With the creation of this office—the first and only one of its kind in Germany—the topic of sustainability has been given even greater priority at the university and UKB. An independent sustainability department was already established within the Medical Dean's Office in December 2021, providing a solid foundation as an interface between the university and the university hospital. Moving forward, the team, led by Vice Deans Prof. Wachten and Prof. Beck, will contribute to a comprehensive commitment in this vital area and serve as the central coordinating and management unit for sustainability at the Faculty of Medicine.
Prof. Wachten, you are currently based at the Institute of Innate Immunity, and you, Prof. Beck, at the Institute of Epileptology and Cognitive Sciences. How would you describe your work there so far?
Prof. Wachten: At the Institute of Innate Immunity, I lead my own department and, together with Felix Meissner, the entire institute, which includes several research groups. I am also the spokesperson for SFB1454 and co-spokesperson for FOR5547. This means my work is quite diverse, but what I enjoy most is discussing projects with young scientists and advancing them together. Celebrating successes as a team is the best part of our work.
Prof. Beck: I am currently the spokesperson for SFB 1089 and the Bonn Center of Neuroscience. At the IEECR, I serve as the elected director, where we have introduced flat hierarchies and a board of directors. In recent years, we have been fortunate to build a highly innovative and collaborative group of scientists, from principal investigators to PhD students. The exceptionally inclusive atmosphere across subdisciplines and groups inspires me and makes Bonn a special location for neuroscience.
Sustainability affects every department, and the Medical Dean's Office is pleased that you have taken on responsibility for such an important topic. How did you both decide to accept the role of Vice Dean of Sustainability? What motivates you to work in this office?
Prof. Wachten: My motivation is twofold. Firstly, I have a deep personal interest in sustainability, which I am already trying to promote through other projects. For example, together with several research associations under the University Foundation, where I also serve on the board, we are currently organizing a museum exhibition at Museum König, focusing on sustainability. Secondly, sustainability remains largely neglected in laboratory settings. I want to help drive progress in this area.
Prof. Beck: Sustainability has also become a growing personal interest for me, influenced by my wife’s career as a biologist, who designs near-natural gardens. Sustainability has been an important topic in our family for years. Alongside the excellent work already underway at UKB and the Dean’s Office, I believe—as does Dagmar Wachten—that we still have much potential to improve sustainability in research laboratories.
There is no longer any doubt that sustainability and environmental protection are essential for our world today and the future. What do you hope to achieve with the Vice Dean's Office? What is especially important to you?
Prof. Wachten: Heinz Beck and I both come from experimental basic research, so improving sustainability in laboratories is a key focus. Additionally, we want to promote the sustainable use of resources in technology and develop new concepts in this field.
Prof. Beck: I fully agree with that.
The last question is a personal one: climate change and its devastating consequences often evoke feelings of fear and hopelessness. How do you personally stay motivated?
Prof. Wachten: We serve as role models for our employees and the students we interact with daily. That alone motivates me to maintain a positive outlook and pass this on. In the museum exhibition, we aim to use a positive narrative to engage young people and young adults. Science communication has great potential here, and I hope it can be further expanded to reach a wider audience with tools to improve the situation.
Prof. Beck: A 12-year-old once told me that planet Earth was doomed and that nothing could be done anymore. That made me very sad and thoughtful. We must face the negative aspects of our world, but only positive thinking can bring positive change. As adults and scientists, we must set an example for our children.
If you have any questions, suggestions, ideas, or would like further information on sustainability, please visit the Vice Dean's Office for Sustainability website or contact us by email at prodekanat.nachhaltigkeit@ukbonn.de.