Master Thesis Abstracts

Aileen Brendel: Pacific oysters have colonized the German Wadden Sea over the past 20 years, acting as ecosystem engineers by constructing permanent oyster reefs. This phenomenon creates new habitats with higher biodiversity while also attenuating wave energy, leading to sediment deposition. Aileen made a significant contribution to this field in her Master's thesis by simulating the effect of oysters on tidal current spread in the Wadden Sea and comparing these simulations with experimental results. This research will enhance our ability to predict future effects.

Gagan Kaushik: Thanks to machine learning, increasingly reliable empirical approaches can be obtained from big data. However, the generation of large amounts of data in engineering often requires complex and expensive sensor technology. Therefore, approaches that efficiently combine data and physical knowledge, such as physics-informed neural networks, for instance, are particularly promising. However, there is still a fundamental need for research to fully understand the robustness and accuracy of these methods. As part of Gagan’s master thesis, he has helped to understand their behavior in the context of mechanical problems. The ceremony concluded with an enthusiastic applause from fellow graduates, faculty, and family members. Their success stories serve as an inspiration for future cohorts to pursue excellence and innovation in their academic and professional endeavors.