SICSS Doctoral RetreatThree Days of Sea Breeze Instead of Seminar Rooms

4 June 2025

Photo: SICSS/UHH

For three days, 37 SICSS doctoral candidates traded their seminar rooms for fresh sea air at the SICSS Retreat in Brodten near Travemünde. The program included campfires, roasted bread on sticks, and beach hikes – as well as presentations of the doctoral candidates’ research projects. A central part of the retreat was the election of the new doctoral speakers. The overarching theme of the retreat: Peer Counseling.

Peer counseling is a method where doctoral candidates support each other in facing academic and personal challenges. The process follows a structured format: one person presents a real-life issue, the group first asks clarifying questions, then discusses the case without the presenter’s input, exploring different perspectives and potential solutions. Finally, the presenter receives feedback and reflects on the insights gained.

“I found peer counseling to be a really exciting approach,” said doctoral candidate Pierre-Antoine Tranchet. “At first, we were a bit reserved and hesitant to bring topics to the table. But as we got to know each other and grew comfortable with the method, we realized how effective and efficient it can be – and how it also fosters empathy among us.”

Another highlight of the retreat were the talks by candidates nearing the end of their doctoral journeys. “I liked the talks – they were diverse and really engaging. It was great to see what my colleagues are working on,” said Doctoral Candidate Deniz Sirin. The group voted for the three most outstanding presentations: Jihye Jeong for her talk on Agricultural adaptation pathways for Namibia, Maria Seetke, who is researching how biochar and basanite powder affect soil properties and carbon dynamics and Simran Sekhri, who presented on Land-use and land-management effects on soil water balances for the sandy soils of the Kavango region, northern Namibia.

The newly elected doctoral speakers (June 2025 – May 2026) are Hannah Russell, Lars Feuerlein, and Leo Loprieno. More on that here.