New professorship in Bocholt: A 38-year-old teaches on the subject of sustainability

With the start of the winter semester, the Bocholt campus of the Westphalian University is emphasizing the topic of sustainability.

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Dr. Dr. Daniela Kattwinkel will take over in the winter semester at Bocholt University the newly created professorship for “Sustainability Management and Life Cycle Engineering”. Your mission: To provide students with the tools to master the ecological challenges in product development and business management in the future.

The influential professorship, made possible by the regional economy, including companies such as Flender GmbH as well as local banks, underlines the region’s growing interest in new constant customization. The position was created with financial support of 190,000 euros to promote research and teaching in the field of sustainability at the Bocholt site.

Promotion in Bochum

Dr. Dr. Daniela Kattwinkel has extensive experience gained in various business projects as well as science. After completing her doctorate in environmentally friendly product development at the Ruhr University Bochum and leading a research group in building technology and automation, she now devotes herself to the work of providing practical and future-proof solutions for students at the Bocholt campus. production.

The 38-year-old woman explains that her aim is to make students aware of how they can reconcile ecological, economic and social aspects in their future careers.

Her courses focus on topics such as “Sustainable Management” and “Life Cycle Engineering”. The question is how companies can integrate sustainability concepts into their processes and make the entire life cycle of a product sustainable – from the extraction of materials to production and disposal. Sustainability doesn’t just start with recycling, but with product development. The new professor emphasizes that companies must think and measure ecological effects from the beginning.

Public speech

In addition to the main topics of sustainability, Kattwinkel also includes socially relevant issues in her teaching. For example, she is planning a selection event on the topic “From Greenwashing to Genderwashing”, in which she will take a close look at companies that advertise sustainability or gender equality commitments but do not consistently implement them.

With her professor, Kattwinkel not only wants to give knowledge, but also give a strong impetus to companies in the area. She sees great potential in supporting local businesses in implementing stricter EU guidelines on sustainability and greenhouse gas accounting.

The professorship, which was established with the support of the Westmünsterland development association and several regional companies, aims to consolidate sustainable technologies and processes more firmly in the region.

The Bocholt campus positions itself as a pioneer for sustainable development, both in research and teaching.

On October 24 at 9:30 am, Dr. Daniela Kattwinkel gave her commencement speech at the Bocholt campus. The lecture is public and those interested can register through the​​​​​​IHK by email to tina.baidoo@ihk-nordwestfalen.de.

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