GCE Student Board 
Who are we?
The Student Board is a group of students from the Global Change Ecology Master Program elected on an annual basis by the GCE student body.
We are a bridge of communication between students, alumni, lecturers and GCE coordination. This bridge plays a central role during the study program, as it supports students, facilitates information and deals with relevant academic or social issues.
The Student Board participates in official activities from the faculty together with Student Councils of Geosciences.
Which are our tasks?
The Student Board is active in various aspects of the study program. Among others, we are in charge of events, such as:
- Welcome Weekend: get-to-know weekend for the incoming students. Takes place usually at the start of the winter semester.
- Alumni Weekend: informal exchange of current students, lectures, and GCE Alumni.
- Extracurricular workshops, initiatives, forums, together with students from other degrees.
- Organizing fireside chats with external experts.
About GCE Student Board 2025
This year, the Student Board consists of four members: Oxana Pihut, Nicolas Schrader, Pea Kiatmontri and Lasse Xander.
Oxana Pihut (oxana.pihut@uni-bayreuth.de): I'm Oxana, born and raised in Moldova - a small country with big hospitality (and even bigger plates of mamaliga). I started out in nursing, but somewhere along the way I swapped hospital shifts for biology labs and ended up doing my Bachelor's in biology. A bit of a plot twist, but hey, life keeps on being interesting. When I'm not studying, you probably find me off exploring - whether it's a cozy little town or just the nearest café with good coffee and a book in my hand. I like to think I'm collecting experiences - or at least excuses to avoid staying in one place too long. I'm looking forward to meeting you all!
Nicolas Schrader (to follow):
Pea Kiatmontri (Sasiporn.Kiatmontri@uni-bayreuth.de): Hi! I'm Pea from Thailand. I grew up in Phuket and I did my bachelor's in Biology in The Netherlands. My specialisation was environment and sustainability but I also am interested in a little bit of everything, so GCE was perfect for me. I like playing basketball and cooking so in my spare time I like to cook for my friends or go out for a beer :) I'm also told I'm a good listener, so if you need any help don't be afraid to ask!
Lasse Xander (lasse.xander@uni-bayreuth.de): Hey, I'm Lasse from Germany and grew up near Stuttgart, in Boston and Munich. I studied Geography in my Bachelors in Marburg and have always been interested in the environment. Theres not a certain area that I am especially interested in, I'm fascinated by the complex environmental problems of our time and the complex interactions within and between the environment and society. That's probably why I ended here, at GCE:D If you're looking for me, i'll probably be outside, either diving, hiking, biking, skiing, camping or if possible, somehow combining them all;). But of course everything is more fun with others, so if you're interested on doing any of that (or anything else) together, feel free to contact me!
For more information about us & all GCE current students: GCE Students
Contact
We are open and happy to hear from you with ideas, suggestions, or general concerns about living in Bayreuth, the Master Degree, course-specific issues, and creative initiatives to improve YOUR GCE experience!
Questions, concerns and ideas are always welcome at: gce-studentboard@uni-bayreuth.de