A group of 18 students and 4 research assistants from TU Braunschweig recently concluded a productive 10-day excursion to Northern Spain, returning with valuable new insights and experiences. This trip, held from May 17 to May 27, was a notable success, thanks to the support of their generous sponsors: Hafentechnische Gesellschaft e.V. (HTG), Blue C GmbH, Ramboll, and Boskalis.
The journey began with visits to Bilbao and San Sebastian, Spain, followed by an informative tour in Biarritz, France, led by Volker Roeber from the Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour. The group explored various coastal formations, wave theories, and local coastal dynamics. Back in Spain the students visited the Breakwater Wave Plant in Mutriku, learning about sustainable energy production through the "Oscillating Water Column" principle. The excursion also included a tour of Laredo and Santander, where the group studied sediment management and coastal morphodynamics with the guidance of IHCantabria experts (IHCantabria: Fundación Instituto de Hidráulica Ambiental de Cantabria; a research institute of the federal state Cantabria and the University of Cantabria, Santander). The tour continued with visits to Llanes, the Port of Gijon, and the Villaviciosa estuary, providing a comprehensive understanding of coastal engineering and environmental impacts. The final days were spent exploring the Nalón estuary, with Germán Flor Blanco from the University of Oviedo showing the group around, and the picturesque village of Cudillero, offering diverse coastal landscapes and engineering marvels.
Returning to Braunschweig with new knowledge and experiences, the students express their deepest gratitude to their sponsors for making this educational journey possible.
