Margot Ruschitzka new honorary doctor at Uppsala University
Margot Ruschitzka appreciates the cooperation with the Department of Electrical Engineering: "Uppsala University has impressed me with its open-minded and supportive attitude, which reflects the spirit of cooperation and scientific progress that is cultivated at the University.”
Hello, Margot Ruschitzka, Professor of Engineering Mathematics and Information Technology at Technische Hochschule Köln, who has received an honorary doctorate at the Faculty of Science and Technology.
Congratulations on being awarded an honorary doctorate - what does it mean to you?
“Thank you very much! It is a great recognition to be awarded an honorary doctorate at such a prestigious university as Uppsala, and a great recognition of my humble contributions to science and an acknowledgement of the profound collaboration with the University.”
What has your collaboration with Uppsala University been like?
“I met Mats Leijon (Uppsala Professor of Electricity, ed.note) in Gothenburg in 2019 and it has since developed into a productive collaboration. An important milestone was when we got the opportunity to enrol PhD students from TH Köln at the Division of Electricity at Uppsala University. Last spring, the first enrolled doctoral student finished his degree. I have also been involved as a reviewer in application processes at the Department of Electrical Engineering.”
You have a study background in both mathematics and information technology but with a research focus in mechanical engineering. What got you interested in a research area of a more applied nature?
“While at university in Aachen, I was involved in gliding, which made me interested in aerodynamic and technical aspects. A friend recommended me to apply to the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, where I later obtained my PhD. There I did calculations and simulations for industry in theoretical and practical projects, which taught me more and more about what it was like to work in industry in product development.”
Why have you become engaged in industry-society-academia collaborations?
“I have always endeavored to strike a balance between teaching, research and consulting for industry. These three areas learn from each other, use each other. My motivation is to look for new job opportunities for young engineers and learn about the needs of industry. At the same time, I work on research questions that can contribute to innovative and sustainable product development.”
Are there any achievements you are particularly proud of?
“I am particularly proud that I have been able to contribute to the collaboration with Uppsala University. In Sweden there is a tradition of individual mentoring and support during the doctoral programme that we do not have in Germany. Experiencing this has inspired and motivated my doctoral students.”
Anneli Björkman
From the motivation:
"Margot Ruschitzka has been and is active in many different societal aspects of engineering. These include economic aspects for various organisations, as well as for the opportunities for women in the German engineering industry and in academia. For one and a half PhD cycles, Margot Ruschitzka has been driving an interesting, unique collaboration between the University of Cologne, its CAD-CAM centre and Uppsala University's Department of Electrical Engineering. Historically, the University of Cologne is a university of applied sciences without the right to award doctoral degrees. Despite this, Margot Ruschitzka has chosen to allow her doctoral students to be enrolled at Uppsala University and the Electrical Engineering programme. These have been and are fully funded by the collaborating industry and government in Germany."