BUP Science and Sail 2025

The Baltic University Programme (BUP), Klaipeda University and Riga Technical University (Campus Liepāja), proudly present BUP Science and Sail 2025, a summer school with a focus on the Baltic Sea environment and coastal development.

The summer school will take place from 17-24 August in Klaipėda, Lithuania with a one-day excursion to Liepāja, Latvia. Accepted students and PhD students will be studying the sensitive Baltic Sea Environment, both on land and at sea with leading experts from across the region. After the successful completion of the summer school, each participant will be offered 3 ECTS from Klaipeda University.

Parts of the summer school will take place onboard Klaipeda University’s sailing vessel Brabander, sailing from Klaipėda to Liepāja, while conducting tests and collecting samples. Participants will also study the unique coastal environment of the Curonian Spit and visit the Sventoji settlement, learning about the impacts of and solutions to climate change, biodiversity loss and the human aspects of the unique Baltic Sea Environment. These excursions are accompanied by relevant lectures on topics such as hydrology and underwater archeology.

Read about last year's successful Science and Sail on the BUP website.

A key part of this year’s summer school is the case studies that accepted students will conduct under the supervision of PhD students. Students will be divided into smaller groups during an online meeting in early June. They will then be introduced to different actors that shape the Baltic Sea's coastline in Klaipėda and Liepāja, whom they will meet in person during the summer school. In the following weeks, students are expected to prepare questions and outline their case study conduction. At the event, each group will then collect data, compile knowledge from experts, study important indicators and learn to draw conclusions to better understand the coastal development in different places along the Baltic Sea. During the final day of the program, students will present their findings to their peers.

The goals of the event are to:

Improve the knowledge of students about the Baltic Sea Environment and its importance for the societies and economies of the region.

Reflect and explore different indicators related to the Baltic Sea Environment.

Teach students techniques to solve environmental problems from an interdisciplinary and practical approach.

Build skills in intercultural and interdisciplinary cooperation.

Photo: Klaipeda University

Program

Preparatory online meetings (mandatory):

22 May 2025
5 June 2025
13 August 2025

17 August – Arrival in Klaipėda, registration and introduction

18 August – Relevant lectures and seminars at Klaipeda University's campus

19 August – Sailing on Brabander/excursion Sventoji settlement, case studies Liepāja

20 August – Sailing on Brabander/excursion Sventoji settlement, case studies Liepāja

21 August – Case study day Klaipėda

22 August – Excursion Curonian Spit

23 August – Presentation of case studies

24 August – Departure day

Quick information

17-24 August 2025
Klaipėda, Lithuania (1 day in Liepāja, Latvia)
Open for all students at BUP participating universities, Free of charge
Application deadline: 27 April 2025, 23:59 (CEST)
Maximum number of participating students is 30 + 4 PhD students

Target group

Applications are open for students studying at either bachelor or master level at The Baltic University Programme’s participating universities. In total 30 students from BUP participating universities will be selected to take part.

Furthermore, we will welcome 4 PhD students. The PhD students will have a unique opportunity to take part in the full program, along with the students, while also practicing their teaching and mentoring skills. The attending PhD student will be supporting students in contextualizing the work, especially leading the groups during the case study conduction. We accept students from all kinds of study programs and no pre-knowledge of the Baltic Sea Environment is required.

Please notice that there is a separate link for PhD students to apply.

Selection of students

After the application deadline on 27 April 2025, a selection of students will be made based upon the motivation, field of study and background. Selected students will be offered a spot, while a smaller group of the remaining students will be put on a waiting list. At the latest on 9 May 2025 the students that have been selected will be contacted.

The selection of PhD students will be finished until 16 May 2025 after conducting interviews with suitable candidates.

Practical information

Conference cost and location

This summer school is free of charge and no fees apply. The summer school will take place in and around Klaipėda, Lithuania, at the campus of Klaipeda University and in Liepāja, Latvia. One of the days will also be spent sailing onboard the sailing vessel Brabander.

Each student has to fund their travels to and from Klaipėda by themselves. We encourage accepted students to explore funding opportunities via their local university, such as Erasmus+ mobility grants.

Accomodation and food

Accepted students will be accommodated in Klaipėda and Liepāja in shared rooms and all meals will be provided from the evening of 17 August to check out on 24 August.

Certificate of attendance

Students who complete the summer school will be rewarded with a certificate.

Cancellation policy

There is no fee to take part in this event, since your participation will be covered by The Baltic University Programme. However, if you don't show up or cancel your participation with late notice (after 5 June 2025), we hold the right to charge you or your university department the cost of your participation (320 €). We only accept late cancellations due to illness, family-related matters or force majeure, if sufficient documents can be provided (doctors certificate, etc.).