Diplom-Ingenieur Renke Schütte is IT Coordinator at School V and heads the "Laboratory Supply" and "Presentation Technology" departments within the Technical-Scientific Infrastructure operating unit. A colourful portfolio of tasks that, unlike his hobby, doesn't let him take off.
You are head of the laboratory supply department. Which product is delivered the most?
Nitrile protective gloves. We use tens of thousands of them every year - from thin examination gloves to very strong acid gloves.
What brought you to the University of Oldenburg?
My first job was at what was then the State Office for Water and Waste in Brake, where I monitored companies in the field of hazardous waste treatment and hazardous substance disposal. As I soon developed an interest in IT, I moved to the Lower Saxony Water Research Service. Among other things, I accompanied the voyages of the measuring ship and wrote IT measuring programmes to record and evaluate the measurement data. Later, I took over the management of the IT department at the Lower Saxony State Office for Water Management, Coastal Defence and Nature Conservation in Brake/Oldenburg. In 2005, I moved to the university as IT coordinator and have remained there to this day.
What is your work about?
As IT Coordinator, I liaise between the IT officers in School V and the central IT services. I clarify the needs of the various departments and organise and provide support in the event of IT problems. As Head of Presentation Technology, I take care of procurements and also coordinate and develop our portfolio. As Head of Central Laboratory Supply, I take care of the procurement of "bulk goods" of chemicals, gases and laboratory supplies required by several working groups and laboratories, as well as the correct disposal of hazardous waste.
IT, presentation technology and laboratory supplies. That sounds like a colourful mix...
Due to my "colourful history", I have expertise in all three areas. I also have excellent colleagues who I can rely on. A head of department doesn't have to know everything down to the last detail. There are experts in the team for that.
You are also a keen amateur pilot. What can you learn from flying?
Admittedly: It's a somewhat "off the wall" hobby, in the truest sense of the word (laughs). One thing you can learn is precision. Both during the pre-flight check and during the flight itself, a pilot has to be very precise and follow all the rules and instructions, otherwise it can end badly. Another point is to prioritise. No matter what else is going on in or with the aircraft: the most important thing is to fly the aircraft. You can make radio calls or search for errors when you have the aircraft under control. Applied to professional life, this means that even when things get stressful, you have to keep calm, prioritise, do the most important things first, put unimportant things to one side for the time being and not try to do everything at the same time. On the other hand, you learn to switch off, to paraphrase Reinhard Mey's song "Über den Wolken": "As soon as I push the aeroplane out of the hangar, my head is free of all the hassle and everyday problems.
What do you like about the University of Oldenburg?
The great variety of subjects, activities and people. You always learn something new here. And the fact that I can cycle to work and no longer have to spend a third of my working time in the car. I like that.
Interview: Henning Kulbarsch
