Professional Interests

Environmental physics, plant ecophysiology, agronomy, water management. Interrelations between these areas and assessing options for applying inter-disciplinary methods. System analysis.

Development and testing of computer simulation models for characterizing plant responses to the environment: Weather dynamics, soil water and nitrogen availability in particular.

Member in Professional Organizations

Tropical Farmers Association (since 1989)

Council for Agricultural Research in the Tropics and Subtropics (since 1996)

Australian Society of Plant Scientists (since 2004)

German Society of Agronomy (since 2006)

Private Interests

We are spending joyful times in our family and this is my main off-time activity.

I also like listening or playing music, particularly from French, Russian and Scandinavian composers. Brazilian music and Jazz music are another interest. I am a flute player and was a member of the ensemble of the Ruhrfestspiele Recklinghausen during 1981 theater season.

Moderate triathlon training is my sport activity. Long swims or runs are compensating for sitting many hours in front of computers.

Literature on the cognitive basis of science and cultural-societal issues is another interest. I also often study politics and history of the Middle-East. Economical aspects of world food production are another interest.

I am a protestant christian and was a member of the church council at Witzenhausen while studying at this town. I particularily contributed in the areas of church music and youth affairs during this time. Jolanta Zochovska from Goettingen was my flute teacher during this time.