This summer, SBE-MILE PhD Student and MORSE initiative member Vinzenz Peters had the opportunity to participate in the 2024 edition of the European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists (EAERE) Summer School at Seggau Castle in Leibnitz, Austria. The MORSE travel fund supported Vinzenz’s participation in this prestigious event, which was organized by the Wegener Center for Climate and Global Change and the Institute of Economics of the University of Graz. 

The summer school focused on the intersection of environmental economics and data science, with particular emphasis on the increasing use of data science and novel statistical methods in environmental economics research. This includes the use of machine learning, spatial statistics and data analysis, remote sensing, the use of "alternative data" and big data applications. 

The program for the 30 participating students from five different continents was packed with lectures by world-leading faculty (the line-up included Ludovica Gazze (University of Warwick), Joelle Noailly (Geneva Graduate Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam), Paul Raschky (Monash University), Ed Rubin (University of Oregon), and Yanos Zylberberg (University of Bristol)) as well as student presentations. The week-long event allowed ample time for intensive discussions about the student’s research and the newest developments in the field. To balance the hard work a little bit, the beautiful surroundings of the Styrian vineyards provided the perfect backdrop for some social events, too, including a wine tasting, a fireside talk with practitioners from the OECD and Revelio Labs, and a hike to a local Buschenschank.