Technical University Berlin

In this course, students gain a fundamental understanding of the functioning of international energy markets and perform sound analyses on energy markets. Students learn about the national and international transport and consumption of the main energy sources. Topics also include external costs and steering instruments, insights into newest developments, and how to do cost accounting and capital budgeting with respect to energy economics. 

The course includes international hybrid workshops by lecturers of all partner countries on technologies and background information necessary to develop sustainable community-based projects. Topics include intercultural communication, PV training, CO2compensation, household biogas plants, clean cooking, biogas, social business; international student hybrid working groups developing CO2compensation projects for climate and SDGs tackling the needs of the local partner communities together with the partner NGOs; practical Service elements contributing to the success of the project for the partner community and to the climate action (including, e.g., training sessions in schools, fundraising events, activities in waste management, organic gardening, tree planting); and research and innovation opportunities to deepen the development and application of sustainable technologies and methodologies.

The lecture covers four major aspects of HCI: 1. Understanding users (user behavior, user research techniques such as interviews and usability testing) 2. Designing user interfaces (principles of interface design for usability, interaction paradigms) 3. Evaluating interfaces (usability testing methods, identifying usability problems, iterative design based on user feedback) 4. Integrating HCI into system development (integrating the above aspects into an iterative product development cycle). The exercise section of the course applies the above theory in practice. Learning outcomes include: Apply HCI principles to design user-friendly interfaces; conduct fundamental user research and analyze user needs; understand principles of iterative prototyping and evaluation of interactive systems; communicate HCI concepts effectively.

This course primarily targets Masters students but also ambitious Bachelor students who want to get the opportunity to broaden their knowledge of specific wireless communication technologies. After completing this course, students will have deep knowledge about wireless technologies from the IEEE 802 protocol family (e.g., WiFi, Bluetooth and ZigBee), technologies for adhoc/mesh networks and classical cellular networks. Additionally, during the labs, students will have the opportunity to study selected technologies or technology-oriented problems in hands-on exercises.

Participants learn basic concepts, their theoretical foundation, and the most common algorithms used in machine learning and artificial intelligence. After completing the module, participants understand strengths and limitations of the different paradigms, are able to correctly and successfully apply methods and algorithms to real world problems, are aware of performance criteria, and are able to critically evaluate results obtained with those methods. More specifically, participants are able to demonstrate: 1) Understanding regarding basic concepts of neural information processing 2) Knowledge of unsupervised machine learning methods 3) Application to problems of statistical modeling, explorative data analysis, and visualization. Topics include 

1) Principal Component Analysis, Kernel-PCA 

2) Independent Component Analysis (Infomax, FastICA, Second Order Blind Source Separation) 

3) Stochastic Optimization 

4) Clustering, Embedding, and Visualisation (Central and Pairwise Clustering, Self-Organizing Maps, Locally Linear Embedding) 

5) Density Estimation, Mixture Models, Expectation-Maximization Algorithm, Hidden Markov Model 

6) Estimation Theory, Maximum Likelihood Estimation, Bayesian Model Comparison

Handling commercial finite element software, solving a complex stress analysis problem, obtaining background information on advanced strength of materials theory, solving engineering problems collaboratively in teams, presenting and documenting results. Preparatory lecture series: introduction to components and materials of microelectronics and the surface mount technology (SMT), basic mechanics of elastoplastic deformable bodies, introduction to the concepts of the commercial finite element software ABAQUS. Homework assignments: learning and using the finite element software ABAQUS. Project period: literature review, finite element based stress and durability analysis of a SMT component, presentation and documentation of achieved results.

The lecture series on "Advances in Water Management and Climate Adaptation" is a comprehensive course designed to explore the latest techniques, tools, technologies, strategies, and policies in managing water resources and adapting to the challenges posed by climate change. Tools and technologies will include, among others, advanced modelling techniques, digital technologies, remote sensing, and geographic information systems. Water management and climate adaptation strategies and policies will unpack the intertwined relationship between environmental, technological, societal, and economic stakes, and include topics related to climate justice, multi-objective optimization, risk and conflict management, and multi-sector dynamics under uncertainty. After an introductory session, different early-stage researchers from international universities, research institutions, technology centers, and policy institutes will present cutting-edge research, projects, lessons learned, challenges, and visions on water resources management and climate adaptation. Each lecture will be followed by a class discussion.

This course examines the intricate relationship between colonialism, urban development, and economic growth through the lens of political ecology. A central theme of the course is the examination of colonial legacies and their enduring impact on contemporary urban and environmental dynamics. We will critically analyze how Europe's historical growth has often occurred at the expense of other regions, relying on extractive and exploitation of resources in colonized territories to fuel metropolitan centers. Through the classical readings in this field, contemporary case studies, and critical discussions, we will interrogate the role of colonialism in shaping global patterns of urbanization, resource extraction, and environmental degradation. By the end of the course, we will gain insights into potential pathways for building more equitable and environmentally sustainable futures.