Application, Please Do Not Hesitate to Contact Me Via Phone Or Email

AAPPPPLLIICCAATTIIOONN

for a temporary project position

with ANZSEE or a cooperation partner

in New Zealand or Australia

ROBERT BIRNBAUM

Rueckertstr. 1 30169 Hanover Germany

phone: +49(0)1575 5069586 skype: robrob3070 email: [email protected]

CONTENTS

. cover letter . CV . academic record

Dear Ms Pearson,

With this letter I would like to apply for a temporary project position with ANZSEE or a cooperation partner in New Zealand or Australia. For me one way to benefit ANZSEE could be via addressing the question of degrowth as regards content and campaigning. Also with great pleasure I’m tracking the latest news on your upcoming conference and I hope there is a chance to become a part of some spin-off project.

Currently I’m a graduate student at the University of Hanover, Germany working on my master thesis The Growth Paradigm in Economic Science - A Critical Review. About 2 years ago my personal agenda went through some substantial change in terms of the perception of society, ecological and social responsibility and personnel impulses for action. This process was significantly motivated by the idea of degrowth which was a source of mere reading for me first but soon became one of my guiding principles. The Master’s program gave me a fresh start to jump into an exciting journey of exploration. First alongside my studies I was involved in the socialist democratic university group and the student representatives of the faculty of mechanical engineering. Soon I organized various events in the context of university policy and educational strike along with the General Students' Committee. In the course of my growing dissatisfaction with the economic training in my studies and in contrast my deviating understanding of a critical emancipatory education, together with other students I initiated the university group Pluralist Economics in October of 2014 in Hanover. Most of my contentual activities concerning economic, ecological and social issues are coordinated via this initiative. This year collectively we organized a conference and at the moment we are busy designing and carrying out an interdisciplinary lecture series. This series is a combination of theoretical lectures and practical follow-up sessions namely discussions and reading circles, or workshops in cooperation with other local initiatives. Thus we are fighting for a reorientation of economic training and science which is also demanded by the worldwide network of ISIPE. I’m delighted to have the opportunity to discuss my master thesis with other students and scientists at the summer academy What happens after growth of the German Society for Ecological Economics in early September.

To put it in a nutshell on one hand I broadened my horizon as to content and technical qualification and the other hand regarding organization and planning skills, press and public relations as well as communication and teamwork.

I would describe myself as an open-minded, spontaneous, dedicated and idealistic person. Occasionally I’m having trouble deciding and dealing with setbacks.

After completing my Master’s degree I’m all set for new experiences by the beginning of October and with great passion I’m looking forward to get to know interesting projects and like-minded people. If you have any questions regarding my application, please do not hesitate to contact me via phone or email.

Yours truly, Curriculum Vitae 2015

ROBERT BIRNBAUM

PERSONAL STATEMENT

Considerate and ambitious graduate student is looking forward to get to know interesting projects and people dedicated to a social, ecological and economical transformation of society by means of educational, political and social work as well as humanitarian aid.

PERSONAL DETAILS

ADDRESS Rueckertstr. 1 30169 Hanover Germany

EMAIL [email protected]

TELEPHONE +49 (0)1575 5069586

EDUCATION

UNIVERSITY: Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz University Hannover October 2013 – Present QUALIFICATIONS: Master of Science: Industrial Engineering Course specialization: Production Engineering, Development and Environment Economics Master thesis: The Growth Paradigm in Economic Science - A Critical Review

UNIVERSITY : Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg October 2009 – September 2013 QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor of Science: Industrial Engineering/ Logistics Course specialization: Automation, Human Engineering Final grade: 2,0 (ECTS: B) Bachelor thesis: Development of a Simulation Model for the Holistic Planning of a Logistics Network

SIXTH FORM : Albert-Einstein Secondary School QUALIFICATIONS: University-entrance diploma ASSIGNMENT: Class representative

WORK EXPERIENCE

JOB TITLE: Research assistant 01.01.2015 - Present COMPANY: Dean’s Office, Mechanical Engineering Faculty, Hanover Currently we are setting up a Repair Café.

JOB TITLE: Research assistant 01.03.2013 - 31.05.2013 COMPANY: Fraunhofer IFF, Magdeburg Section: Logistics and Factory Systems

JOB TITLE: Waiting staff 12.09.2009 - 27.03.2012 COMPANY: Alex Gaststaetten-GmbH & Co.KG, Magdeburg Mixing cocktails and waiting on guests

page 1 of 2 Curriculum Vitae 2015

PROJECT WORK/ INTERNSHIPS

PROJECT WORK

PROJECT TITLE: Organization of the lecture series: Crisis of Economics 16.04.2015 - 23.06.2015 GROUP: Pluralist Economics Hanover

PROJECT TITLE: Organization of the conference: Pluralism in Economics 17.01.2015 GROUP: Pluralist Economics Hanover

INTERNSHIP

JOB TITLE: Intern 15.10.2012 - 11.01.2013 COMPANY: Primary Ingredients Co., Ltd. in Hangzhou, China  Potential analysis of the Purchasing and Logistics Department  Software-assisted optimization of business processes  Introduction of a new database system

JOB TITLE: Student staff

15.07.2009 - 21.08.2009 COMPANY: Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg Identifying the tension of liquid crystalline filaments.

SKILLS/ SCHOLARSHIP

 MS Office, Photoshop, Simulation in ExtendSim, Visual Basic, Microsoft SQL

 English: fluent (UNIcert-III certificate: English in Management and Economics) French: advanced learner Spanish: beginner

 German Scholarship for high-achieving and committed students (2013 and 2014)

VOLUNTARY COMMITMENTS

In October of 2014 we founded the University Group Pluralist Economics Hanover dedicated to the reorientation of economic training and science. Also I’m a student representative of the faculty of mechanical engineering and a delegate for the Study Commission. Furthermore I’m a volunteer at the regional group of Greenpeace in Hanover and once a week I’m giving German lessons in a refugee housing.

ACTICIVITIES/ ATTRIBUTES

During leisure time I train for triathlon in the sports club Hanover 96 and on Mondays I have improvisational theatre. I would describe myself as an open-minded, spontaneous, dedicated and idealistic person.

page 2 of 2

The Presidium Examination Office Welfengarten 1 30167 Hannover Mr. Tel +49(0)511.762- 2020 Robert Birnbaum Fax +49(0)511.762- 2137 2015-05-17 Rückertstraße 1 Registration number: 3056050 30169 Hannover born on: 30.01.1990 in: Magdeburg Current Semester: 4

Certification of Study Achievements and Exam Performances Rendered Study Course: Production and Logistics Degree: Master of Science Exam Regulations Version: 2004

Number Name of Exam Type of Semester Date Mark Status CP Remark Try of Exam Exam

3000 Optional Competence Field: Methods of production and logistics I 2099 Obligatory Module: WiSe 13/14 10.02.2014 Managementknowledge in Production 6020 Industrial Planning Methods KP WiSe 13/14 10.02.2014 1,7 BE 4 1 2199 Obligatory Module: Production Processes WiSe 13/14 14.02.2014 2110 Deposition Technology and Lithography KP WiSe 13/14 14.02.2014 1,0 BE 4 1 2299 Obligatory Module: Materials Science and WiSe 13/14 26.03.2014 1,7 BE 4 1 Engineering 2210 Materials Science and Engineering KP WiSe 13/14 26.03.2014 1,7 BE 4 1 2399 Obligatory Modul: Process Control WiSe 13/14 13.03.2014 2,0 BE 4 1 2310 Automation: Control Systems KP WiSe 13/14 13.03.2014 2,0 BE 4 1 3599 Sphere of Competence: Micro Production Engineering 3580 Obligatory Module: Micro Production WiSe 13/14 Engineering 3590 Optional Module: Micro Production WiSe 13/14 14.04.2014 1,8 BE 8 1 Engineering 3504 Design of Integrated Digital Circuits KP WiSe 13/14 02.04.2014 2,7 BE 4 1 6017 Micro and Nano Technology KP WiSe 13/14 14.04.2014 1,0 BE 4 1 3799 Sphere of Competence: Mechatronics in Production Engineering 3790 Optional Module: Mechatronics in WiSe 13/14 26.02.2014 Production Engineering 3718 Robotics I KP WiSe 13/14 26.02.2014 1,7 BE 4 1 8999 Educational Experiences 8110 Tutorial: TU SoSe 14 07.06.2014 BE 2 1

This is a computer-generated document and requires no signature.

page 1 Type of Exam: BA=Bachelor’s Thesis BK=Credit Points Account DA=Diplom Thesis F=Subject FG=Subject Area FP=Subject Examination KP=Course Examination LN=Performance Record MA=Master’s thesis MK=Minus Points Account MO=Modul PA=Project PL=Prüfungsleistung PR=Practical Training PS=Presentation SA=Special Project SL=Study Achievement SP=Sport TL=Partial Performance VP=Intermediate Examination

Status: AN=registered BE=passed EN=definitely not passed NB=not passed PV=Examination account

Remark: AAA=Official Doctor's Certificate ANA=Medical Certificate not recognised LAA=Performance recognised foreign country LAB=Performance recognised professional LAH=Performance recognised Leibniz Universität Hannover LAI=Performance recognised inland LAN=Performance recognised NIZ=Non-admitted RT=Registration Withdrawn RTE=Excused Absence RTU=Unexcused Absence TA=Deception

page 2 The Presidium Examination Office Welfengarten 1 30167 Hannover Mr. Tel +49(0)511.762- 2020 Robert Birnbaum Fax +49(0)511.762- 2137 2015-05-17 Rückertstraße 1 Registration number: 3056050 30169 Hannover born on: 30.01.1990 in: Magdeburg Current Semester: 3

Certification of Study Achievements and Exam Performances Rendered Study Course: Engineering and Business Administration Degree: Master of Science Exam Regulations Version: 2006

Prüf.Nr Bezeichnung der Leistung Prüf.Art Semester Datum Note Status K M Verm. Versuch

170099 Soft Skills 170010 Tutorial: Working Successfully in University LN SuSe 14 07.06.2014 BE 2 0 1 Committees and Meetings 172899 Development and Environmental Economics (Economic 2,4 BE 24 Specialisation) 172800 Global Food Security/Food Security and TL SuSe 14 06.08.2014 1,7 BE 4 0 1 Agriculture in Developing Countries 172802 Environmental Economics of Developing TL SuSe 14 05.08.2014 3,0 BE 4 0 1 Countries 172807 Development Economics Seminar TL WiSe 14/15 05.12.2014 3,0 BE 4 0 1 172859 International Agricultural Policy TL SuSe 14 31.07.2014 2,0 BE 4 0 1 172876 Global Environmental Economics TL WiSe 14/15 03.02.2015 2,3 BE 4 0 1 172878 Energy Economics TL WiSe 14/15 11.02.2015 2,7 BE 4 0 1 175699 Production Engineering (Technical Specialisation) 1,7 BE 32 175650 Factory Planning TL WiSe 14/15 24.04.2015 2,3 BE 4 0 1 175651 Materials Science and Engineering TL SuSe 14 27.06.2014 1,7 BE 4 0 LAH 1 *) Master Course of Studies in Production and Logistics, Leibniz Universität Hannover (Germany) 175657 Automation: Control Systems TL SuSe 14 27.06.2014 2,0 BE 4 0 LAH 1 *) Master Course of Studies in Production and Logistics, Leibniz Universität Hannover (Germany) 175670 Industrial Planning Methods TL SuSe 14 27.06.2014 1,7 BE 4 0 LAH 1 *) Master Course of Studies in Production and Logistics, Leibniz Universität Hannover (Germany) 175683 Micro and Nano Technology TL SuSe 14 27.06.2014 1,0 BE 4 0 LAH 1 *) Master Course of Studies in Production and Logistics, Leibniz Universität Hannover (Germany) 175696 Robotics I TL SuSe 14 27.06.2014 1,7 BE 4 0 LAH 1 *) Master Course of Studies in Production and Logistics, Leibniz Universität Hannover (Germany) 177000 Deposition Technology and Lithography TL SuSe 14 04.07.2014 1,0 BE 4 0 LAH 1 *) Master Course of Studies in Production and Logistics, Leibniz Universität Hannover (Germany) 178000 Design of Integrated Digital Circuits TL SuSe 14 27.06.2014 2,7 BE 4 0 LAH 1 *) Master Course of Studies in Production and Logistics, Leibniz Universität Hannover (Germany) 179000 Additional Services BE 0

page 3 Prüf.Nr Bezeichnung der Leistung Prüf.Art Semester Datum Note Status K M Verm. Versuch

172803 Planning and Evaluation of Development TL WiSe 14/15 18.02.2015 2,0 BE 0 0 1 Projects

This is a computer-generated document and requires no signature.

Type of Exam: BA=Bachelor’s Thesis BK=Credit Points Account DA=Diplom Thesis F=Subject FG=Subject Area FP=Subject Examination KP=Course Examination LN=Performance Record MA=Master’s thesis MK=Minus Points Account MO=Modul PA=Project PL=Prüfungsleistung PR=Practical Training PS=Presentation SA=Special Project SL=Study Achievement SP=Sport TL=Partial Performance VP=Intermediate Examination

Status: AN=registered BE=passed EN=definitely not passed NB=not passed PV=Examination account

page 4