The master´s programme “Global Change Ecology” (GCE) started in 2006. Since that time, some GCE students have already completed their Master´s degree.
We are interested to know what has been happening in the lives of our former GCE students. A few GCE alumni told us about GCE and how their careers have continued after they had finished the master´s programme.
The third one in our series is Md Lokman Hossain, who was born in Bangladesh and started to study GCE in 2014:
Why did you decide to study GCE?
Studying environmental science in BSc and MSc in Bangladesh, I had an opportunity to work with environmental NGOs. Since then I wanted to build new insights in environmental protection from global perspective. I came to know about GCE from my Bangladeshi friends and found the programme course modules were very relevant to my background. As Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change, there is huge scope to work for the graduates in environment, ecology and biodiversity related fields. GCE has the right course contents that I was looking for.
What did you like most about GCE?
Since my undergraduate study, I had great interest in advancing my understanding in ecology and global climate change. GCE exactly paved the way of my dream. I liked the course modules those divided into three fields, where I found freedom to choose my interested courses.
In addition, methods courses were very helpful to advance my research and analytical skills. Participation at a science school in La Palma, Canary Islands in 2015 was one of the most fruitful and exciting events in my GCE study. I also appreciate the enormous supports I got from GCE coordination office.
How has your career continued after GCE?
After completion of GCE, I joined at a university in Bangladesh as Lecturer.
Now I am on study leave and continuing PhD in the Department of Geography where my research focuses on grassland biodiversity and climate extremes. I am also working as Teaching Assistant here at Hong Kong Baptist University.
What is your current position? What are your tasks?
I am a Lecturer at the Department of Environmental Protection Technology, German University Bangladesh, where I teach undergraduate courses namely; climate change, ecology, environmental protection, and biodiversity conservation.
Currently I am on study leave and doing PhD in the field of ecology at Hong Kong Baptist University. My research focuses on grassland productivity resistance and resilience in the face of climate extremes.
How has GCE supported your career?
The support from GCE was enormous. First, Professor Dr. Carl Beierkuhnlein extended his support to me for getting my PhD scholarship. He provided many recommendation letters for my PhD scholarship applications. He also extended his support to work with his project Bayreuth Biodiversity Experiment (Earlier BIODEPTH project).
Second, GCE coordination office (Dr. Stephanie Thomas, and Dr. Anja Jaeschke) supported me a lot through providing academic transcripts, and English proficiency certificate etc. Whenever I wrote email to them for any issue, I got instant response with very goods suggestions.
Third, I had an opportunity to work (as volunteer) with EVENT project lead by Prof. Dr. Anke Jentsch and that experience also helped me to my PhD works.
I do appreciate all the professors for shaping me for academia.
What do you recommend to the current GCE students?
I recommend current students to build their networks by attending conferences, workshops, and science schools.
very good thanks for this
goooooooooooooooooooooood