The two-week summer school is an advanced training course for post-graduate students, Ph.D. researchers and young engineers and scientists on applied aspects of managed aquifer recharge with a focus on bank filtration. The course includes lectures, computer work, laboratory experiments and a technical excursion to a MAR site. Candidates must have at least a graduate (bachelor) degree in environmental engineering, environmental sciences, geology, hydrogeology, hydrology, geosciences, groundwater and water resources management, and water sciences. As the summer school is held in English, applicants are expected to have advanced knowledge of the language.The number of participants is limited to 15.

The summer school is structured as follows:

• Week 1 (01 – 05 September 2026, 5 days): lectures, laboratory experiments, numerical modeling exercises, a technical excursion to a MAR site, and a MAR discussion on open questions. Participants arrive on/by 31 August 2026.
• Optional Week 2 (07 – 11 September 2026, 5 days): a MAR project assignment, in-depth topic-specific discussions of case studies, presentations of case studies by the participants, and a second technical excursion to a MAR/UF site in Saxony.

The class lectures are divided into 6 Blocks/Modules: 01 - Hydraulic Aspects, 02 - Well Design and Site Selection, 03 - Numerical Modelling, 04 - Water Quality Aspects including sampling, detection and removal of microplastics, 05 - Monitoring and Post-treatment, 06 - Regulations and Guidelines

A highly interdisciplinary approach is taken to teaching, drawing on the diverse skills of key staff at the University of Applied Sciences Dresden (HTWD), Dresden University of Technology (TUD) and their partners.

Free and open-source software is used for the applied lectures.

Assessment and awarding of credits

The recognition of 2 or 5 ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) is foreseen for participants who attend 100% of the first week or both weeks of the summer school programme respectively (5 ECTS for first week and optional second week) and pass the MARISS exam and the group project. The MARISS exam will cover all topics presented during the summer school in the form of multiple-choice questions and simple calculations.

All participants will receive a Certificate of Attendance listing the topics covered during the summer school and a “Studium Integrale” Certificate indicating the number of credits.

Applicants are requested to submit their application together with the following attachments by email to cornelius(dot)sandhu(at)htw-dresden(dot)de  by/before 15 July 2026:

• Registration form with motivation and expectations (.pdf)Important! The motivation letter/expectations should not exceed 70/100 words
• Recent curriculum vitae (.pdf)
• A scanned copy of a valid passport (.pdf)
• Proof of university affiliation (proof of enrolment in a Master's or Doctoral degree program) valid until at least 30 September 2026 (.pdf)

The MARISS selection committee will evaluate the applications and based on a ranking, select the most suitable candidates for participation in the summer school. Successful applicants will be notified by email around end June. Upon receipt of the acceptance email, applicants will be asked to confirm their participation in the MARISS Summer School. After the confirmation of particpation is received, the applicants will receive an invoice for the payment of the registration fee or will be informed if they are exempted from paying it (as applicable below). 

Participation fee

The following are exempted from paying a particpation fee:

1. Persons who are registered* as a master student or Ph.D. researcher in the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee or who are employed* as a HEI teacher/researcher in IIT Roorkee

2. Persons who are registered* as a master student or Ph.D. researcher in the University of Applied Sciences Dresden (HTW Dresden) or Dresden University of Technology (TU Dresden, only Faculty of Environmental Sciences) or are employed* as a HEI teacher/researcher in HTW Dresden or TU Dresden (only Faculty of Environmental Sciences)

   *registration/enrollment certificate or employment-contract must be valid at least until 30 September 2026

A fee of 400 Euro per week is applicable to all other participants who do not fall in either of the above categories (including German/EU/EEC citizens). The participation fee covers material for lectures and lab/field exercises, participation in the excursion, lunches and snacks/beverages during breaks.

Provision of accommodation allowance by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)

Within the framework of the project Integration of managed aquifer recharge and water-food nexus in higher education that is funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD / Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst), a few allowances for accommodation can be awarded to master students, doctoral researchers and teachers/researchers from higher education institutions in India. The allowances partially cover boarding and lodging expenses for the duration of the summer school.

Cancellation

If unforeseen events occur (e.g. travel restrictions due to COVID-19, illness, family reasons), applicants are requested to inform the MARISS organiser/coordinator as soon as possible so that wait-listed participants can be accommodated.

Accommodation

For MARISS participants, a few single-occupancy rooms in shared apartments in the International Guest House / IGH (www.studentenwerk-dresden.de/wohnen/gaestehaus.html, approx. 10 minutes on foot from the MARISS-venue/HTW Dresden) have been reserved for the period from 31.08.2025 (arrival) to 11.09.2026 (latest departure). The room tariff can be calculated for the room type “single room in shared apartment” for students/non-students using the price calculator of the IGH. Meals are not included in the price. The price includes the use of bed linen and towels. All apartments are fully furnished and have a bathroom and a kitchen with basic cooking utensils. The IGH reserves the right to amend the stated room price. Several canteens, cafés, restaurants, and shopping centers are within walking distance of the IGH and the MARISS venue.

A reservation for a room in the IGH can be requested in the application and registration form for the MARISS Summer School. An accommodation tax levied by the City of Dresden is charged for all guests aged 28 and over and amounts to 6% of the respective accommodation costs. Cancellations up to 30 calendar days before arrival are free of charge. After that, up to 80% of the accommodation costs will be charged. From 3 working days before arrival, cancellations are no longer possible.

Visa

Click here, or click here,  to find out if you need a visa to enter Germany. Be aware that the application process can take several weeks. If you require a letter of invitation, please send us an email.

Arrival in Dresden

Dresden can be reached by Train and long-distance buses, as well as via international airports, e.g. International Airport Dresden, International Airport Berlin, or International Airport Prague, all of which are connected to trains and long-distance buses.

Cornelius Sandhu, Coordinator

cornelius(dot)sandhu(at)htw-dresden(dot)de

Phone: + 49 351 462 2661

• University of Applied Sciences Dresden, Division of Water Sciences (HTW Dresden, coordinator)
• Dresden University of Technology, INOWAS Group at the Institute of Waste Management and Circular Economy and Institute of Water Chemistry (TU Dresden)
• Fernwasserversorgung Elbaue-Ostharz GmbH, Torgau (regional water supply company)

• Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee), Civil Engineering Department, Roorkee, India

   

IAH Commission on Managed Aquifer Recharge

https://recharge.iah.org