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Candidate to the University Board - Group B

Carsten Hinzmann

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We elect a representative for group B to the university board every year, instead of every four years as for group A and C. This is mainly due to our temporary contracts, but this gives us a diverse representation in the supreme body of our university, which is quite positive in my opinion.

As a PhD candidate I have a huge own interest that the needs of our group are heard at the university board. I think that who ever is elected, should be pushing for

  • good and reliable working conditions
  • a good career development for inside or outside of academia

However, I believe that being part of the university board is more than lobbying for own topics.

Therefore I try to give you a glimpse of my experiences, opinions and ideas on where UiB and society should head to.

Environment:
I support every effort to reduce green house gases and make UiB more sustainable. Online meetings can work pretty well in established environments. I am for cutting down on travels, but our focus should be more on fostering environmental friendly transportation, even if the travel takes longer and is more expensive. Building up new collaborations and networks e.g. on a symposium is much easier while meeting in person.

University democracy:
Democracy should be more than just an election. Tasks, decisions, results should be more transparent and people more involved, at least they should be properly informed. This would increase interest and participation.

Education at UiB:
I was quite surprised to watch expensively produced movies that should attract students to UiB. I don’t think that a university should be part of an event culture. As university we should fascinate with science, nature, knowledge instead of trying to entertain students. A university should teach students to motivate themselves and help to find this intrinsic motivation for a subject that is needed for research and a satisfying life. As society we need educated people that are willing to find new paths and not only conveniently follow established ones.

About me:
I am German and studied Physics at the University of Heidelberg in Germany. I started my PhD in April 2020 at UiB. My research interest is applied science that has a direct, problem solving value to society. In particular I want to contribute to a sustainable energy production. I am mainly doing research on renewable energies, photovoltaic (solar cells), hydrovoltaic (rain cells) and currently wind power in my PhD project. Here I try to find a new coating against erosion that wind turbine blades are suffering from. This shall help to move wind power plants from on-shore to off-shore, where weather conditions are in general harsher.

My work is strongly connected to my private motivation to enjoy and preserve nature. I am convinced that being outside and experiencing nature is the best way of developing awareness for it. I am active tour leader in BSI friluft and Bergen Klatreklubb.