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KontakTUM
Magazine
For alumni of the Technical University of Munich
Autumn/Winter 2016
Properly connected
An issue on dialogue and
interdisciplinarity at TUM
Nominal fee
Campus . Commitment . Network
Editorial
Dialogue starts What holds the
when different world together
E
generations meet.
For Dr. Daniel Tomic, one of the reasons for the success of his very day, I deal with people from different scientific disciplines.
I meet engineers, mathematicians, and economists at TUM
family company is his training at TUM. As one of the donors of
network events as well as in the context of career counseling –
the TUM University Foundation, he would now like to express his and I talk to journalists, photographers, and graphic designers
thanks. Please support your alma mater as well! about the layout of the alumni magazine. I cherish the variety,
www.tum-universitaetsstiftung.de and it really can’t get too diverse for me. What’s exciting is KontakTUM Editor
that all these people have their very own way of speaking and Sabrina Eisele
thinking.
To me, interdisciplinarity means willingness to enter a dialo-
gue: we can only be able to gain knowledge and become more
communicative if we go along with our counterpart’s way of
thinking and speaking. With every specialist field I get to know,
every work area that “crosses my path”, I learn more about the
commonalities between the individual disciplines, about the
distinctive patterns of thought. Sometimes, at least, it feels like
– in a Faustian sense – getting a glimpse of “whatever holds the
world together in its inmost folds”. From page six onwards, you
can find out more about the opinions of socially and politically
active alumni on the topic of a successful dialogue.
This edition of the alumni magazine initiates a dialogue between
different scientific disciplines and generations: In an extensive
At TUM, I learned what Ger- interview featuring student representative Nora Pohle and TUM
man engineering expertise
President Prof. Dr. Wolfgang A. Herrmann, they discuss their
views on the role of the university in society as well as their own
really means. That’s why I commitment in the scope of university politics during the past
promote research projects
years (page 14). In the series “Back to the Lecture Hall”, stu-
dent representative Philipp Rinner meets AStA-veteran Manfred Nowadays, you can still be
and young talents.“ Färber, who – in the mid-sixties – held a blazing speech in front properly connected using
of 10,000 students from Munich on the “Königsplatz”, following a tin can telephone:
a demonstration against a higher education act that was sup- In the TUM Community News, you
posed to be adopted by the Landtag (page 30). In the middle of can read about how a tin can
Dr. Daniel Tomic MBA this magazine, you can also read about what TUM now has to telephone was used to raise donations
TUM Alumni, entrepreneur, and donor do with the training of political scientists (page 26). and what the TUM Network has to
on the TUM’s rooftop with the clock Wishing you an invigorating and dialogue-stimulating read, do with that: www.community.tum.de
tower in the background
3
Table of Contents
TERV
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Table of Contents
ING A
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03 Editorial 26 How TUM promotes...
KontakTUM editor …dialogue and interdisciplinarity
Sabrina Eisele on the basic Plus: The new Bavarian School
idea of this issue of Public Policy at TUM
06 Voices of TUM 30 Back to the lecture hall
TUM Alumni and students talk about their Student representative Philipp Rinner
personal views about the prerequisites of a meets AStA-veteran Manfred Färber
14
Interview: Student
successful dialogue
14 “As president, I am
34 We belong together
06
Professor Gerald Thurner, his daughter
Voices of TUM: representative Nora Pohle responsible for everyone” Professor Veronika Thurner, and her
How to bring about a successful dialogue meets President Herrmann husband Michael Arbesmeier are a
TUM President Wolfgang A. Herrmann
family of TUM Alumni
and student representative Nora Pohle
talk about commitment in the scope of
university politics 38 Noticeboard
News from the TUM Network
20 Leaving the ivory tower:
Dialogue and interdisciplinarity 46 Greetings from…
Why dialogue and interdisciplinarity are so Engineer Carlos Munoz sends greetings
important at TUM from Brazil, his adopted home country
20 30
Back to the lecture hall: Commitment in the
student council, yesterday and today
Imprint KontakTUM is published twice a year; circulation: 50,000.
20
Leaving the ivory tower: Contact send/group); Andreas Heddergott: 27, 28; iuvas: 42; Magdalena
Technical University of Munich Jooss: 3, 4 (Ferber, ASHAD project, alumni in the lecture hall),
Dialogue and interdisciplinarity Corporate Communications Center 6-7, 23, 24, 31-32, 35-36, 48; KONUX: 43; NavVis: 4, 40; Privat:
Alumni & Career 8, 9 (Tausend/portrait), 10-11, 12, 13 (Alfreider), 33, 39 (books), 40
80290 München (accu:rate), 43 (Olympia), 46; ProGlove: 41; Fred Schöllhorn: 13
Tel. +49 89 289 22563 (Bock); SimScale: 41; TUM Asia: 39 (Herrmann); Shutterstock
Fax +49 89 289 22870 VERSUSstudio: 1 (Cover)
alumniundcareer@tum.de
KontakTUM digital
Graphic design
Published by Pixelperfektion, Munich
The President of the Technical University of Munich
in English and German Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Wolfgang A. Herrmann Printed by
38
www.together.tum.de/epub Druckerei Joh. Walch www.walchdruck.de
Editorial
Gerlinde Friedsam (in charge), Sabrina Eisele All rights reserved. Reprinting, also in excerpt, only with
permission of the editors.
Authors
Pursuant to Art. 3 (2) of the Basic Law, men and women have
Noticeboard: News from the TUM Network Dr. Andreas Battenberg, Dr. Sabrina Eisele, Beatrix Köber
equal rights. All terms referring to persons or functions refer
Photos equally to men and women. The use of the male term only serves
Günther Anthuber: 25; BayStartUP / Andreas Schebesta: 38; purely to make reading easier.
Astrid Eckert: 2, 4 (Herrmann), 14-18, 29; Peter Finger: 9 (Tau- ISSN 1868-4084
4 KontakTUM Autumn/Winter 2016 5
KontakTUM Thema Unternehmen
Voices of TUM Markus Ferber (Electrical and Computer Engineering 1990) has been involved in party politics for the
CSU since he was at school – and he has been a member of the European Parliament for more than
20 years. He was able to benefit from the interdisciplinary way of thinking he acquired during his enginee-
ring-oriented university education at TUM. “You don’t even have to bother about becoming involved in
politics if you’re not able to enter a dialogue” says Markus Ferber. For him, the most exciting kind of
dialogue is to exchange views with the public: “We have to give the people an understanding of what
we do at European level.” Read more about Markus Ferber from page 22 onwards.
How to bring about …
...a successful dialogue! TUM Alumni and students talk about their personal
views on the prerequisites of a successful dialogue.
6 KontakTUM Autumn/Winter 2016 7
Voices of TUM
Peter Pernsteiner
„“Dialogue means being open for reaso-
ning that is relevant to the case – regard-
less of party-political differences, across
generations and company hierarchies.
You have to be prepared to drop your
own opinion if there are more convincing
solution approaches. In a successful
dialogue, a problem should be addressed
step by step. You have to be prepared
to take time and to postpone an issue
occasionally.“
Peter Pensteiner (Electrical and Computer Engineering 1987) has been chairman of his local
FDP-branch since 2003. Since 2007, he does voluntary work in municipal council of Zorneding
near Munich – trying to keep the municipality debt-free, among other things. During his studies,
he was a member of the faculty council and the TUM Senate.
Claudia Tausend (Geography 1992) became chairperson of the SPD in Munich in 2004. From 1996 until she
was elected to join the German Bundestag in October 2013, she was a member of Munich’s City Council,
spokeswoman of the planning committee, and deputy chairperson of the City Hall faction. In addition to party
politics, she is involved in the tenants’ association, the IG Metall, the workers’ welfare organization, and even
a men’s choir. In summer, the TUM: Junge Akademie – the TUM’s support program for the especially talented
and dedicated students – invited her to give a lecture on the political situation in Europe.
Claudia Tausend
“I have now been actively involved in politics for over twenty
years; first in Munich’s City Council and later, from 2013 onwards,
in the German Bundestag. In this field, you can’t be successful
Rupert Heindl without the ability to communicate at eye level with various interlocu-
tors, and it is important to respect the other, even if there are oppo-
„Dialogue should be sing opinions. Politics is always about being open to alternative
about a mutual exchange options and about the willingness to find a compromise in
Rupert Heindl (Bachelor Vocational Education in of views. Democracy, for difficult situations. This can only work out if I really try to
Metal Engineering and Religious Studies 2015)
example, can only work out understand the viewpoint of the other.”
is the regional chairperson of the Catholic youth
organization in Bavaria – and as the UN Youth De- if everyone, especially the
legate for Sustainable Development, he addresses younger generation, is taken
the United Nations with the concerns of the youn- seriously. This is the case if
ger generation. With his commitment, he aims to the individual opinions and
motivate others to work towards a sustainable
concerns are heard. In my
future. Together with one of his colleagues from
the youth delegation, he met German Chancellor opinion, a successful dia-
Angela Merkel at an official reception in New York logue is first and foremost
at the sidelines of a UN General Assembly. about listening properly.”
8 KontakTUM Autumn/Winter 2016 9
Voices of TUM
Dr. Thomas Theil
“A dialogue can also be a con-
troversy. I repeatedly notice that
many people are not aware of the
fact that our way of thinking could
not work out without language. The
necessity to be able to express
one’s opinion in a dialogue shapes
our thoughts directly. Again and
again, I experience that issues can
be solved and solutions can be
found through dialogue – especially
in the engineering sciences.”
Dr. Thomas Theil (doctoral degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering 1990) and
his business partner in an inventor’s enterprise hold about 50 patents in the field of
distance and angle measurement technology. He is also district spokesman for the
local council in Feldafing. In addition to all these activities, his family is very im-
portant to him. The photo shows Dr. Thomas Theil with his wife in a hot air balloon
during their last vacation in Cappadocia.
Ingrid Pongratz
“Part of my work is to treat people respectfully and to keep personal contact. It is
important to acknowledge other people’s concerns and needs. Most conflicts between people
arise because we tend to put ourselves first, our own needs. The big trick is to always be aware
that other people will think differently. A dialogue is the only way to resolve such conflicts.”
In 2003, Ingrid Pongratz (Mechanical Engineering 1982) became first mayor of the district town
Miesbach in Bavaria – and the first woman to hold the position. She was already interested in
politics during her time at the grammar school in Miesbach. In 1995, the mayor of Miesbach
asked her whether she would like to show political commitment and become a member of the
city council. Following thorough considerations and consultations with her family – her sons
were aged 14 and 11 at that time – she decided to run for an office.
10 KontakTUM Autumn/Winter 2016 11
Voices of TUM Gisela Bock
“If you want to communicate with peo-
ple and help them, dialogue is essential.
This means that you have to listen to the
concerns of the people and take them
seriously. It is important to communicate
at eye level and to show respect.”
Gisela Bock (Chemistry 1965) was a
member of the Bavarian parliament for
Sascha the FDP. Today, she is involved in an
Kienzle association she founded herself, as a
means to keep senior citizens from
becoming lonely in old age. In 2011, she
Sascha Kienzle (Political Science 2010) is a consultant at the German Embassy was awarded the Bavarian Order of Merit
in Singapore and Bangkok. As Head of the Department of Science and Techno- for her longstanding commitment. She
logy, his duties include science policy, welcoming and accompanying scientific got involved in politics through her
delegations, as well as providing information about the research landscape in volunteer work as head of different
Singapore and Germany. parent committees (kindergarten, primary
and secondary school) during her sons’
“Kurt Cobain once sang: “Who needs action when you got words?” This years of school.
describes what dialogue in the field of foreign policy means to me: It’s about
communicative action. In diplomacy, a dialogue serves to solve problems in a
conversation and, thus, to avoid harsh measures. It is the essence of trying to
settle disputes peacefully and a central element of foreign policy and diplomacy.
A dialogue can only be successful if it takes place purposefully and at eye level.
All parties must be given the opportunity to participate in the dialogue, as listeners
or as speakers. Further, arguments should be based on truth – otherwise,
a dialogue will not be able to reach its full potential.”
Dr. Carlos Chiu Fu (Electrical and Computer Engineering 1982) is the international person of contact for the TUM
Daniel Alfreider
Network in Peru, and he recently opened up a school in his hometown of Huanuco in the Peruvian Andes. The aim
“For me, dialogue is about having an opinion,
is to teach young people a way of thinking that focuses on technology, the engineering sciences,
and sustainability. about developing it, and about putting it to the
test in a societal context, in a circle of friends,
as well as in the field of work. However, there seems
to be a dangerous tendency that more and more people inter-
Dr. Carlos Chiu Fu pret dialogue as an opportunity to trumpet their own – often
unfounded – opinion, without taking the time question one’s
“From my point of view, dialogue is more than just a conversation between own viewpoint in order to either substantiate or adjust it.”
two or more people. It is about interpersonal interaction, enabling people to
learn from each other – about specific topics or about the people participating Daniel Alfreider (Civil Engineering 2005) is a member of
in the dialogue. When trying to solve a problem, a dialogue can function as a the South Tyrolean People’s Party in the Roman
kind of brainstorming. In order to bring about a successful dialogue, all partici- Parliament, where he represents the interests of South
Tyrol at national level. As a civil engineer, he is involved
pants should be as open as possible. Listening is just as important in the Brenner Base Tunnel project, where he is
as speaking.” responsible for cost and risk management. In the TUM
Network, he is the person of contact for Italy.
12 KontakTUM Autumn/Winter 2016 13
Focus Dialogue and Interdisciplinarity
“As president,
TERV
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I am responsible
W
ING A for everyone.”
N
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Student representative Nora Pohle meets TUM President Wolfgang A.
Herrmann – a dialogue on commitment in the scope of university politics
14 KontakTUM Autumn/Winter 2016 15
W
Focus Dialogue and Interdisciplinarity
Wolfgang A. Herrmann, who is a
chemical scientist, has now been
Nora Pohle: Professor Herrmann,
often, the people are skeptical about
expert in his scientific discipline, but
also a human being with interests
“You always have
technical innovations, such as auto-
to follow through
President of the Technical Univer- beyond the facts and figures. I can
sity of Munich for more than 20 ye- nomous cars, for example. Should a tell you how I used to address issues
ars – but he was already involved in university try to do educational work like this: When I held lectures in the
university politics as a spokesman
of his student dorm. By vote of her
fellow students, Nora Pohle (23) –
in this respect? Or is this an issue that
should be addressed in the scope of
politics?
era of the conflict between the che-
mical industry and the early “green
movement”, I took some of the indi-
with whatever
who is a Master’s student of Elec-
trical Engineering and Information
Wolfgang A. Herrmann: Both, in my
opinion – mutually! A university must
vidual topics that were discussed in
the media and – together with the satisfies you.”
Technology – was recently elected be “ahead of its time”. students – tried to develop a fact-ba-
as student representative in the sed and accurate but, nonetheless,
TUM Senate for the third time. For Nora Pohle: comprehensible approach. Then,
KontakTUM, the two of them met What do you mean by that? we discussed what consequences
to talk about their commitment to Wolfgang A. Herrmann: For a universi- an event such as the industrial acci-
shaping the university during the ty, it is important to try and understand dent in Bhopal, India, could have for
past years. what is not yet known – and, secondly, our future, and how expertise could
to evaluate the issue. Scientific rese- help to avoid incidents like this. The
Nora Pohle, the budding engineer, arch has become increasingly complex students were rather enthusiastic,
tends to think across the scientific and sophisticated, too complicated for a because the example showed them
disciplines. Alongside her engineering growing number of people. And even I that our scientific discipline is not iso- As a student, President Herrmann showed commitment
studies, she also studies Philosophy first have to gather information on, for lated from the rest of the world, but to as his student dorm’s speaker. Master’s student Nora
with a minor in Psychology at the Lud- example, the meaning of “Big Data” – the benefit of the people. Pohle was recently elected as a member of the TUM
wig-Maximilians-Universität. It was her whether it’s really a distinctive term, Senate for the third time.
involvement in the student body of the what kind of data it is about and what Nora Pohle: As you just mentioned
Department of Electrical Engineering the possibilities are. Thus, how must – learning by practical examples can
and Information Technology – which the people feel if they are constantly of course best be achieved by actively
she joined in her third semester – that confronted with scientific catchwords joining in. I think it is an important
laid the basis for her commitment in the context of spending a lot of mo- task for the university to show the
in the Senate. “I quickly noticed that ney in order to stay competitive? In my students how they can take over so- young talents, but it also contributes dures we introduced 20 years ago. any advice? How do you stay motiva-
there is a culture of openness here at opinion, science is nowadays obliged to cial responsibility themselves, to get to the expansion of their educational From my experience, being the one ted yourself, even being as involved as
TUM. You can make a lot of differen- provide our society with comprehensible involved alongside their studies and horizon. That is why, for example, we who finally has to deal with the ap- you have been for the last 20 years?
ce, and many opportunities are simply information. We must be able to express beyond their textbooks. What are the promote music events, sports offers, pointments, the completely honest Wolfgang A. Herrmann: If I have to
missed because there’s no one who is ourselves adequately. TUM’s initiatives to encourage the student-organized events such as statements have helped a lot. This is prepare for a difficult discussion, I
prepared to take care of an issue.” She students to get involved, and where do GARNIX and TUNIX, as well as – due to the fact that the viewpoint of always say to myself that I’ll surely
had so much fun in the course of her Nora Pohle: If you were to hold a you see room for improvement? of course – the work of the student the students is uninhibited and un- survive this tough hour as well, like
commitment that she wanted to conti- lecture series in order to draw the That’s an appropriate but difficult council. At the same time, the univer- biased, because it is based on tea- so many before, no matter what the
nue automatically. students’ attention to their societal question. The first thing would be to sity management and the professors ching skills. outcome is (laughs). But every hour
From personal experience, President responsibility, how would you try to hope that more students would follow must accept the students’ aspira- is precious! Freely adapted from Go-
Herrmann is aware of how “conta- ensure that this would be about more the example of their representatives tions to participate and express cri- Nora Pohle: On the other hand, com- ethe: A conversation is more preci-
gious” commitment can be, and he than just memorizing certain ethical who – like you, Mrs. Pohle, and seve- ticism. They must be sure that their mitment also means to explore fields ous than light. Actually, the biggest
would be glad if more students were theories? ral others – show commitment for the concerns are taken seriously, that a you didn’t know much about before. motivation is the realization that all si-
to follow Nora Pohle’s example. For Wolfgang A. Herrmann: My advanta- whole community. Then, when you lot depends on the students. They All the legal provisions – especially in tuations you’re in – especially sur pri-
the alumni magazine, the two of them ge would be that I don’t really know realize that tasking over responsibi- are part of our success or our failure. the field of higher education policy, as ses – mean a gain of experience for a
discussed the importance of the uni- any ethical theories, so there wouldn’t lity will make you grow with the chal- you will know – can be very, very dry. lifetime. When it was my job to select
versities in society, the need to think be the danger of becoming too theo- lenge, you just carry on. When I was Nora Pohle: Can you give an example? You have to get used to that in order postdoc candidates for scholarships
interdisciplinarily, and the challenge of retical (laughs). For the young peop- young, it was the same for me. The Wolfgang A. Herrmann: Let’s take a to achieve other goals, so you always at the Alexander von Humboldt Stif-
motivating yourself again and again to le, I find it is most convincing if they university is a living environment and look at the opinions of the students have to try and focus on the actual tung – which, incidentally, was also
be able to pursue important tasks. notice that a lecturer is not only an a development space. It promotes regarding the appointment proce- goal to motivate yourself. Do you have volunteer work – I could personally be-
16 KontakTUM Autumn/Winter 2016 17
Focus Dialogue and Interdisciplinarity
nefit from getting to know the entire at eight o’clock. Before the lecture course of Political Science from a
range of scientific disciplines in qui- began, I took a seat in the first row technological point of view, which we
te a short time. All in all, we were 42 and had a look at the blackboard to are all excited about. In my opinion,
evaluators. I represented Inorganic think through the order of the topics to this could turn out to be a very suc-
Chemistry, but there were applica- be addressed. At the end, when you cessful course of studies. Will there
tions from a wide range of disciplines, leave the auditorium, it is important also be a Master’s course of Politics
from Christology to Restoration, and that the blackboard shows a compre- for natural scientists, similar to the
from Conservation Sciences to Ast- hensive overview – not only for the Master’s course of Management &
rophysics: an opportunity to gain in- sake of completeness, but also to en- Technology?
sight about the current “hot topics” sure that the students are aware that Wolfgang A. Herrmann: Sure, there
of the scientific community. I can still you’re making an effort. You always are such plans. If the faculty manages
draw on that experience today. Back have to follow through with whatever to lay a sound basis in the field of Po-
then, I really started to get interes- satisfies you. That’s how I developed litical Science – which is, of course,
ted in other specialist really important – and
fields. In my current to include the tech-
position, that’s a ba- nological aspect, this
sic necessity: I’m not will be a great benefit
“The closer
in this position as a for the students. If we
chemical scientist succeed in getting the
– as President, I’m students involved with
you cooperate,
responsible for ever- such topics, for examp-
yone. le in the form of group
discussions, they will
Nora Pohle: Would
the deeper the
be able to learn more
you say that you are than in the scope of a
more the type of uni- “standard” course of
versity president that
relationships.”
Political Studies.
focuses on social and
on university politics, Nora Pohle: Is that
or are you primarily something that distin-
a scientist? guishes TUM Alumni
Wolfgang A. Herr- from other alumni?
mann: It’s difficult to Wolfgang A. Herrmann:
keep those things It’s like always in life:
apart. Life has become really inte- various skills I could use on behalf of The closer you cooperate, the more
resting for me due to the variety of TUM, for the past 31 years. interest you show – in a family or wi-
activities. I am also a father, which is thin a university context – the deeper
very important to me. Science meant Nora Pohle: Meanwhile, TUM has the relationships. I think that’s great,
President Wolfgang A. Herrmann and student representative Nora Pohle regularly come a lot to me for quite a while. I was on quite a lot of interdisciplinary cour- a unique characteristic of our uni-
across each other at the meetings of the TUM’s Senate. Nevertheless, they had a lot to talk fire for scientific research, but I didn’t ses to offer – Management and Tech- versity. The other aspects – that the
neglect teaching either. When I was nology for example or, vice versa, the people are good at what they do in
about during their meeting in the Café of the Vorhoelzer Forum – and they enjoyed to be responsible for an experimental lec- BA Master’s course for the natural terms of science and research – can
scientists and engineers, but also So-
able to hold a conversation without a specific agenda, among other things about how to ture series for the freshers, I was in be expected, right? But the way the
the preparation room at six o’clock in ciology in Science and Technology people stick together, that’s special
motivate one’s peers to get involved in volunteer work. the morning – and the lecture started as well as the brand new Bachelor’s about our TUM.
18 KontakTUM Autumn/Winter 2016 19Let's
leave
the
Focus Dialogue and Interdisciplinarity
Automated driving or working with robots: To
ensure that graduates will be able to address the
important technological innovations of our time,
ivory
there are several initiatives to promote contacts
between engineers and other disciplines at TUM.
Sociology, Cognitive Science and other scientific
fields can help our society to assess the oppor-
tunities and risks of new technologies, and these
fields of study can provide guidance in terms of
developing specific fields of activity. Thus, inter-
disciplinary exchange is an essential characte-
ristic of numerous working groups and institu-
tions at TUM.
20 KontakTUM Autumn/Winter 2016 21Focus Dialogue and Interdisciplinarity
i
n the debate about the future systems into their vehicles? In addition, the Genuine interdisciplinarity: doctoral candidates of the ASHAD project
of the automobile, one trend project focuses on developing methods of risk (left to right): Johannes Klepsch (Chair of Mathematical Statistics and Chair
is especially prominent: It is assessment and early warning systems in of Philosophy and Philosophy of Science), Jan Gogoll (Chair of Business
supposed to operate auto- order to lay a basis for a dialogue in a social, Ethics), Christopher Kohl (Chair of Information Systems), Anna
Feldhütter (Chair of Ergonomics), Ulf Steinberg (Chair of Research and
matically. “There will be significant ethical, and cultural context.
Science Management) and Christoph Hohenberger (Chair of Strategy and
changes in the field of individual
Organization).
mobility, simply due to demographic “In this project, researchers from various dis-
factors,” says Prof. Dr. Klaus Bengler ciplines – with their different scientific appro-
of the TUM Chair of Ergonomics, aches – meet up to think about and discuss
who mainly works on designing and evalua- technological innovation,” says Klaus Bengler.
ting human-machine interaction. According Sometimes, this leads to a “cognitive disloca-
to Bengler, autonomous driving will cons- tion”, when everyone tries to understand each
titute a real turning point. “Traveling by car other and to find common solutions. “In the
could become much safer and much more end, it is exactly this interdisciplinary exch-
comfortable – especially for elderly drivers. ange that makes the project so promising,”
When driving in convoy, autonomous cars are Bengler says. While the computer scientists
quicker and more efficient. This helps to save collect data about how the Internet will be
time and fuel, especially in city traffic.” Thus, involved in autonomous driving, for example,
there are many benefits. However, as with the Chair of Ergonomics is already carrying
every new technology, there are also risks – out experiments with small samples of sub-
and new challenges for the users and society jects. In a simulator, they can experience what
as a whole. Recently, the news featured it is like to sit back and let the car drive and
reports about the first fatal accident involving navigate all by itself.
an autonomous car. “We, the developers,
must therefore carefully consider the effects “TUM is clearly in the lead!”
of technological innovations and, accordingly, According to its guidelines, TUM strives to
ask ourselves how we want to shape them for prepare the students to take over responsi-
the benefit of the people,” says Klaus Bengler. bility in societal transformation processes.
The interdisciplinary Master’s program
At TUM, the so-called ASHAD project at the “Human Factors Engineering” at the Chair of
Munich Center for Technology in Society Ergonomics, for example, aims to teach the
(MCTS) addresses issues like this, among students how to work out, implement, and
other things. The acronym stands for “Au- evaluate future concepts of human-machine
tomation and Society: Highly Automated interaction in various application fields. Since
Driving”. In the scope of the project, doctoral 2002, the TUM School of Management aims
candidates from seven different departments to teach Economics with a distinct focus on
– from Ergonomics and Business Information the interfaces of management and techno-
Systems to Philosophy – are trying to find logy, the natural sciences and life sciences.
out more about the factors of success and The Munich Center for Technology in Society
about possible problems in the realization (MCTS) is the TUM’s center for technology
of major projects in the area of mobility, in research – with a particular interest in modern
particular regarding autonomous cars. An technology-oriented science, such as the life
important issue in the scope of automated sciences and engineering sciences, as well
driving is the aspect of decision-making: when as the interdependencies with society. Here,
would users actually be willing to turn on an sociologists, historians, and philosophers
automated system? Under what conditions work on common topics, together with natural
would entrepreneurs decide to put automated scientists and engineers. Their research is
22 KontakTUM Autumn/Winter 2016 23Focus Dialogue and Interdisciplinarity
Autonomous
vehicles on
Campus Garching
If it were up to the “German Innovation Lab”
(GIL), TUM Campus Garching could become one
of the first public test fields for autonomous dri-
ving cars in Germany during the next few years.
Autonomous cars – also from German manu-
Politician Markus Ferber facturers – have been driving around on closed
(Electrical Engineering and off areas for quite a while already. On public
Information Technology 1990) roads in Germany, however, there must always
was often able to put his be a driver who can take over in an emergency,
engineering training at TUM to for insurance reasons. Currently, the German
good use while working at the Innovation Lab is looking for a suitable public
European Parliament – even in test field where it would be possible to test cars
the scope of economic policy. without a driver. For several reasons, the think
tank is of the opinion that the Research Cam-
pus Garching would be ideal. “Autonomous or
automated driving is one of the most important
challenges of traffic engineering, in addition to
the propulsion systems. This is also a scientific
geared towards the TUM’s areas of research, decisions. Apart from the scientific expertise, this can live with it.” For him, it was fascinating, to subject, because autonomous driving can only
such as energy, robotics, and mobility, as well as is also a matter of exchange between different apply his knowledge of control engineering to be accomplished with the help of sophisticated
to fundamental questions about risk, knowledge scientific disciplines. different subject fields: “My colleagues were but and reliable sensor and information systems,”
gaps, or digitization. The research groups of the a bit frustrated because they didn’t understand says TUM President Wolfgang A. Herrmann. “We
MCTS are striving to enter a dialogue with the “Just like the control technology of a what I was talking about,” Ferber laughs. All the are in the midsts of a global competition for the
public, with politics, and the economy – based on complex machine” better that TUM recently expanded its portfolio best solutions, so it is high time to really focus
lectures, themed days, expert workshops, and Markus Ferber can confirm this himself: in the when taking over the sponsorship of the Bava- on the issue. Our Research Campus Garching is
other events. This is of great importance for TUM: eighties, he studied Electrical Engineering and rian School of Public Policy (p. 26). As of this able to meet all the requirements.”
“Society should know what we are working on in Information Technology at TUM, and he comple- winter semester, students of Political Science will
science and technology for our future, and how ted his course of studies with a diploma in 1990. be able to learn more about different aspects of
we are preparing young people for tomorrow’s He has now been a member of the European the technical and the natural sciences, the life
challenges“, says the mission statement. “At Parliament for over 20 years, and he was able sciences, and Medicine that are of high politi-
TUM, we are clearly ahead of other universities, to benefit from his engineering training a lot. cal and social relevance. With the Institute for
because we consistently try to create opportuni- Especially in his current main field of activity – Advanced Study (TUM-IAS, founded in 2005),
ties for interdisciplinary exchange,” Bengler prai- economic policy – his technical focus often helps TUM strives to follow through with the idea of an
ses. Engineers should get a feeling for attempts him to find solutions. interdisciplinary collaboration that does not only
to address and answer the really relevant ques- involve politics and science, but also the com-
tions before and during the development process. “In the scope of my work, I have to ask myself panies. As so-called “fellows”, leading scientists
“How, for example, should we decide when it is how it is possible to regulate the stock markets, from universities and research institutions as
better – from the aspect of safety – to monitor for example. That’s something I didn’t really learn well as high-profile experts from the industry can
the traffic while traveling in an automated vehicle, a lot about during my training,” says Markus Fer- spend an extended research stay at TUM-IAS.
than to use the free time to do something else,” ber. Ultimately, however, stock markets can also Together with the TUM scientists, they pursue
says Bengler. In his opinion, it is one of the most be seen as a system with an input and an output: interdisciplinary projects in new and especially
important tasks of a modern university to enable “Just like the control technology of a complex future-oriented areas of research.
the students – whether they are deeply rooted in machine: If I want a system to become stable, I
their scientific field of engineering, social science, have to take care of the outside influences and
or psychology – to be able to make the according regulate the output in such a way that everyone Autonomous vehicles aren’t new to Campus Garching. In
the scope of the DFG special research area “Kognitive
Automobile”, there had already been tests with an
autonomous Audi Q7.
24 KontakTUM Autumn/Winter 2016 25Focus Dialogue and Interdisciplinarity
How TUM promotes
dialogue and
interdisciplinarity
By taking over responsibility for the Bavarian School of Public Policy, TUM is able to expand its portfolio.
Future students can benefit from the TUM’s facilities and services without limitations.
The Technical University of Munich bears responsibility for a social dialogue.
The aim is to prepare the students for the responsibility of accompanying
processes of social change. With a diverse portfolio – involving the TUM the effects of technological progress – for of the highest political and societal rele-
example in the fields of energy, environ- vance from the TUM portfolio, in the way
School of Education, the TUM School of Management, and the Munich Center
ment, climate change, big data, data se- of the technical and natural sciences, the
for Technology in Society – TUM offers a unique structure for holistic curity, and mobility – will be of increasing life sciences, and Medicine. The students
assessment and control processes. importance in society, the new Bachche- can choose modules from these fields
and, thus, start to sharpen their personal
profile during their basic studies already.
This also applies to the work experience
phase, during which – over the course of
A P RODUCTIVE several months – they will get to know a
From October 2016 onwards, the Bavari- mann. “The interdisciplinary nature of the political actor in Germany or abroad.
ALLIANCE
an School of Public Policy (HfP) and TUM program aims to enable the graduates to
will be training future political scientist analyze the interdependencies between “We managed to reorganize the Bavari-
– according to the motto “A Fresh Take society, politics, and technology, and to The Bavarian School of an School of Public Policy in record time,
on Political Science” – thereby exten- shape the political framework of these Public Policy is now a and the Landtag provided generous re-
ding the portfolio once again. In July fields accordingly.” The Bavarian School university hosted by TUM sources,” says TUM President Herrmann.
2014, the Bavarian Parliament decided of Public Policy is already located near its “Against the background of policy shifts in
that the HfP should be associated to TUM new supporting university since mid-2016, times of profound technological and soci-
as the supporting university. Its excellent in the “Brienner Forum” at Königsplatz. al changes, the HfP and its internationally
scientific environment will open up new The future students of the HfP will also be lor’s students of the HfP will be able to get experienced researchers will continue to
perspectives at the interface between the enrolled at TUM, giving them access to to know technological innovations during set standards in the fields of research,
social sciences and the fields of enginee- all the facilities and services, just like the their studies already. The new course of teaching, and policy advice.” Markus Blu-
ring or the natural sciences. “The rapid other TUM students. Further, the existing studies covers the classical topics of poli- me, Chairman of the Reform Committee, is
development of technology has led to a and the future alumni of the HfP can take tical science, and the students will acqui- confident as well: “The result will be an in-
situation in which technological issues full advantage of the TUM Network. They re basic knowledge in related fields such stitution of political science that is unique
come to play an important, even crucial can attend networking events and make as economics and law. An interesting and in Germany – with its very own high-profi-
role in almost all policy areas,” says TUM use of career offers as well as the online unusual feature of the new study course of le features and a fantastic symbiosis with
President Professor Wolfgang A. Herr- network (www.together.tum.de). Because Political Science is that it involves topics the TUM University of Excellence.”
26 KontakTUM Autumn/Winter 2016 27Focus Dialogue and Interdisciplinarity
Seven new professorships at
the Bavarian School of Public Policy
Professor Eugénia da Conceição-Heldt is Re- In order to reach the most important goal of the reform
form Rector of the Bavarian School of Public effort – namely focusing on the interdependencies between
Policy and Professor at the Department of technological progress, social change, and political action
European and Global Governance. Previously, – seven new professorships were established at the HfP. An
she held the Chair of International Relations appointment committee, consisting of renowned political
at the Technical University of Dresden, where scientists, technical scientists and social scientists – selected the
she was also Executive Director of the Institu-
candidates. The seven new faculty members will shape out the
te of Political Science. Before that, she con-
new Bachelor’s course of Political Science, which starts in the
ducted research at Harvard University and the
winter semester 2016/17. In addition, some of the lectures will
Freie Universität Berlin, among others. She
was granted a Heisenberg scholarship from be given by other TUM professors. At the same time, TUM will
the DFG in 2010, and a research award of the benefit from a more diverse curriculum in the field of Politi-
QUESTIONS European Research Council (ERC), worth 1.3
million Euros, in 2012.
cal Science, as the new professors will be holding lectures
there as well.
for Prof. Dr. Eugénia da Conceição-Heldt
Why is the Bavarian School of Public Policy un- blic acceptance, there will be problems – at the
dergoing a content-oriented realignment in the latest when it comes to introducing a new tech-
course of being associated to TUM? It is our aim nology. Thus, it is important that engineers learn
to rethink political science by covering the dimen- the basics of political science. We can teach them
sion of technology as well. At the new HfP, we will about the principles of decision-making processes
therefore not only teach the classical canon of po- in a federal state such as Germany – or beyond.
litical science, but we will also try to take technolo- Nowadays, many of these processes take place at
gical innovations and the challenges of governan- EU level or globally.
ce in the digital age into account. The question is:
What is currently changing for the actors and the Where can the HfP graduates go after comple-
institutions? A good example: Nowadays, political ting their training? I think there are three major
actors must respond to events much more quickly, areas in which our graduates can be employed:
since communication is not limited to the traditio- Firstly, as civil servants in the field of politics. Sin-
nal media any more, but also takes place via social ce its establishment, the HfP has distinguished its-
media platforms such as Facebook or Twitter. This elf as a cadre factory for the political landscape
can be seen as a digital revolution, because the of Bavaria. We want to go further and prepare our
relations between the institutions and the struc- graduates for the federal level, or even for the Eu-
tures are becoming more transparent. This leads ropean or global level. Secondly, our graduates are
to faster changes. A transdisciplinary approach is well prepared to venture into the economic sec-
the only possibility to face these challenges in the tor. They can, for example, focus on areas such
future. as public relations, where political acceptance of
corporate decisions play a major role. The third
To what extent can the engineering sciences component of the program is of course our aim
benefit from political science – and vice versa? to train researchers and scientists. Therefore, we
Synergy effects might arise for both disciplines, will introduce a Master’s degree and a long-term Prof. Dr. Jürgen Pfeffer, Prof. Dr. Lisa Herzog, Dr. Hannemor Keidel (Commissioner of the President of the
especially with respect to the development of new graduate school in about a year. Our approach of Bavarian School of Public Policy), Prof. Dr. Eugénia da Conceição-Heldt (Rector of the Bavarian School
technologies. Usually, technical innovations are covering politics as well as technology is really so- of Public Policy), Dr. Claudia Höfer-Weichselbaumer (Managing Director of the Bavarian School of Public
dependent on public acceptance. If there is no pu- mething new in Germany. Policy), Prof. Dr. Stefan Wurster, Prof. Dr. Tim Büthe, and Prof. Dr. Simon Hegelich (from left to right)
28 KontakTUM Autumn/Winter 2016 29Network Back to the Lecture Hall
TUM Alumni Manfred Färber and
Ulrike Irmscher visited their alma mater,
where they met student representative
Philipp Rinner.
H AV E A S AY & JOIN IN!
Should students also be involved in university politics alongside their cour-
se of studies? According to three TUM Alumni who should know, the answer
is “Yes”. Manfred Färber (Mechanical Engineering 1969) was Chairperson
of the AStA in 1966; Ulrike Irmscher (Mathematics 1968) was one of the
first female semester spokespersons, and Philipp Rinner (Sports Sciences
2015) is currently a student representative in the TUM’s Senate.
30 KontakTUM Autumn/Winter 2016 31Network Back to the Lecture Hall
“Back then, there was a widespread
atmosphere of departure. The students
"Those were the days”: Manfred Färber
took along his old photo album, which
banded together and campaigned for a
immediately brought back memories of his better education policy,”
student days. Ulrike Irmscher explains.
“Back then” – meaning the mid-60s – Manfred Fär-
ber and Ulrike Irmscher were students at TUM. One
of the first demonstrations took place in June 1965,
when Klaus Irmscher (Electrical Engineering and
Information Technology 1967), Ulrike Irmschers late
husband, was Chairman of the General Student
Committee (AStA). The students took to the streets,
demanding a restructuring: “One of the demands ample, the importance of the “soft skills”, the social A student demonstration
was that more young people should be able to study, and personal skills, for the field of business and the on the “Königsplatz” in
not just a small elite,” Ulrike Irmscher recalls. When industry could not be stressed enough. “Studies in 1966: Later on, Manfred
Färber held a passionate
Manfred Färber took over presidency of the student Business Administration can tend to bring about lots
speech in front of 10,000
council, the students had started to push through of lone wolves. There must be more awareness for
listeners to protest against
with changes to the university laws. In a passionate the fact that commitment in the field of university po-
a planned university
speech in the course of the demonstration on July litics can help to acquire negotiating and teamwork
law reform which would
6, 1966 – on behalf of about 10,000 students – he skills, as well as a leadership personality,” says Phil- have limited academic
demanded more freedom within the university ad- ipp Rinner. In his work-life, Manfred Färber was able autonomy.
ministration: “For example, it was the responsibility to benefit from his time as a student representative
of the Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs to as well. “Thanks to my disputes with presidents and
appoint the professors – and we wanted more say,” ministers, I learned to emphasize my point of view
Färber recalls. “The initiative was successful, and the and not to be afraid of the top brass.” Commitment in
benefits can still be experienced today,” says Philipp university politics has the advantage of direct exch-
Rinner. “There is at least one student representative ange with the decision-makers: “Where else can a
with voting rights in every appointment committee at student experience that nowadays?”
TUM.” Philipp Rinner, who is currently in his Master’s
course of Economics, has been showing commit- A lot has changed during the last 50 years – the to-
ment for the students in several positions during the pics of university politics as well as the willingness to
last three years. In October 2015, he was elected become involved. But there seems to be a revival of
to join the TUM’s Senate and the University Coun- some aspects: “We wanted to focus on university po-
cil. With his interest in the AStA, he can be seen as litics alone, not on political issues on state level. We
an exception among his fellow students. A possible made this clear at a meeting of the German student
explanation is that most of the students are not inte- bodies in Heidelberg. The students from Berlin and
rested in political commitment at the university due Hamburg thought quite differently about that,” Färber
to the prevailing pressure to perform and because recalls. “That’s really interesting”, says Philipp Rin-
of being pressed for time. “Students tend to concen- ner. “It’s still like that. We quit the ‘Deutschlandver-
trate on the actual course of studies. Some of them band’ two years ago, because we thought there was
have to work part-time as well.” But the students still too much discussion about federal politics.” Another
take to the streets if they are concerned about an is- thing that TUM students tend to be very interested
sue that affects them directly. “Until 2013, there were in is the aspect of international exchange. While the
concerns about the topics of tuition fees and the in- students of the sixties organized the first Czech-Ger-
troduction of the semester ticket by Munich’s public man student exchanges, the students of today show
transport company. There were demonstrations, and commitment to ensure that refugees are able to take
the students were also involved politically,” says Phi- up a course of studies. Currently, there are about
lipp Rinner. In his opinion, it is important to empha- 200 young refugees enrolled as guest students at
size the benefits of university commitment. For ex- TUM.
32 KontakTUM Autumn/Winter 2016 33Network We Belong Together
x
1 Family
Prof. Dr. Gerald Thurner
studied civil engineering
at TUM und later worked
here as a professor. His
daughter Prof. Dr. Veroni-
3 TUM
ka Thurner followed in the
footsteps of her father and
became also a professor.
This was after she studied
computer science at
TUM, where she met her
later husband Michael
Arbesmeier.
“Do you remember...?” They all have diffe- there in summer,” Michael Arbesmeier recalls. young when she got acquainted with university on technical knowledge in combination with di-
rent memories connected to their alma ma- During the visit to their alma mater, they recall life. As a child, she visited her father at TUM, dactic and pedagogical aspects is exceptional.
ter, as they were students or lecturers here memories of the lecture halls, the former pro- and she can still recall memories of his office: “I Thus, the Bavarian State Ministry of Education
at different times – but the three of them are fessors and the time they spent together during remember there was a rubber tree standing in and Culture, Science and Art presented her with
closely connected to TUM. Professor Gerald their course of studies. “The main auditorium my father’s office,” the 46-year-old laughs. Ho- an award for her commitment to didactics. This
Thurner, his daughter Professor Veronika in the old building was very important for us, wever, the fact that her father was a professor year, the professor received the “Award for Out-
Thurner, and her husband Michael Arbes- because there were regular film evenings,” says did not have much influence on her decision to standing Teaching” for the second time. “She’s
meier are a family of TUM Alumni. Michael Arbesmeier. “We didn’t have that when take up a course of studies, nor on her career much more skillful than I am – especially in the
I was a student,” Gerald Thurner laments. His choice. Ever since her school days and a year field of didactics. I didn’t pay so much attention
Gerald Thurner did not only study at TUM, he career path took him back to TUM via a detour. abroad in the United States, she had been inte- to that back then,” Gerald Thurner admits. “It is a
was also a professor here. After almost 40 years, He started his first job at a company in Essen in rested in computer science. For Veronika Thur- basic characteristic of her work to discover and
he almost felt at home on the premises where 1956, right after graduating. “I was supposed to ner, it was not a problem that her father was a to promote potentials,” her husband Michael Ar-
he enrolled for Civil Engineering in 1951. Back act as a representative of the company, to visit professor at the university where she wanted besmeier agrees. In 1993, when his wife was
then, TUM was still called “Technische Hoch- the different railway administrations in Germany. to study herself. “I enrolled for a different area still a student, he founded his own company –
schule”. “At the end, we were 140 graduates – I would not have been working as an engineer, of studies – and the university is huge, so the ARS Computer und Consulting – together with
and only one girl,” the 86-year-old recalls. His but as a merchant. I didn’t like the idea,” says name Thurner didn’t really come to attention.” In his fellow students Kai-Uwe Rommel (Computer
daughter Veronika, who studied at TUM almost Gerald Thurner. Nine months later, he quit the 1995, after completing her studies in Computer Science 1992) and Roland Schock (Computer
40 years later, vividly remembers the beginning job. Shortly after, he heard that the Chair of Tun- Science with a minor in Mathematics, she mar- Science 1992).
of her course of studies in the winter semes- neling and Construction Management in Munich ried Michael Arbesmeier in the premises of the
ter 1989/90, when about 500 students put their was looking for a young engineer as an as- Catholic Student Group. She graduated in 2004, What about becoming a professor, like his wife
name down for a beginner’s course in Computer sistant. “I was really happy about the opportuni- following the birth of their two children. She and her father? Michael Arbesmeier decided
Science. During the holidays, after her fourth ty! And here I am today,” laughs Gerald Thurner. didn’t follow her father’s choice of field of stu- otherwise: “I think I might have been good at
semester, she first met her fellow student and dy, but she was inspired by his choice of career teaching. However, it would have been a night-
husband-to-be, Michael Arbesmeier. “We met 1969 was an important year for Gerald Thur- path. “Similar to my father’s career, I was able to mare for me to work on a doctoral thesis and
in the southern section close to the corner of ner: He completed his doctoral studies, and rely on chances as well,” Veronika Thurner says. the habilitation.” Nonetheless, he is still connec-
Gabelsberger Straße and Arcisstraße, where his daughter Veronika was born in December. Today, she is Professor of Software Enginee- ted to TUM. “We are always looking for talen-
the Chair of Applied Engineering in Information “Three years later, it was time for the habilita- ring at the Department of Computer Science ted young computer scientists to join our com-
Technology and Numeric Programming had 15 tion – and I became a professor of Construc- and Mathematics at the Munich University of pany – and talents from TUM are more than
computers in the attic. It was always very hot tion Management.” Veronika Thurner was quite Applied Sciences. Her commitment for passing welcome!”
34 KontakTUM Autumn/Winter 2016 35You can also read
