Professional Networks Restart for the Institute of Geography alumni group
There has been an alumni group of the Institute of Geography for 15 years, but it has been somewhat dormant in recent years. Prof. Dr Ingmar Unkel wants to change that: The professor at the Institute of Geography has taken over the moderation of the alumni group and now wants to end its "slumber" with new activities.
"Around 100 people are registered in the alumni group and the extended database contains more than 500 alumnae and alumni – so there are enough interested alumni that we want to breathe life back into the group with new activities and up-to-date information from the institute," explains Ingmar Unkel. He has been Professor of Anthropocene Physical Geography at Heidelberg University since October 2022 and is also an alumnus himself, having completed his undergraduate studies in Heidelberg and obtained his doctorate here in 2006.
In the winter semester 2023/2024, Ingmar Unkel became the representative for the practical geography modules of the degree programs at the institute. As part of this, an alumni workshop “Career Perspectives in Geography” is also offered, in which students can exchange ideas with alumni about starting a career and which took place on 26 January for the first time after the corona break. "That's when it clicked for me that we could link the organized alumni work with these modules," he explains.
As he enjoys interacting with other people and likes to network, taking over the moderation of the geography alumni section was a logical step for him, which will hopefully generate new synergies. The next alumni workshop is planned for 12 July – alumni of the Institute who would like to present themselves and their work there are welcome to contact Ingmar Unkel via the group. All other alumnae and alumni of the Institute of Geography are also welcome to contribute to the group with suggestions, questions, offers or feedback!
