Program Duration

Summer: Early June - Early August

Program Description

In cooperation with UW-Madison and Harvard University, the University of Bonn offers students the opportunity to perform laboratory research in biomedicine while developing German language and cultural skills on the Life Sciences and Culture program in Bonn, Germany. Designed for students with a background in biology or related fields, this program at the University of Bonn is an excellent opportunity to participate in laboratory research at a foreign institution without previous language study.

Situated on the Rhine River, Bonn is regarded as one of Germany's finest cities and an exciting place in which to live and study. Bonn is over 2,000 years old and was the capital of Germany until the fall of the Berlin Wall, when reunification again made Berlin the capital. Today, Bonn is an international center for science and culture, and home to international organizations and companies, including Deutsche Telekom, Deutsche Post, and the United Nations.

Academics

Founded in 1818, the University of Bonn (Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität) is one of the top three research universities in Germany and a leader in biomedical research. The University of Bonn offers a wide variety of courses and approximately 80 different degree programs, and with a student enrollment of 30,000, is one of the largest universities in Germany, with more than 5,000 international students from over 130 countries contributing to a truly international atmosphere in research and education.

Students on the program actively participate in an intensive scientific project integrated into ongoing life science research activities at the university host lab and, depending on the project, are exposed to basic technologies in biochemistry, genetics, medicinal chemistry, cell biology, or microscopy techniques. Students also partake in a broad range of cultural activities, including language instruction and site visits. Weekly discussions focus on scientific issues and bring into play aspects of politics and ethics, creating a unique environment of intercultural communication. The two-month scientific project concludes with a written scientific protocol and an oral presentation of the results in the lab seminar of the host lab. Participants earn five UW-Madison credits of Biology 699 and four credits of German 227.

Housing

Housing is included in the program fee. The University of Bonn International Office arranges housing for participants in one of several German dormitories located throughout the city. All rooms are single rooms, with some equipped with a kitchenette and a private bathroom while others have shared facilities. Students prepare meals in kitchen facilities in the dormitories or purchase food at university restaurants.

Excursions and Activities

The program features numerous excursions and social activities designed to complement the academic program and introduce participants to German culture and society. Students participate in a thematic four-day excursion to Berlin where they will engage in visits and discussions with members of the German Bundestag, National Ethics Council, and the Charit. Students also visit museums such as the Art and Exhibition Hall of the Federal Republic of Germany, Art Museum Bonn, Beethoven House, Museum of German Post-War-History, and Castle Brühl.