When the mercury hits 33°C, where do you go to cool off? 
Most people head to the pool or grab an ice cream. We went underground.
Today, our Environmental Engineering master's students traded the lecture hall for the sewers of Vienna as part of our traditional "Sewer Rehabilitation" excursion.
Walking through channels that are just 1.2-1.3 meters high and 80-90 cm wide is certainly not your average classroom experience. It’s tight, it requires full gear, and it’s definitely not for the claustrophobic. But despite the layers of protective clothing, the underground temperatures offered a surprising—and welcome—reprieve from the summer heat.
More importantly, this was a hands-on lesson in infrastructure that you simply can't get from a textbook.
A huge thank you to Wien Kanal for hosting us and opening up this hidden world. And a special shout-out to ÖGL - Österreichische Vereinigung für grabenlosen Leitungsbau for sharing invaluable real-world insights, tips, and tricks that bring theory to life.
It was a unique experience, and we were all happy to climb back up into the sunlight safely.