Surname, first name: Joel, Dafne
Nationality: German
City, Country: Friedrichshafen, Germany
Degree programme/degree: Dipl.-Ing. Civil and Environmental Engineering
Year of graduation: 1998
Employer and position: Zeppelin Aviation & Industrial Servicec, General Manager Management

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Why did you decide to study at the TU Hamburg?
As a high school graduate, I was interested in a wide range of disciplines, from maths and science to art. Environmental protection was an important concern for me. Most of the degree programmes I knew at the time only focused on one discipline. The Civil and Environmental Engineering degree programme was the ideal combination of scientific and technical, design and environmental aspects for me.

How would you describe the character of the TU Hamburg in three characteristics?
Innovative, informal, open.

Was there an unforgettable experience for you during your time at the TU?
My semester abroad in the Caribbean was particularly formative for me, where I was able to write my thesis on an environmental hygiene topic thanks to the cooperation between the Institute of Wastewater Management and Water Protection and the Caribbean Environmental Health Institute.

Even 25 years after graduating, you still regularly take part in alumni events, what advantages do you see in such a network?
Studying at the TU connects us, yet we have amazingly different backgrounds. The great diversity broadens our horizons immensely. The exchange with other alumni is inspiring and always enriches us with new insights. Sometimes we can support each other with our different experiences, knowledge and connections.

What would you ask an omniscient researcher from the future?
I would have many questions. How can industry and science contribute to a better world? How can we use AI for more equal opportunities and the preservation of diversity? What technologies can help us do this? The central question is how humanity can exist sustainably on Earth in harmony with itself and the environment.

If you were President of the TU Hamburg ...
... I would increase the practical component, integrate industry into teaching with research projects, facilitate semesters abroad, for example by promoting international cooperation and offer interdisciplinary programmes, including for non-technical subjects. The graduates of the future should be equipped for professional life in the face of growing digital media with a high level of ethical awareness and other strong soft skills such as team spirit and strong communication skills.