More application

Dr. Matthias Buchert urges greater use of existing knowledge

It all began with a short publication by the Öko-Institut about turning energy systems towards sustainability, which Matthias Buchert found after a train tour of Sweden in 1982. At the time he was still a student. Some years later Buchert began his career at the Öko-Institut while on community service. Now aged 45, with a doctorate in chemistry, he heads the Infrastructure & Enterprises Division, working in Darmstadt on issues such as resource conservation, materials efficiency and sustainable land management. What has been the driving force behind his journey? “Put simply, we have so much still to do. The world’s problems are becoming increasingly urgent. And many of the solutions already available are not being implemented consistently”, he criticises. “Over the past 20 years, marketing types with a penchant for SUVs have influenced politics and industry far more than environmental scientists.” But Buchert remains optimistic: “It’s still not too late. I sincerely hope that today’s hot environmental topics stay high up the political agenda in the medium to long term. Once they are set, targets need to be met – consistently – and the pool of knowledge here at the Institute put to good use.” kk

info: Dr. Matthias Buchert

Less lobbying!

Dr. Christian Hagelüken demands evidence-based dialogue

Although Christian Hagelüken cycles to work, recycles his rubbish and has always been interested in environmental issues, he’s not employed in environmental protection – at least not directly. Yet industry insiders know this 49-year-old industrial engineer with a PhD in mining as a good networker with a solid technical background. He isn’t cool and calculating, just fascinated by raw materials. For the past 18 years, Hagelüken has been working on recycling precious metals: first at Degussa, then at Umicore, where he is now responsible for marketing and business development. “For a long time, the issue of resources has been significantly underestimated – yet it will bring real impetus”, he suggests. “If we are to take sustainability seriously, recycling is key. We can still optimize many aspects.” However, Hagelüken is not a fan of quick fixes: “They’re not normally the answer”. He would rather seek out new ideas and alliances, and not just with the Öko-Institut. He’s not backward in coming forward, either! “I’d like to see an open-ended, evidence-based dialogue between all the stakeholders. That will make much better headway than the fixed ‘lobby group’ mindset.” kk

info: www.preciousmetals.umicore.com

High commitment

Professor Paul Brunner has great expectations of politicians

Three things moved Dr. Paul Brunner to devote his work to the environmental sphere: delight in nature, awe of creation and fascination by technology. To combine all three is his goal. “I would wish that technologies help humankind to live better with creation” says the 60-year-old. Now a professor of waste management at Vienna University of Technology, Brunner has spent more than 30 years working on his “three hobbies” – urban metabolism, clean cycles and ultimate sinks. These are no easy topics, but for him they are exceedingly “fascinating”. His expectations of his own colleagues are high: Professors must set a good example and should constantly develop new ideas. “If they don’t do that, they do not belong in the universities” says Brunner. As concerns the body politic, Brunner expects high commitment and “more enthusiasm for quite new solutions”. And, above all, the ability to keep the whole in view. He aspires to this holistic view himself, for at the heart of his vision of a sustainable future is the “satisfied, happy person and the prudent use of materials and energy”. cr

info: www.iwa.tuwien.ac.at