Education

CESOC is deeply committed to fostering the next generation of scientists by providing education, training, and opportunities that bridge Earth system science and computer science. Our activities span across the University of Bonn (UB), the University of Cologne (UoC), and Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ), and extend through close collaborations with ECMWF, DWD, and international partners.

CESOC’s education activities are further highlighted through three dedicated initiatives: 

1. IDEA S4S– A German–Italian research and education network strengthening scientific exchange and laying the foundation for joint educational programs.
2. AlgoEarth– A semester-long program uniting geoscientists and computer scientists to tackle algorithmic challenges arising from next-generation Earth observations.
3. Astrid-Kiendler-Scharr-Deutschlandstipendium– Supporting talented students who excel both academically and through their social engagement.
4. MLESM Hackathon– A creative training event fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation among early-career researchers

Students are integrated into CESOC research from the very beginning of their academic journey, starting with Master’s programs such as Physics of the Earth and Atmosphere (UB & UoC), Geodesy and Geoinformation (UB), and Computer Science (UB). At UoC, two recently established Master’s programs now strongly link to CESOC’s vision: Earth System Science as a specialisation within Computational Sciences and as a minor in the MSc Informatics. The appointment of CESOC director Martin Schultz as professor of Computational Earth Science at UoC in 2023 further strengthened these ties.

The growing demand for expertise in machine learning has led to pioneering teaching formats. An online crash course in machine learning for Earth system science was successfully held in 2022, taught by Peter Düben (Head of Earth System Modelling, ECMWF). Following its success, a full Master’s module Machine Learning in Meteorology was introduced in the joint UB–UoC program Physics of the Earth and Atmosphere and has been taught annually since, with strong involvement from CESOC PhD students. Düben was appointed Honorary Professor at UoC in 2024, ensuring long-term collaboration between CESOC and ECMWF, including his contributions to teaching and student mentoring.

CESOC also promotes student engagement through events like the Machine Learning and Atmospheric Observation Day at FZJ, organised in collaboration with the junior research group EXPATS. Positive feedback highlighted the value of bringing together PhD students, early career researchers, and CESOC’s wider network. In addition, international workshops on Machine Learning for  Earth System Modelling offered discounted student registration, enabling students from UB, UoC, and FZJ to engage directly with global experts.

Smaller interdisciplinary student projects between Earth system sciences and computer science also enrich the educational environment. Examples include work on improving observational systems with computational techniques, data visualization, data-to-data simulation methods, and clustering approaches for meteorological datasets.

Beyond teaching, CESOC’s educational landscape is continuously strengthened through new professorships and junior research groups. Milestones include:

• Martin Schultz’s appointment to Germany’s first professorship in Computational Earth System Science (UoC & FZJ).
• Strengthening of observation integration with new professorships for Susanne Glaser (UB) and Nikki Vercauteren (UoC).
• Newly opened or ongoing recruitments in atmosphere dynamics, Earth system modelling, geophysics, and energy meteorology across UB and UoC (check with Susanne and Martin, if this is still up to date – could link new professorships, or write a short news notice and like it) / Janna Börner (Geophysik), Julian Quinting, Svenja Riedesel, Anke Noelscher
• The continuation of the legacy of Astrid Kiendler-Scharr with the appointment of her successor as professor of atmospheric chemistry and director of ICE-3.
• The appointment process for the successor of Harry Vereecken as professor of terrestrial systems analysis and director of IBG-3 (UB & FZJ).
• The start of the Helmholtz Young Investigator Group ClimStressled by Eva Pfannerstill (FZJ, joint with UoC) in 2024.

Together, these developments significantly expand CESOC’s expertise and provide students with unique opportunities to study and conduct research at the interface of Earth system and computer sciences.