What was your most formative event at university?

That was perhaps my first television appearances. In 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico and I had to explain again and again on all channels and in all formats how such a catastrophe could happen. I learnt a lot in the process - and I became known as an expert in deep drilling technology. I often benefited from this later on.

What three emojis would you use to describe your time at TUBAF?

🤘🏻 The "Pommesgabel" of rockers, because I often rocked out at student parties with my bands "Jung und Reich", "Combo Caracho" and "Cramer Band".

🙃 Then maybe the happy smiley, which is upside down, because my job as the only deep drilling technology professor in Germany was the best in the world.

🤗 Well... and then there's the hug smiley. I really like being in Freiberg and will continue to stay here.

How many dissertations have you read?

I've read around 20 dissertations thoroughly because I had to write expert reports on them. However, I often at least skimmed through them because, as Dean of the Faculty of Geosciences, Geotechnical Engineering and Mining, I felt I had to lead "countless" doctoral defences.
Writing a review sometimes takes several weeks, you have to deal with the topic and the content in great detail.

Do you have a favourite place on campus? 

The outdoor space in front of Neue Mensa. I often performed there with my bands and realised how great it is to work at a small university where there is no fear of contact between students, lecturers and staff.

Which lab did you spend the most time in?

In my data transmission test rig at our deep drilling institute. The facility is unique in the world; I don't know of any other university that has a test rig that can simulate and investigate data transmission in kilometre-long drill strings.

You have been running your YouTube channel "Fun with deep drilling technology" for several years. What's more fun - being a Youtuber or a professor?

There's no either/or! As a professor, I have to teach material in such a way that every student understands it. We have the same concept with "Fun with deep drilling technology", but it's actually even more difficult here. Everyone should be able to understand every episode without prior knowledge, every topic should be covered in 4 minutes. When you try to do that, you realise how demanding it is! Through the 100 episodes of "Fun with Deep Drilling Technology", I have learnt to explain many complex relationships very simply. That also benefits me a lot as a professor.

What wouldn't you recommend to your successor?

I told him that the students are our most important "customers". Projects and publications are also very important, but first and foremost we have to train young people for very specialised professions.

What specialist literature do students need to have read in your subject?

My brand new book "Tiefbohrtechnik", which was published by Springer Verlag in the last week of my active service at the university. It's quite thick and weighs over 1 kg.

As a professor, you have of course published a lot, including a children's book on geothermal energy and fossil fuels. Why is it important to communicate science in a way that is easy to understand?

Because deep drilling technology is a specialised field that you learn practically nothing about at school. And what you don't know, you don't want to study. That's why, unfortunately, we have chronically fewer graduates than job offers.

If you were to decide again today: Which degree programme at TUBAF would you choose?

I didn't study at TUBAF myself. But if I wanted to study again, I would choose an engineering programme. Engineers are in demand everywhere. Being an engineer is incredibly varied and exciting.