Professor Serhii Utevskyi Visited the University of Hamburg to Organize Student Field Practice

21 may 2025 year

From April 12 to 27, 2025, Professor Serhii Utevskyi, from the Department of Zoology and Animal Ecology at the School of Biology, was on a business trip to the University of Hamburg (Germany) to participate in organizing and conducting an off-campus field practice for Ukrainian biology students titled “Field practice in aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates.”

Due to the full-scale invasion, the educational process at Karazin University continues remotely. To provide students with the opportunity to gain practical skills in studying animals, ecosystems, and field research methods, a 12-day practice was organized at the University of Hamburg’s field station in Pevestorf.

A total of 17 students participated in the practice. Seven of them arrived directly from Ukraine, while five others reside in Germany and the Netherlands, studying online at our university.

The practice was also supported by Professor Andreas Schmidt-Riesa (LIB and University of Hamburg), Associate Professor Andrii Utevskyi from the Department of Zoology and Animal Ecology at the School of Biology, postgraduate student Roman Trokhymchuk, as well as the well-known Kharkiv volunteer and researcher of Ilya Mechnikov’s heritage, Ihor Serebrennikov.

The practice program included daily trips to various natural biotopes, collection and identification of invertebrates, particularly aquatic invertebrates. Special attention was given to the study of leeches (Hirudinea). In addition to the main program, supplementary lectures were held, including a lecture by Serhii Utevskyi on fish leeches.

On April 22, students completed individual projects on the identification of specific taxa or groups of organisms, which they presented in the form of presentations.

An educational excursion was held to the Elbe Floodplain Restoration Center. Students also visited the Museum of Nature in Hamburg.