Whether you are a fellow or a member of the faculty, whether you undergo the ten-month training or engage in shipboard training aboard the RV Polarstern, the experience is always life-changing. Once one [...] planning whole-heartedly, intrigued by questions related to marine management and how we as humans engage with the sea. The many and varied discussions during the week inspire me, and my feeling is that [...] three important pillars I had the pleasure of being engaged in all those pillars which allowed me to engage with a diverse and enthusiastic group of scholars. 1. Centre of Excellence in Observational Oceanog-