Why I joined IWWG

My former boss and doctoral supervisor, Peter Lechner, was one of the founders of the IWWG group, and I realized as a young scientist how enthusiastic and with which great commitment the group worked to implement the idea of IWWG. He often told me about the long and fruitful technical discussions and inspiring exchange of thoughts and information they had during their meetings which took place all over the world. He always came back very motivated with a lot of new ideas, and he passed this motivation on to our research group in Vienna. Nowadays in our digital world, information and innovative ideas can be quite easily received in the world-wide web, in webinars, in social media. However, a far-reaching discourse, well-considered developments, genuine know-how exchange with experienced colleagues, motivation and inspiration cannot be found in front of one´s computer, tablet or smartphone, and the same applies to collegiality and team spirit. But these values can just be experienced in the interpersonal communication in a cooperating group, and these qualities are essential to advance seminal joint ideas in order to face the grand challenges of our today´s society. Therefore, I am very pleased to be part of the IWWG group.

Current and previous positions

Since Oct. 2016: Full Professor for “Global Waste Management” at the Institute of
Waste Management, Department of Water, Atmosphere and
Environment, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna
(BOKU)
Dec.2015 – Sept. 2016: Associate Professor and project leader at the Institute of
Waste Management, Department of Water, Atmosphere and
Environment, BOKU
2011-2015: Professor for “Global Waste Management” (interim position till December
2015) and head of the Institute of Waste Management, Department of
Water, Atmosphere and Environment, University of Natural Resources
and Life Sciences Vienna

Awards and Grants

• 2015 “Österreicherin des Jahres 2015” in the category “Science”, awarded by “Die Presse”

• 2009 ISWA-Publication Award 2009 for the paper “"Biotic systems to mitigate landfill methane emissions" published in WM&R 2008 (26), Marion Huber-Humer, Julia Gebert and Helene Hilger, awarded by the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA)

• 2005 “Klaus Fischer Innovation”-Award, awarded by the BOKU-University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences Vienna for the Ph.D.-thesis “Abatement of landfill methane emissions by microbial oxidation in biocovers made of compost”

• 2003 „ÖGUT Umweltpreis 2003“, in the category “Women in environmental engineering” awarded by the Austrian Society for Environment and Technology (ÖGUT) and the Austrian Ministry of Transport, Innovation and Technology (BMVIT)

• 2001 „ORBIT Young Scientist Award“, for research activity in the field of microbial methane oxidation; awarded by the international association „Organic Recovery and Biological Treatment (ORBIT)“

• 1998 Environmental award „Innovationen in der Abfallwirtschaft“; awarded by the Government of the Federal State Styria in cooperation with engineering companies

• 1997 Grant „125 years BOKU” awarded by the association “Diplomingenieure für Kulturtechnik und Wasserwirtschaft” for Master Thesis, BOKUUniversity