VAST26

VAST26

Our Final Day September 25th: The Journey Back from Norfolk to Washington, D.C. Every great journey eventually comes to an end, and our final day was the perfect conclusion to an unforgettable adventure. Filled with history, beautiful landscapes, great food, laughter, and reflection, the drive from Norfolk back to Washington,   ... Read More

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VAST26

September 24, 2026 After several days filled with university visits, academic sessions, company tours, project work, and cultural activities, September 24 gave us a different kind of experience. Instead of focusing mainly on academic activities, we had the opportunity to slow down, explore the local community, and experience a more   ... Read More

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VAST26

Our day started at Monarch Hall at Old Dominion University, where we gathered in a computer lab for the ODU & h2 Interdisciplinary Innovation Sprint. The day began with an introduction from Prof. Dr. Michael Herzog and Mr. Ajay Gupta. They explained the activities planned for the day and divided   ... Read More

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VAST26

Our next day started with goodbyes and hellos. We checked out of our old hotel – the one that had been perfect for day trips out of the city – and checked into the ODU Marriott, five minutes on foot from campus. No more highway commutes to get to the   ... Read More

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VAST26

Monday 21.09.2026 – Newport University Our day on September 21 was filled with interesting meetings, new experiences, and many opportunities to learn something new. We started the day with a visit to MAP, where we had the opportunity to meet many interesting people and learn more about their work and   ... Read More

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VAST26

Starting the Day We started the day in Norfolk, Virginia, excited for our trip to the Outer Banks, North Carolina. After breakfast, we prepared for the journey and enjoyed the anticipation of visiting one of the most famous coastal destinations on the East Coast. Departure from Norfolk toward the Outer   ... Read More

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VAST26

September 19, 2026 After several days filled with university visits, lectures, company visits, and academic activities, September 19 gave us a chance to step away from the academic schedule and simply enjoy the weekend together. The day was officially planned as a weekend recreation day, giving us the freedom to   ... Read More

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VAST26

Friday, September 18, 2026 After several days filled with new places, long drives and countless impressions, Friday started in a fairly familiar way: breakfast, getting everyone into the cars and heading back to Old Dominion University. But what initially sounded like a normal university visit quickly turned into a day   ... Read More

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VAST26

17. SeptemberOur morning started with a visit to Liebherr USA’s headquarters in Newport News, and from the moment we arrived, it was clear that this would not be an ordinary company tour. After a warm welcome, we got the chance to look behind the scenes of one of the world’s   ... Read More

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VAST26

Starting the Day Morning Visit to the Naval Museum Our day started with a short visit to the Naval Museum in Norfolk, Virginia. It was an interesting way to begin the day and learn more about the naval history of Norfolk and its strong connection with the U.S. Navy. Although   ... Read More

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VAST26

Tuesday, September 15, 2026. Our second day in the American capital started the way most road trips do: with paperwork. Before anything else, a small group of us headed out to the airport to pick up our rental cars. Watching a group of German students negotiate American automatics, a parking   ... Read More

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VAST26

Our first day began very early, at 6:30 a.m., as the first meeting was scheduled to discuss the rest of the day’s activities. After that, we first took care of renting bicycles. Despite some initial difficulties, we managed to figure it out, so everyone showed up at the first meeting   ... Read More

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VAST26

From Berlin to New York Our VAST26 adventure began on Friday, September 11th, at Berlin Brandenburg Airport. At 10:00 a.m., we took off on our approximately nine-hour Delta flight to New York City. After months of preparation, it finally felt real: we were on our way to the United States!   ... Read More

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VAST26

Welcome to the official blog of VAST – Virginia Academic Summer Trip 2026! After months of planning, preparation, and looking forward to this journey, VAST26 is finally here. What started with meetings, applications, and travel plans has now become reality: our journey to the United States has begun. With plenty   ... Read More

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