REFLECT combines remote sensing and field research in an innovative and participatory international German-Kenyan teaching-research program designed to engage students in an interactive way with the topics of human-environment interactions and environmental monitoring, while providing them with methodological training.

The REFLECT project is developing an internationally oriented, participatory teaching format that combines methods of remote sensing, geoinformation-based environmental analysis, and empirical field research. In particular, it addresses issues related to land-use change, water management, and climate adaptation. The project also focuses on providing students with practical skills and involving them in the design and reflection of the teaching and learning process.

In a German-Kenyan exchange program, students from both countries jointly develop and work on application-oriented research questions, linking remote sensing data with locally collected reference and validation data. In doing so, students independently plan and carry out key phases of the research process, from formulating the research question through data collection and analysis to the presentation of results. A focus is also placed on the involvement of local stakeholders as part of the students’ transdisciplinary work.

REFLECT also places a special emphasis on methodological and intercultural reflection on scientific work processes. Students explore topics such as data quality and the transferability of spatially-based analysis results. Working in international teams also fosters intercultural communication and collaboration skills. The project’s strong practical orientation is intended to boost student motivation and make the societal relevance of environmental geography tangible. Finally, the project results are compiled in digital formats and made available for use in future courses.