Alumna back from the United States

Karin Lukas-Cox was born in Montreal, Canada, and went to school in France. She studied »Kulturtechnik und Wasserwirtschaft« at BOKU and graduated in 1995 with her Diploma thesis »Proposal for bilateral cooperation between Austria and Guatemala in the water sector«.
In 2010 she did her Master of Business Administration at Queens University in Charlotte, N.C., USA. Her native languages are English, German and French and she is fluent in Spanish.

Read the full interview (taken from the Alumni-Magazine 04/2019)

Name: Francesco Esposito

Position: Process Engineer, UNIHA Wasser Technologie GmbH

During my bachelor studies in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Turin (Italy) I developed a profound interest for water- and international development-related topics, and I actively participated in the activities of the student association “Ingegneria Senza Frontiere” (Engineering Without Borders).

Looking for an international experience, I moved to Vienna where I completed the Master Program in Water Management and Environmental Engineering at BOKU. Here, in parallel to my studies I worked as a research assistant for the Institute of Hydraulics and Rural Water Management and for the Institute of Surveying, Remote Sensing and Land Information.

During my academic career I always tried to enhance my knowledge with a select choice of seminars, summer schools and specialization courses around the world.

Since March 2019 I work as a process engineer within UNIHA Wasser Technologie GmbH in Linz, a worldwide operating company specialized in the field of water and waste water technology.

Name: Monika Brazda

Position: Partner at Quality Biotech - Development & Cells (QBDC)

Studies: Food Science and Biotechnology at BOKU and Wageningen University

In my last year before graduation I attended a seminar about “Quality management systems in daily practice” from guest lecturer Erich Plaschke. His lecture on how to implement quality systems and apply them in a thoughtful manner influenced my way of thinking about quality management. Basically, I try to implement these elements in my everyday business.

“The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of a low price is gone.”

I am co-founder of the QBDC GmbH. We consult established local pharmaceutical companies in matters of facility qualification, biotechnology companies in the development of production processes and for start-ups and companies in the near East we plan entire production facilities. We also provide our internal developed software solutions.

For this working area it is important to convince people to take an active position towards advancing their product quality. Not only “because QA says so”, but from a deep understanding of the need of their contribution to the overall system. High quality, as required for pharmaceutical production, can be accomplished only in this way.

During my studies I was not very often in the lecture halls as I was working at the same time, but of course I had to attend all seminars. I think it was an economics seminar that still impresses me. We were taught about the correlation of limited resources and pricing thereof and that the only ‘nearly’ unlimited resources are our skills for innovation and communication. They will help us in the end to overcome energy shortages or environmental destruction. For me it seems this theory is rather robust, if I look with open eyes to what is happening in these sectors. The biggest challenge for all of us is the environment. BOKU with its whole spectrum of different studies can – and does – contributes tremendously to obtain a clear picture of the dimension, solve current problems and also find solutions for the future.

Name: Stefan Winklehner

Position: Soon to graduate

Stefan Winklehner finished his Bachelor in Wood Fiber Technology at BOKU. Alongside and before his studies, he worked as carpenter and a researcher in the field of biomaterials. To deepen his knowledge he moved to Finland, “a very calm, organized country with honest people and a beautiful nature”, says Winklehner. He started his Master program “MSc Fiber and Polymer Engineering” at Aalto University and chose the specializations “Polymer Technology” and “Fiber Webs”. This material/scientific and chemistry-related study program provided him with a good knowledge about biomaterials and plastics. In addition, he was selected as part of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) Climate KIC Master Label program. He will soon finish his Master, begin an internship abroad at a company in the field of composites and write his Master thesis. His education will allow him work on problems and topics related to bio composites, adhesives and engineered wood products.

Name: Donatella Tesei

Position: Post-doc, Department of Biotechnology at BOKU

“There is a quote from A. Einstein: ‘Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world’. This is to say that each of us can make a difference with our own vision, sensitivity and intuition.  

I just returned to Vienna after spending 6 months abroad as a visiting research scientist at NASA/JPL in Pasadena, California (USA). After my Master Degree in Biology in Italy I joined Katja Sterflinger’s geomicrobiology group for my PhD at BOKU. A Hertha Firnberg Position (FWF) for post-docs now allows me to continue working at BOKU as a principal investigator of my own project.

My work revolves around the study of the stress tolerance in extremotolerant and extremophilic organisms. It aims to shed light on the molecular basis of adaptation and survival. Black fungi are the model organisms for my studies: a morphological group of melanotic fungi isolated from the most extreme habitats on earth, including Antarctica and nuclear power plants. During the past years I have analyzed several aspects of stress tolerance, in both pathogenic and nonpathogenic species by means of proteomics. Currently, my interest is in the possible biotechnological applications. Part of my work is also dedicated to astrobiology research and aims at gaining a deeper insight into the evolution of extremophily, as well as life beyond planet Earth. This is where the collaboration with NASA JPL and the work on microgravity come into the picture.

Being a researcher entails both a vivid curiosity and an endless enthusiasm for discovery. Curiosity goes hand in hand with resilience and great talent when things get tough. Flexibility, because being able to think both inside and outside the box can be a lifesaver. Organizational skills are imperative: lab work, lectures, students, projects writing, etc. Additionally patience, determination, staying humble and keeping a positive attitude and having a vision. Text herausheben "At the end of the day, it is not just about work but it is also about our personal growth."

Name: Federico Ricci

Position: Just graduated, is looking for a job

“Biodiversity conservation, through sustainable forest management – that’s not a defined profession. But the knowledge of many aspects of forest environment is required, from the effects of climate change on trees to the connections between plants and other organisms, such as birds or insects. Apart from understanding such dynamics, it would be important to reach out to people.

I think the biggest threat to ecosystems is the difficulty that people have in understanding the effects of their actions on a larger scale, so my task would also be to show how small changes may drive towards a better future, without changing anyone’s priorities or lifestyles.

Italy is a nation to be proud of for several aspects, but political and economic uncertainties in the recent past have led to actions that greatly affected the “green” national sector. The importance of a healthy environment was underestimated and is endangering many Italian habitats. Living in Austria has showed me how the relationship with forests could work.

During my time at BOKU I managed to find my true professional interests and obtained something from everyone I met, and this has been by far the biggest achievement. My first two credits were assigned thanks to Field Camp I, an excursion of 5 days in the forests of Austria, an amazing journey. I was quite introvert and shy but my professor, Thomas Kirisits, managed to motivate me to embrace this challenge with high spirits. “

Name: Sonja Leitner

Position: Postdoc Greenhouse Gas Emissions, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Mazingira Centre for Environmental Research and Education

How do you assess the political, economic, environmental and social situation of your country of residence?

After some political unrest around the presidential elections in 2017 the political situation in Kenya is now relatively stable again. Kenya is a presidential representative democratic republic that has been independent from the UK since 1963. Kenya’s economy is growing and the country is Eastern and central Africa's hub for finances, communication and transportation. The agricultural sector is the second-largest contributor to Kenya’s GDP, employing more than 40% of Kenya’s population. About 80% of Kenya’s farmers are smallholders who own

Where do you see further need for action in the future?

The rapid population growth in East Africa is increasing the demand for food and other agricultural products. However, because agricultural systems in East Africa are not very productive, an increase in production is often mediated via an expansion of arable land, which leads to deforestation (currently only 10% of Kenya remain covered by forest). This increases human-wildlife conflict as pastoralists move their herds into protected areas on their search for feed and water. In addition, with climate change the occurrence of severe droughts is increasing, further reducing the level of productivity and threatening food security. Therefore, a lot of research effort is currently put into the development of sustainable and more productive local farming systems that are better adapted to climate change.

What are your professional activities and what skills are important? How did you get the job?

I am a Postdoc in the Sustainable Livestock Systems program at the International Livestock Research Institute in Nairobi. Here we work in an interdisciplinary team of ecologists (such as myself), animal nutritionists, social scientists, and economists to increase agricultural productivity, while at the same time trying to reduce the environmental footprint of livestock farming. Livestock plays a major role in providing sufficient protein and nutrients in developing countries, but at the same time it is a major contributor to agricultural greenhouse gas emissions (especially CH₄ from enteric fermentation in ruminants, as well as CH₄ and N₂O from manure). I am part of ILRI’s Mazingira Centre for Environmental Research and Education, which is the only environmental laboratory on the African continent that can measure greenhouse gas emissions from soils, manure and the animals themselves. Apart from my scientific skills (I have an extensive background in GHG measurements and nutrient cycle assessment in various ecosystems), working in an interdisciplinary and international team requires good communication and organizational skills, as well as a lot of curiosity and willingness to learn.

What comes to your mind, when you think about your time at BOKU?

After studying biology at the University of Vienna, I joined BOKU’s Institute of Soil Research (IBF) for my PhD studies. There I worked in an international team of scientists and technicians, which prepared me for my current work as an international scientist. Furthermore, I did most of the work for my PhD in the field, which taught me the necessary skills to function and improvise under harsh conditions. And finally, the team at IBF was one of the most welcoming and socially connected groups I’ve ever been part of and which I’ll never forget. And who knows, maybe my professional path will bring me back to the BOKU in the future.

What was you biggest (job) challenge so far?

Working in East Africa means somewhat restricted access to spare parts and consumables, and even with the best of planning and organizing sometimes one has to improvise and be patient when things don’t work out as planned. This is especially challenging during field work in remote regions. Furthermore, apart from more frequent severe droughts, climate change is also increasing the occurrence of extreme precipitation events, and Kenya is currently experiencing an unusually intense rainy season with heavy and erratic rainfalls leading to flooding and destruction of roads and bridges, which makes parts of the country inaccessible (including some of our field sites).

Name: David ROTH

Position: PhD, Canadian River Institute, University of New Brunswick

What are your professional activities and what skills are important? How did you get the job

I am currently working on my PhD at the Canadian River Institute at the University of New Brunswick. My project is embedded in the Collaboration for Atlantic Salmon Tomorrow. Within this work group I am investigating a strategy called “smolt-to-adult supplementation” (SAS) for Atlantic salmon over a time span of 4 years. This strategy captures outward migrating wild salmon smolts, raises them to mature adults in a hatchery, and releases them back to their native stream to spawn naturally. My project aims to compare the migration and behaviour of wild versus SAS fish by radio-tracking them in an experimental river section, and monitoring the development of the progeny in the following years. Additionally, a laboratory experiment is in place to collect fundamental data on fertility, fecundity and mortality rates in different life stages of SAS vs. wild Atlantic salmon.

When it comes to skills, I am content to say that my Master in Applied Limnology at BOKU equipped me with the majority of abilities needed for the tasks I encounter within my work. The possibility to participate actively in ongoing projects at the Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management as a student has proven to be very useful. I became aware of the opportunity to apply for my PhD in Canada through an email sent by the head of the very same Institute.

What comes to your mind, when you think about your time at BOKU?

Looking back at the 5 years I spent in Vienna and at BOKU is always related to very positive memories. My Master in Applied Limnology was a very defining period of my life, in which acquired various skills and additional interests for this field of work. The teachers, as well as the students, created a nice and productive work environment. The colleagues I worked and studied with are great people and have made my time in Vienna a memorable chapter in my life.

How do you assess the political, economic, environmental and social situation of the country of your residence?

The Canadian people have been very welcoming and for any issues one might encounter, there is always a friendly person on their way to help. The political situation is very stable and the people I have talked politics with showed great interest in improving their country’s profile. Being the world’s second largest country by surface, but relatively small in terms of population, Canada still has a very strong position in the world’s economy and is one of the world’s top trading nations. The country is progressive in many terms, but from an environmental point of view it is facing several major challenges. Industries, such as mining operations, the lumber industry, aquaculture and oil companies have a severe impact on the environment and expose even the rural areas to severe anthropogenic influences.

Name: Antonio BIUNDO

Position: Postdoc, Science for Life Laboratory, Royal Institute of Technology

What are your professional activities and what skills are important? How did you get the job? 

I supervise students and perform molecular biology techniques and biochemical reactions to bio transform waste products into high-value products. The skills I learned during my PhD at BOKU helped me to solve different problems both inside and outside of the lab. The ability to communicate with colleagues and to follow deadlines are the best soft skills I have gained in the past few years. Furthermore, the knowledge of different techniques both in molecular biology and in biochemistry (and their combination) increased my eligibility to get this position in one of the top universities in the field. Several candidates applied for this position. Luckily, the number of publications, the oral and written skills, and the focus on specific projects allowed me to be the top candidate for this position.

What's important to consider when working internationally?

I have been moving around Europe for several years. What I have learnt was to understand the different cultures and try to integrate without losing the values of your nationality. This can bring a surplus value not only to one’s private life but also to the working environment. The integration of a person into an international environment is very important not only for the person but for the society, in order to remove any discrimination and to develop a way to be able to bring positivity to the entire community.

What is the situation in your country now?

I come from Italy, Sicily specifically. Italy has many resources, as well as Sicily, and it needs to find the right people to bring the country to a better level by increasing job availability and the possibility of people to stay instead of leaving to other countries. My idea of traveling has always been aimed at a better education to bring back to my country one day.

What impact has/had studying at BOKU on your work and your life?

BOKU has many features ranging from internationality, industrial related projects and the ability to integrate different projects together. All of this allowed me to increase my knowledge and to meet people and friends who brought added value to the work environment and helped me to think differently.

Which book is a must read?

The selfish gene.

Name: Roland Ebel

Position: Professor at the University of the State of Mexico (UAEM)

How do you assess your country's situation at the moment?

In Mexico the political situation is stable, although extensive sectors of the Mexican society question the legitimacy of the federal and state governments: Corruption is omnipresent in both day-to-day life and democratic decision taking. Organized crime is said to be involved in most important decisions. The economic and the social situation of many Mexicans has worsened since the economic crisis in 2008. However, an economic deterioration as found in other Latin American countries could be avoided. Currently, the economic elites fear a revocation or restriction of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that has substantially boosted the Mexican economy while simultaneously harming the private sector. In 2017 several governmental measures (especially the privatization of the oil industry) as well as unfavorable international economic developments caused an inflation of the Mexican peso and rising prices of food and fuel. On the other hand the Mexican government undertook international climate goals and has achieved considerable progress in the protection of marine ecosystems. Nevertheless, the contamination of air, groundwater, and soils in many Mexican regions is alarming.

What are your professional activities and which skills to you consider important?

I am dedicated to university teaching and research. Since 2015 I work at the Autonomous University of the State of Mexico (UAEM) where I focus on the design of small-scale intercropping systems with corn and vegetables. The analysis of fermented liquid fertilizers made of locally available resources plays a key role in this regard. From 2008 to 2014 I contributed to the construction of a new university, the Intercultural Maya University of Quintana Roo (UIMQRoo). In addition to teaching and academic advising I am involved in participative action research, project evaluation and I served as Head of the Department of Sustainable Development. To succeed in this environment, one needs curiosity, dedication, cultural sensibility and openness, talent to extemporize, patience, and transdisciplinary thinking.

Which book is a must read?

To understand the complexity and the ecological richness of traditional Mesoamerican farming systems, I recommend reading Agroecology: The Ecology of Sustainable Food Systems from Stephen R. Gliessman. The book is a benchmark for newcomers and experts in agroecology and it integrates multiple references specific to Mexican agriculture.

Name: Wolfgang Pöckl

Position: CEO of a small company in the field of geographical information science and systems

How do you assess your country's situation at the moment?

Actually, the European Union is about to change and after the general elections in Germany, politicians are confronted with different challenges. As in many other countries, you can observe a spread of nationalist currents. Democracy isn’t a natural state, you always have to fight for it. But the majority of the population is standing together for a free and liberal Germany. The economic situation seems to be getting better, unemployment is decreasing and social prosperity is guaranteed.

What are your professional activities and what skills are important?

I’m CEO of a small company in the field of geographical information science and systems. We are a software developer and service provider for digitalization of transmission networks (e.g. electricity, water, sewage, gas and district heating). Important skills include a well-balanced, basic technical knowledge, a lot of idealism and courage for new things.

What is your philosophy of life?

My philosophy of life is a quote form Albert Einstein: "You never fail until you stop trying."

Name: Katrin Hohwieler

Position: PhD candidate in Koala Conservation Genetics

How do you assess your country's situation at the moment?

Australia is a very ambivalent country. They attract millions of tourists with their iconic animals but continuously destroy pristine habitat for urban development and coal mining. Where I work and live, in South-East Queensland, land clearing happens at an unbelievable speed and in unbearable dimensions. However, people are becoming more and more aware of the dramatic consequences of such political decisions and start raising their voices. What would Australia be without koalas, without wombats, without their stunning forests?

What are your professional activities and what skills are important?

I want to look into genetic consequences of habitat disturbance and destruction in koalas. To obtain genetic samples we collect koala scats in the field. Their poo is very small and hard to see, which is why we work together with detection dogs that are trained on the koala scat scent. Working with so called conservation canines requires team work on a whole new level. It is about non-verbal communication, trust and being a determined leader. Those dogs amaze me every day and make my fieldwork the best thing in the world.

What is your philosophy of life?

I believe that you can learn anything, if you just want to. Sometimes fear and self-doubt hold us back and make us miss out on the most incredible opportunities and experiences. Sometimes the prospect of living in ease and comfort is tempting but there’s nothing more rewarding than challenging yourself. There is an easy way to become a bit more adventurous: every time I have to make a decision I try to choose the more exciting and challenging option. 

Name: Veronika Veits

Position: European Commission, Directorate-General Maritime Affairs and Fisheries

What is important to consider when working internationally? 

For international work one has to have flexibility, curiosity for others and openness for other cultures and mindsets. It is also clear that in the long term one can maintain only a limited Austrian social network and receive less support from family members, especially when it comes to child care.

How do you see the chances for BOKU students and alumni in the EU?

The type of university education is much less relevant in the EU institutions as in the Austrian recruiting process. What counts more are „soft skills“: the ability to perform intercultural communication, good analytical understanding as foundation for solution oriented thinking, negotiation skills, etc. The increasing complexity of challenges that the EU has to face requires a broad spectrum of skills and talent as well as interdisciplinary thinking. Because of a broad educational spectrum BOKU graduates have for sure the necessary skills for the various European political areas. Helpful is Interest in operations and key topics of the EU, language proficiency (EN, FR) and preparation for a so called  concours (selection process of the EU), as recommended by the respective Federal Chancellery of the Republic of Austria and EU  websites.

What would you give as advice to yourself as a 20-year-old based on your current experience?

I would recommend to everyone to seize the opportunties life offers, even when they are linked to diffictult decisions. Optimism and humor are two important life companions.

Michael Eder

Position: Managing Partner bei Anco GmbH

Was war Ihre größte Herausforderung bisher?

Nach meiner Rückkehr aus den USA habe ich den Sprung in die Selbstständigkeit gewagt und bin heute Managing Partner des Start-up-Unternehmens Anco GmbH. Die strategische Ausrichtung des Unternehmens und die Integration eines strategischen Investors aus den USA waren dabei sicher die größten Herausforderungen.

Wie haben Sie das an der BOKU erworbene Wissen verwenden können?

Mein Studium der Agrarökonomie vermittelte mir ein solides naturwissenschaftliches Grundwissen, gepaart mit einer ökonomischen Ausbildung. Das an der BOKU erlernte analytische und kritische Denken ist mir im Berufsleben äußerst hilfreich und half mir auch, meine MBA Ausbildung an der University of Texas mit Auszeichnung abzuschließen.

Wie waren die 10 Jahre in Texas?

Was mich an Texas begeistert, ist die Freundlichkeit der Menschen und die in den USA gelebte „Kultur des Scheiterns“. Wer Innovation will, muss Risiko akzeptieren. Das gilt in besonderem Maße für Start-ups. In Österreich und Deutschland hemmt die Angst vor Misserfolg nach wie vor die Gründertätigkeit.

Was ist Ihre Lebensphilosophie?

Ich halte mich hier an den deutschen Humoristen Karl Valentin, der einmal sagte: Jedes Ding hat drei Seiten, eine positive, eine negative und eine komische. Die Kunst, über sich selber zu lachen, ist mir wichtig, hilft sie doch auch schwierige Situationen zu meistern.

Alfred W. Kammerhofer

Position: Sektionschef BAFU/Abteilungschef WL

Was war Ihre größte Herausforderung bisher?

Sowohl in der Führung als auch in der Politikgestaltung geht es auch darum, Menschen zu überzeugen. Die innere Ruhe und Gelassenheit zu behalten, auch wenn es für den Moment so aussieht, als ob  man zum anderen nicht durchkommt, ist eine der größten Herausforderungen, die ich kenne. Man muss auch bereit sein, seine eigenen Positionen und Argumente kritisch zu hinterfragen – und bereit sein, an sich zu arbeiten. Dies kann manchmal auch wehtun, aber das gehört zum Menschsein dazu und da muss man einfach durch. Wenn man dann aber etwas Neues auf den Weg gebracht hat (z. B. eine Gesetzesvorlage, die von Politik, Wirtschaft und Umweltverbänden gleichermaßen unterstützt wird, oder ein wichtiges Projekt starten kann), ist das ein intensives und wundervolles Gefühl.

Wie haben Sie das an der BOKU erworbene Wissen verwenden können?

Die Ausbildung an der BOKU ist vielfältig, umfassend und praxisbezogen. In meiner Funktion als Sektionschef für Wald- & Holzwirtschaft in der Schweiz kann ich große Teile meines BOKU-Wissens sehr gut gebrauchen. Klar spezialisiert man sich mit der Zeit, aber die Interdisziplinarität und die Methodenkompetenz, die man an der BOKU mitbekommt, hilft einem dabei enorm. Ich bin froh, dass ich mein erstes Studium an der BOKU in Wien gemacht habe!

Wie ist die Situation in Ihrem Land derzeit?

In der Schweiz bleiben die wirtschaftlichen Aussichten positiv, wenngleich die Folgen der Frankenstärke/Euroschwäche ihre Spuren hinterlassen haben. Mit konsequenter Steigerung der Effizienz und Nutzen von Synergien wird dem Kosten- und Spardruck in Wirtschaft und Verwaltung begegnet. Politisch hat das Stimmvolk die Energiewende vor Kurzem beschlossen. Die Wald- und Holzwirtschaft kann davon stark profitieren, sei es mit neuen Bauprodukten für das Nachhaltige Bauen in Holz(hybrid)bauweise, mit dezentraler Energieproduktion oder mit neuen innovativen Materialen. Die größten Herausforderungen sehe ich langfristig bei der Energieeffizienz und der Anpassung – unserer Wirtschaft und unserer Wälder – an den Klimawandel.

Was ist Ihre Lebensphilosophie?

„Miteinander statt übereinander reden. Man muss Menschen mögen. Menschen wahrnehmen und annehmen, überwindet Grenzen.“

Name: Claudia Koreimann

Position: Ständige Vertretung Österreichs bei der EU-Agrarabteilung

Was ist zu berücksichtigen, wenn man international tätig ist?

Zuallererst braucht man eine ordentliche Portion Neugier und Offenheit für das Neue und Fremde. Gute Sprachkenntnisse und die Bereitschaft, sich alles neu aufzubauen, auch im privaten Bereich, sind für mich ebenso essenziell. Ich kann nur jedem raten, sich für eine Zeit lang ins Ausland zu begeben. Es ist eine wunderbare Persönlichkeitsschulung und es lässt einen auch die Werte der eigenen Herkunft klarer erkennen.

Wie schätzen Sie die Situation für StudentInnen und AbsolventInnen der BOKU in der EU ein? Welche neuen Chancen und Herausforderungen gibt es? Wie kann man sich darauf vorbereiten?

Das kann ich nicht so gut einschätzen, ich habe vor über 20 Jahren graduiert, da war Österreich noch nicht einmal EU-Mitglied. Nun hat sich aber so vieles verändert. Die StudentInnen und ProfessorInnen, die ich anlässlich der BOKU- Alumnireisen nach Brüssel kennengelernt habe, haben mich mit ihrer internationalen, praxisnahen Ausbildung und ihren Kenntnissen beeindruckt. Sie sind damit sehr gut gerüstet für eine Welt, in der globale Vernetztheit zum Alltag gehört. Es hat sich Gott sei Dank sehr viel getan in Richtung Öffnung und Vernetzung der Universitäten auf der Welt. Die BOKU ist da ein exzellentes Beispiel. Das war während meines Studiums in den 1990er-Jahren keineswegs so. Gehören Erasmus, Unterricht in Englisch und Aufenthalte im Ausland heut einfach zum Studium dazu, war das für StudentInnen meiner Generation noch etwas sehr Exotisches, das können sich die heute 20-Jährigen wahrscheinlich kaum vorstellen. Die Ausbildungen wurden internationaler, gleichzeitig werden die Lebensläufe viel fragmentierter, denn die Arbeitsverhältnisse für die AbsolventInnen sind vielfach zeitlich begrenzt. Ich glaube, die derzeitigen großen gesellschaftlichen Herausforderungen sind unter anderem, dass den Jungen oftmals, trotz hervorragender Kenntnisse, keine langfristigen beruflichen und damit auch privaten Perspektiven geboten werden und dass wir bei Forschung immer noch zu viel sparen, statt zu investieren.

Welches Buch haben Sie bereits oder würden Sie verschenken, das Sie selbst inspiriert hat?

Ich liebe Bücher!!! Ich habe jüngst ein sehr bewegendes Buch gelesen, „When Breaths Becomes Air“ von Paul Kalanithi, und habe es bereits mehrfach verschenkt. Ansonsten bei Romanen unbedingt Elif Shafak „The 40 rules of love“ bzw. Fred Vargas` Krimis. Ich liebe auch Politisches und Geschichtliches. Hier meine derzeitigen Favoriten: George Packer: „Die Abwicklung“, die verstehen lässt, warum Menschen Trump gewählt haben, und „Midnight in Pera Palace“ von Charles King über die Gründungsgeschichte der türkischen Republik.

Ataharul Chowdhury

Position: Lecturer at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine and Adjunct Faculty at the University of Guelph in Canada

What was your biggest job challenge so far? 

One of my biggest job challenges is to find a balance between the professional and personal sphere of life. In many organizations, this has become a challenge while we are having to manage with fewer and fewer resources for research and academic work. We have to work hard to keep up and compete on this rapidly emerging trend of scarce resources available for research and development, especially for those who are working in development studies. Relevant to this issue is also how to introduce and mobilize ideas while the existing regime is prone to a specific tradition towards development. 

How did/do you use your acquired knowledge? 

I returned to Bangladesh a couple of times after I graduated from BOKU in mid-2011. I have had opportunities to mobilize funds for continuing my work on video-mediated learning for capacity development of smallholders in Bangladesh. Recently, I have worked with FAO to develop a capacity development framework for strengthening agricultural innovation system. The framework is being piloted in eight countries in the tropical region, including Bangladesh. I have also worked at the University of Guelph, Ontario where I contributed to developing and implementing new research programs in areas of social media and information and communication technology (ICT) for agricultural development. At my current faculty position at the University of the West Indies I have had opportunities to contribute to ICT and agricultural development in the Caribbean. 

How is the situation in your country now?

As my work is highly influenced by development theories and practices, when someone asks about Bangladesh I always focus on the development side. There are three main challenges for Bangladesh: institutional capacity, natural disasters, and political uncertainty. In the last decade Bangladesh has seen good progress in terms of growth and other social and economic dimensions of development. However, the ongoing debates and controversies over democratic practices have created a number of risks and uncertainty about institutions facilitating ‘social justice’, ‘human rights’, ‘education’, and ‘environment’.

Helen N. Nakimbugwe

Position: Livestock Geneticist/ Technical Manager for Breeding

What was your biggest job challenge so far? 

Convincing some leaders of our institution about the importance of maintaining linkages with universities in areas of research.   

What impact has the economically strong agriculture had on your work?

I work in the livestock sub-sector which is a major contributor to the agriculture sector. Forty percent of the population in Uganda is engaged in agriculture. 

What impact has studying at BOKU had on your work and life and the impact of studying in a foreign country?

It exposed me to a new culture and new ways of doing things, hence enabling me to work well in multi-national research teams. 

What inspiring book have you most commonly given? The Leader Who Had No Title by  Robin Sharma

Heike Dambly

Just arrived in Austria

What was your biggest job challenge so far?

Envisaging the right place for me and delving into an absurdly foreign culture.

How did/do you use your acquired knowledge?

Live it, utilize it and be open for alternative ways of thinking.

How is the situation in your country now?

The inherent family structures are imminent in the striving of the state of Kuwait. 

Satisfied by their wealth to the extent of boredom, yet possessing a unique kind of hospitality measured on a global scale.

What‘s your philosophy of life?

Curiosity and getting out of the personal comfort zone. Travelling! Asking myself “Whats next?”