Today we are pleased to welcome Dipl. Chem. Manuela Schulz, Product Manager at the VDI Wissensforum. Ms. Schulz has more than two decades of experience in the conception and development of events in the fields of environmental, energy, chemical and safety technology.

In today's interview, we will talk to Ms. Schulz about the activities of the VDI Knowledge Forum, as well as get a detailed insight into the planned events in the field of wastewater and water for the current year. We will also explore what benefits these events offer to the engineering community and other stakeholders.

Ms. Schulz, thank you very much for taking the time.

Introduction and background

Can you start by briefly introducing yourself and outlining your main tasks and responsibilities as Product Manager at the VDI Wissensforum?

I studied chemistry and worked for 10 years in various areas of environmental technology. I have been working as a product manager at the VDI Wissensforum since 2002. Here I design training and networking events with a focus on environmental and energy technology.

My main tasks are searching for new topics and developing event programs. In order to find suitable event leaders and speakers, communication and exchange with our target group and within my network is extremely important

About the VDI

For those who don't know the VDI, could you briefly explain what the VDI is and what role it plays in the engineering world?

With around 130,000 members, the VDI - Association of German Engineers is the largest technical and scientific association in Germany. For more than 165 years, it has been providing important impetus for new technologies and technical solutions, thus ensuring a better quality of life, a better environment and greater prosperity.

We speak for engineers and technology and thus actively help shape the future. Every year, over 12,000 volunteer experts work on the latest findings to promote our technology location. As the third-largest technical standard setter, the VDI is a partner for German industry and science.

What role do the events and seminars play in terms of knowledge transfer and exchange in the specialist areas mentioned?

Our events focus on practical relevance. We want to bring together specialists and managers in the specialist areas and encourage the exchange of experience with presentations on best practice examples. The dialog between plant operators, planners, service providers, authorities and science is important to us,

Events in the waste water and water sector

What other events in the field of wastewater and water is the VDI planning this year?

The VDI Conference on Sewage Sludge Treatment will take place in Wolfsburg from September 11-12, 2024. Seminars on industrial water management, water law (WGHG, AwSV), the basics of wastewater treatment, chem. - phys. Wastewater treatment and the activated sludge process will also be held this year.

Which target groups are these events intended for and what benefits do they bring them?

The conference will focus on the exchange of experience on the optimization of sludge stabilization and dewatering, experience with the thermal utilization of sewage sludge and, of course, practical reports on phosphorus recovery. The target group is of course the operators of sewage treatment plants as well as engineering offices and representatives of the authorities.

The seminars are aimed at specialists and managers from the water/wastewater sector and serve to impart knowledge.

Concluding thoughts

Is there anything else you would like to say about the work of the VDI Wissensforum or the importance of events in the field of wastewater and water?

The VDI Wissensforum has been a partner in continuing education for engineers and technical specialists and managers since 1957. In over 2,600 congresses, conferences, technical forums, courses and seminars every year, we cover almost every technical discipline, and our portfolio is rounded off by the area of soft skills and management. In total, over 37,000 participants receive further training every year with the help of our courses.

Our conferences on the optimization of industrial wastewater treatment plants and sewage sludge treatment are well-attended networking events with a diverse and practice-oriented range of presentations, a plant tour and ideal opportunities for networking. The subject area of water/wastewater is to be further expanded in the coming years

Thank you very much, Ms. Schulz, for the interesting insights and your time. Thank you also for the wonderful organization of the conferences, the timely selection of topics and the high quality of the presentations. We look forward to the upcoming events.

To the VDI Knowledge Forum

If you would like to find out more about upcoming events and seminars, please visit the VDI Wissensforum website!

VDI Knowledge Forum