended with a general discussion and of course a group picture.

Our next hostel was in Frankfurt, only a one hour drive. Nonetheless, it was enough time for most people to fall asleep. Now we’re at the Frankfurt Hostel, which is located next to the railway station in the middle of Frankfurt. We enjoyed a pasta meal at the hostel and we will continue to Bad Homburg tomorrow to visit TSE. But first, now there’s time to explore the nightlife of Frankfurt!

Second day: City case at Bad Kissingen

Our second day started at the breakfast room of the hostel in Bad Kissingen. After enjoying a nice meal (and missing some people, because hair can be very important...) we left to the town center.

Here we had a tour around the city by a lovely lady, who told us all about the rich history of Bad Kissingen. Did you know that even Kaiserin Sissi stayed at the spa city and that the last picture of her was taken here? Even the tsar of Russia traveled thousands of kilometers to stay at this spa with his wife. 

After the tour, we were surprised by our couch: it was leaking cooling fluid and therefore we were brought to our next destination by car. At the Bismarck museum we were welcomed with coffee and cake (which is everywhere in Germany). The mayor and the press were here to listen to our presentation and ready to participate in the discussion that started after the presentation. 

The Bad Kissingen team, formed by Bich, Thomas, Fabian, Elbrich and David, showed that Bad Kissingen can be a blueprint for other cities in the world by applying chronobiology in their city. There were presented 5 projects which could be used in daily life, for example according to flexible work and school hours. Thomas Kantermann and Michael Wieden, the communal business developer, are already discussing about how to implement these ideas. 

A walk through the nice surroundings of Bad Kissingen led us to the restaurant where we enjoyed our lunch and welcomed our new bus, including a new bus driver. He drove us safely to Weinheim, where we are staying at Jugendherberge Weinheim. In the old town centre we were served a delicious tapas meal and some nice drinks. This was a good end of a busy day. Some people did not have enough adventure for the day and made up their own, by getting lost in Weinheim…In the end even they managed to reach the hostel. Now it’s time for some good sleep, because tomorrow we will leave at 7.15 to BASF at Ludwigshafen. Let’s hope that our new bus from the Netherlands will be here on time.

First day: Covance at Münster

This morning we left Groningen in the early morning: the study tour has started!

After a 3 hours drive we arrived at Münster. Somewhere hidden in the forest we found the Covance building. We were welcomed by Eberhard Buse, the supervisor from the company.

Before we were allowed into the building, we all received a visitors pass and a lab coat. We were divided in three groups and had a tour around the laboratories and the animal facilities. In the canteen we enjoyed a pasta lunch and had the opportunity to talk to some study directors, of who most had a biology background.
 

Then the moment was there for the Covance group: Aad, Marleen, Anita, Luke and Emilia presented the outcome of their case to a group of researchers working at Covance. They showed that they have worked hard the past months and provided Covance with a lot of useful information.

At 4 o’clock we left Münster by buss, on our way to Bad Kissingen! Four hours later we arrived at our beautiful hostel: we got the keys to our rooms and there was served a lovely dinner. Unfortunately Chiel and Chris had to walk to Bad Kissingen before they could enjoy their dinner. The ATM machine of the hostel was broken down and we needed some cash money to keep our sleeping place safe. Now there’s time to chill out, prepare for tomorrows visit to Bad Kissingen and of course the opportunity to enjoy German beers!

Fun fact: Did you know that The Netherlands were founded in Münster? The inhabitants of Münster are very proud of this! There is also a delegation of the Dutch army located at Münster.

Only one day left..

Only one day left till we start our studytour. Preparations are in full swing.
The last important documents are printed, clothes are being packed and the weather forecast is checked at least every hour.

The committee is ready for a week of education, fun and exploration.

Till monday at the crack of morning!