The new students in the bachelor’s and master’s programs in Geoinformatics and Surveying kicked off the winter semester with a varied orientation week. Over the course of three days, the program offered an opportunity to get to know the university, key resources, and their new classmates.
Severin Brochhagen and Julian Stockemer introduce various projects; photos: Katharina Wons, CC BY-SA 4.0
To kick things off on Monday, representatives from the department and the Geoinformatics and Surveying student council officially welcomed the first-semester students. After a tour of the campus, the student council hosted a get-together in the courtyard. Over barbecue food, cold drinks, and a relaxed atmosphere, the first-year students quickly struck up conversations with one another. Icebreaker games also helped foster connections, including “Leveling a Tripod with a Beer Glass,” which required team spirit and a good sense of balance.
Tuesday was all about digital infrastructure. Under the theme “All About University IT,” Simon Metzger and Niklas Bockshecker introduced the students to the university’s central systems and provided basic computer skills for everyday student life. Afterward, Severin Brochhagen and Julian Stockemer provided insights into the laboratories and the RAFVINIERT and MINOS research projects at i3mainz—the Institute for Spatial Information and Measurement Technology. During this session, the first-semester students learned about the diverse opportunities for student involvement in the day-to-day research activities at i3mainz. To conclude, the students received a brief introduction to the CAVE, where the technical implementation and the sensor technology used to enable the experience of immersive 3D worlds were explained.
On Wednesday, a library scavenger hunt, a short presentation on stress management, and the Café International rounded out the program.
We can look back on a successful orientation week—with many interested first-year students, new connections, and a great start to student life. Thank you to everyone who helped make it happen.
