11/2024 Noah MacKay

Age: 27  |  Nationality: US-American

What are your favorite spots in Potsdam / Berlin / surroundings?

My favorite spots are very generic: anywhere you can go on a serene nature walk. In Potsdam, I deeply enjoy the Schlossgarten and Volkspark, and the Havel riverside; in Berlin I enjoy Tiergarten (during the daytime). I’ve recently been to Rheinland-Pfalz; I am deeply enamoured by the forested, mountainous geography there. Being at Rheinland, I was reminded of the Appalachian Mountains in my home state of North Carolina, and also the Allegheny Mountains near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (where I was born).

What are the places and moments that make you feel at home here?

I am happy to say I feel at home in Potsdam. I am eager to start a new chapter in life here in Germany, and I am looking for opportunities that can keep me here. More importantly, academic opportunity, and the ability to start a family here. Even still, I look forward to potential USA trips, better yet for my family to see me here in Germany!

Tell us about your degree program. How did you get interested in your field of study? Any favorite classes?

I have started my master's in astrophysics in October 2024, but I previously studied Germanistik (German Studies) the past academic year. I actually studied physics in the USA, already having earned a M.Sc. degree with a thesis topic on theoretical nuclear physics. I’ve always wanted to understand how nature works, from the smallest scales to the largest scales; pursuing astrophysics was something I’ve always aspired to do since the start of my bachelor studies in the USA, at East  Carolina University. First hearing about gravitational waves got me hooked onto gravitational physics. But I did audit some courses while I studied German Studies; my favorite thus far is gravitational wave astrophysics with Prof. Harald Pfeiffer from the Albert Einstein Institut.

You are on the autism spectrum (ASD). How does this affect your daily studies? Are there specific challenges you face at the university and how do you deal with them?

Having autism was indeed a challenge when I was younger. The important thing is figuring out how to cope and come to terms with change, and how to process the pressures of everyday life. For me, I live a structured, scheduled life that may be repetative, but it works for me. When it comes to daily tasks and goal-setting, I have this “tunnel-vision,” where I focus on one thing and stick to it until it is done. That’s especially useful in (astro-)physics with rigorous objectives and assignments, and for a period of time Germanistik. It can backfire on me by missing out other opportunities that may not be in my line of sight. So it’s really having a balance of staying true to my ambitions but taking a scenic route. That was, effectively, why I came to UP as a Germanistik student, although it was my true ambition to continue my path in physics. What reminded me of my true passion in physics was when I gave a talk at the Potsdamer Tag der Wissenschaften (Potsdam Science Day) on quarks and gluons.

How has your autism spectrum disorder affected your experience as an international student in a foreign country and do you have any advice for students in a similar situation?

No matter who you are, German bureaucracy is indeed stressful. But for me, the stress might have been multiplied by a 10, a whole new order of magnitude. Everything relied on the other, you can’t get one document if you don’t have this other document. It’s bloody vicious! And I thought Americans were strict! But I was lucky to have family friends who helped me maneuver through the spiderweb. I must warn people, living in Berlin can be as great as it sounds, but the appointments for registration and residency… Just be able to have time on your hands. Everything was much easier for me once I found a place in Potsdam.  My advice to other international students who happen to be autistic, or neurodivergent in some way, is to be open to receive and give help, make friends and networks, and do not shy away from a lending hand.

Tell us something about your social commitment at the UP. Where have you been involved, and has this contributed to you feeling part of the community here?

As a Germanistik student, I took a very intersting student-led StudiumPlus course that was led in English called “Die Bewaffnete Wahrheit (The Armed Truth).” It focused mainly on the contemporary history of Ukraine, from its independence from the USSR in 1991 to today in the lense of news media and photography. Now, I am one of three leaders of this student project! We represent Ukraine’s perserverance against Russian aggression, although I am an American with no Ukrainian heritage. But I do have friends who are from Ukraine, and they were my inspiration to take part in this effort. The message we stand for is truly Western and American: freedoms of speech, opinion and of transparent press, and the pursuit of happiness and prosperity. This pro-Ukrainian outreach also extends to taking part in an event at TH Wildau last year,  which was a celebration of Ukraine culture and the strengthening German-Ukrainian scientific collaboration between TH Wildau and the University of Kharkiv.

Your studies are in English – what about your German skills?

Ich bin auf Deutsch zweisprachig, mit C1 Deutschkenntnis! It was another reason to pursue German Studies, to show the authorities I can speak below native German. That’s another thing I recommend to international students coming to Germany: even if the course of study doesn’t require German: it is good to know some words to use in everyday life.

What is most surprising thing about Germany for you?

That there was opportunity for me to pursue! I could have stayed in the USA, but I wanted to expand my horizons and seek for an opportunity that was fulfilling for both my academic track record and my personal life. I am really happy that UP was able to open their arms to me, and that I am able to meet the people I met since stepping off the airplane.

Your future plans:

Short term: earn a master's in Astrophysics! Long term: PhD in physics (whether in astro- or in alignment with my previous study in particle physics); alternatively a job where I can utilize my two master's degrees! More personally, being able to start a family here.