The Thinking Green Travel Stories feature stories from TUM's Erasmus+ students who reflected on their carbon footprint before their stay abroad and traveled in an eco-friendly way. What was their motivation, how did the trip go, what did they take away from their green journey – and what tips do they have for fellow students? Find out all about it in the Thinking Green Travel Stories! To encourage as many students as possible to travel in an environmentally conscious way, we honor selected stories with the Erasmus+ Award.
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Eco-friendly stay abroad: By bike to the host university
In this video, we accompany TUM student Catharina Siemon on her way to her Erasmus stay at the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava (STU). Her motivation for cycling to Bratislava: “There's nothing better than combining relaxation and adventure with an eco-friendly way of traveling, resulting in a journey of meditation with oneself.” Her advice for fellow students: “I had no experience, and I just did it anyway – so you just do it, too!”
Video: Catharina Siemon
Music: Carlo Funel
TUM student Christian spent a semester in South Korea via TUMexchange. During his stay at POSTECH in Pohang, he visited Ulleungdo Island, among other places. However, the adventure did not end with the stay abroad at the partner university. Image: Fabian Meyer / TUM
For him and fellow TUM student Agnes, it was clear that they wanted to use the train for their trip home from Korea. From Seoul, they traveled to Vladivostok and then spent almost a month and a half crossing the continent back to Munich. Image: Christian Leib / TUM
One of Agnes' personal highlights on their return adventure together: In Vladivostok, she had the opportunity to go ice swimming in the Amur Bay. In the background you can see the Russki Bridge, which connects the Amur and Ussuri Bays. Image: Christian Leib / TUM
Next stop: Lake Baikal. By traveling by train on the Trans-Siberian Railway, Christian was able to visit the deepest and oldest freshwater lake in the world, fulfilling one of his biggest dreams. Image: Agnes Dechene / TUM
Only in terms of temperature a low point of the trip: In Novosibirsk, it was minus 25 degrees Celsius. Image: Christian Leib / TUM
TUM student Christopher Chvalina worked as an intern at a coral nursery on the Caribbean Sea during his stay abroad in Mexico. Image: Private
Christopher on his daily control dive in the sea. Photo: Private
Commitment can also be combined with fun: Christopher was particularly impressed by the genuine joie de vivre of the people in Mexico and South Africa. Image: Private
From Mexico to South Africa: Here Christopher was involved with the Young Bafana Soccer Academy. Image: Private
Committed to environmental protection: TUM student Laurin Reim was one of Germany's representatives at the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in Glasgow. Image: Florentine Koppenborg / TUM
How much longer can the world resist ongoing environmental degradation? Many demands were made at COP26 to meet the 1.5 °C target and maintain the Earth's resilience. Image: Sina Heubel / TUM
Thinking green – Climate-friendly stay abroad
How can the desire for study and practical experience abroad be reconciled with the will to act in an environmentally responsible manner? We have compiled information and tips on this question for your further research. For some exchange programs there is additional financial support. In addition, your commitment should be rewarded: Show us how sustainable you make your stay!