In September 27-29, the 2010 CloudSat Europe Conference was taking place in Gymnasium Schlo ß Neuhaus in Germany. In addition to organisers, the French and Estonian delegacies were taking part in it. There were 15 members in Estonian Delegacy: Tartu Kivilinna, Kilingi-Nõmme and Paide Gymnasiums, Muhu and Kääpa Basic Schools and people from Tartu University.
We listened to the speech of a scientist from Paderborn.
Globe trained educator, Matt Roger, talked about clouds and their influence on climate.
At workshops there were learned observing the CloudSet project, to take photos of clouds and make tests/experiments of genesis of clouds.
In their reports participants introduced the environmental activities at school, including the activity of CloudSet project. Everybody had the posters to make their reports complete.
The organiser, Anna Heyne Mudrich, and the other teachers introduced their school and the surroundings. They organized excursions to Paderborn and we also visited the biggest computer museum in the world.
Staying in families gave us the opportunity to practise foreign languages and see the local life.
Elli Altin
My trip to Germany went very well. I am glad that I said “Yes“ to my teacher’s invitation to visit Paderborn. The school was nice and people were affable. All the surroundings of the school were remarkable. The sea of bikes in front of the school was the most amazing thing for me. In Estonia we don’t have that kind of habit. We also visited Berlin and went sightseeing so now I know a lot more about Germany’s history. This journey took me into places where I never believed I could go.
Ott Eerik Pärtel
From the trip I got a lot of experience and knowledge. Also I found out that performing in front of the big audience isn´t as scary as I tought it is. I met interesting people. The trip was fun and educational.
Keili Paru
We had been waiting for months and then, on 24th September we finally met at Tallinn Busstation to drive to Rakvere where the GLOBE Researchs Works Conference was held. Karina and me got there thanks to our reaseach work – „Global warming and changes of air temperature over the last twelve years on Muhu island“. Our work achieved the first place on that contest and so we went to present our work and also we got some awards from Americans ambassador (a book about America and American history and a GPS) and from GLOBE, too (a book).
Next morning, on 25th September, some of us started a trip to CloudSat conference in Germany (12 students, 4 teachers and 2 busdrivers). Now we had to face about 2000 kilometers long bustrip to Paderborn in Germany. Fortunately we spent the night in Poland, so we could stretch our feet there. The next day we continued our trip.
Finally we reached to Paderborn in the evening of 26th. As it was already dark outside we all got acquainted with our hosts and went home, where we stayed for the next four days.
The program started on Monday with Matt Rogers´s speech, where he explained what CloudSat is. After that a local scientist made a speech. He talked about the big nature reserve near Paderborn which had been training base for British Army. Then were planned our presentations but due to some unexpected problems we had to delay them. So, instead of that Matt Rogers presented his rendition, where he explaned CloudSats work more closely.
Tuesday started with our presentations. After that Matt Rogers started a workshop where we all had a chance to make a cloud and then we were taught how to make CloudSat´s sky observations. After the workshop we went to “Heinz-Nixdorf-Forum”, which is an infotechnology museum. In the evening we had a grill party in school, where we had a change to get to know German students better. It was fun.
Wednesday started with visiting the local nature museum. Then we visited some sights in Paderborn and those who wanted, went shopping. In the evening most of us went to Christopher´s place and we had a little party where we could chat with German students.
On Thursday morning we left Paderborn and set off to Berlin. After hours driving we got to Berlin, where we visited the most famous sights of Berlin (The Berlin Wall, Potsdamer Platz, The Brandenburg Gate, The Reichstag, The Memoral for Murdered Jews, Berlin Cathedral and so on). Then we had a bus ride to Poland, where we stayed for another night.
On Friday we had an hours- long trip to Warssaw. We visited some sights there and then we started driving homewards again. We spent another night in Poland.
On Saturday morning our long way back home continued. But before getting home we had a stop in Kaunas, where we made a little walk to see some sights. Finally we got back to Tallinn about at 2 o’clock at night.
Looking back, it was a great trip. We had a lot of fun and on the same time we learnd many things and broadened our minds. It was great to meet students from another countrys, who’re engaged in same things that we are. We all hope, that it won’t be the last time.
Mariliis Hopp
