Potsdam was first documented in a deed of gift by Otto III dating back to July 3, 993. In the 18th century, Potsdam became the royal seat and garrison of the Prussian kings. During the reign of Frederic William I. and Frederic II, Potsdam underwent a period of great construction. Leading architects such as Schinkel and Knobelsdorff lived in Potsdam in the 18th and 19th centuries and gave the city its unique character.

Today, Potsdam is the provincial capital of Brandenburg with almost 130.000 inhabitants. It is a city which is renowned for the Potsdam Agreement, the palaces and gardens of Sanssouci, the Neuer Garten, Babelsberg park and the historical Dutch and Russian quarters.

Potsdam is also a city of education and science. The venue of the workshop, the Potsdam Telegrafenberg has stood for rich scientific traditions for more than 120 years. After Germany’s unification 4 institutions were established on the Telegrafenberg, now called the Albert Einstein campus. Basic research on global geoscientific problems, studies on the consequences of global climate change, climate investigations of the polar tropo- and stratosphere, geoscientific investigations in permafrost regions, and research on extra galactic astrophysics and cosmology are the research fields of the institutions on the Telegrafenberg.

In Germany, september is early autumn and the approximate maximum temperatures are about 15°C, but 24°C can also be reached. Nevertheless, it is good weather for enjoying the lakes, rivers, parks and beer gardens in Potsdam despite the occasional showers.