Robinson Musembi

My experiences as a physics exchange student in Berlin 

December 2004


Finally my stay in Germany ended on 1st August 2004 with a successful research work which bore fruit to an invitation to return back to Hahn-Meitner-Institute (HMI), Berlin Wansee for more research work, but in a different research group dealing with inorganic materials.

Hahn-Meitner-Instute has two campuses, one in Berlin Wannsee and the other in Berlin Adlershof., I contacted my research work at HMI in Berlin Wannsee. The scientific research work at HMI focuses into two main areas, i.e. Structural and Solar Energy research.  The two areas of research have also been subdivided into divisions as follows:

Division: Struture and Research (SF):
 SF1- Instruments and Methods
 SF2- Magnetism
 SF3-Materials
 SF4- Structure and Dynamics
 SF5-Theoretical Physics
 SF6-Trace Elements
 SF7-Nuclear Measurements

Division: Solar Energy Research (SE):
 SE1- Silicon Photovoltaic
 SE2- Heterogeneous Materials System
 SE3- Technology
 SE4- Dynamic and Interface Reaction
 SE5- Solar Energetic
 SE6- Electronic Structure and Semiconductor interface

I was based in division of solar energy research in department SE-2, which is subdivided into smaller groups each under a group leader, my subgroup was researching on extremely thin absorber solar cells popularly known as ETA cells. Working at ETA group lab was smooth running because most of the equipments required were easily available, and when not available, the subgroup has already collaboration in place with Universities, companies and other institutes or departments within Hahn-Meitner-Institut. HMI community is very interesting, they organize parties nearly for everything, birth of child can result into a party, somebody having disputation for his/her dissertation or even good results after a strenuous research work, and if you are a guest, they have a tradition that if you are leaving then throw a party so that you are given a sendoff with a pomp. During these parties, it is a good opportunity to mingle with other scientist and exchange ideas. It is during one of these parties that I met with Dr. Meyer, he had just started his spin-off company from his PhD research work, it was really inspiring to listen to him, and he gave me his business visitors’ card to Suffurcell Company, till then time I left Berlin, I had not gotten time to call at his company.

During my stay, it also dawned to me that it is very important to learn the German language, though it is not necessary, but at HMI, most of the people give presentations in German, all the notice board and especially if you are based at HMI-Wannsee where there is a nuclear reactor, when they are announcing safety precautions, it is good to know what is going on rather than asking colleagues later when they start running, you just run without knowing what’s happening.

I did not have a lot of time to spend at Freie University where life is livelier than HMI where everyone is serious. During the few times I went there, I had an opportunity to visit the smoky students coffee room which looks like thugs stay there but its only friendly students. The graffities of Berlin really remind me of the true meaning of the word bohemian.

Robinson Musembi, December 2004
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