From Cologne to Magdeburg: Professor about her journey to unity

From Cologne to Magdeburg: Professor about her journey to unity

The reunification of Germany in 1990 was a formative experience for many. This was also the case for Gilian Gerke from Cologne, who was then completing her training as a pharmaceutical-technical assistant in Burscheid. The professor at Magdeburg-Stendal University has her own personal story full of memories and experiences that remind her of the changes in Germany.

One of her most impressive memories is a caricature in the Kölner Stadtanzeiger that showed Erich Honecker at the light switch with the ironic note: “GDR – The last one turns off the light”. For Gerke, the image symbolizes the transformative events surrounding the fall of the Wall and the subsequent reunification. After working in a pharmacy in Aachen, she sought an academic career. “I wanted to do something meaningful and sustainable,” said Gerke, who ultimately decided to study engineering with a focus on waste management.

Professional experiences and the move to Magdeburg

After completing her doctorate and working at the Green Dot, where she made many professional contacts in East Germany, moving to Magdeburg was a rather coincidental step. “I only knew the city from a rowing-hiking meeting,” she remembers. In October 2012 she accepted a professorship in Magdeburg. Getting started in the new environment wasn't easy for her, as the different mentality between North Germans and Cologne residents posed a challenge for her.

Despite the initial difficulties, Gerke now feels comfortable in Magdeburg and appreciates the positive development of the city. She is particularly interested in the university campus and local projects. She also volunteered as a palliative care provider for the Pfeiffer Foundations. “But I continue to see differences in structure and salaries between East and West,” she emphasizes. Gerke would like to see more internationality and interdisciplinarity at her university.

Commitment to waste management

Gilian's passion for waste management extends beyond her teaching activities. Together with her colleague Jan Brusher, who is a professor of media research, she runs the podcast “Das WaschGut”. Their goal is to spread knowledge about waste and recycling. “I wanted to bring my knowledge to people and asked Jan if he would like to take part,” she explains. The podcast is produced in the studio of the campus radio h2radio at Magdeburg-Stendal University. The sound design is by Mathies Kölzer, a recent journalism graduate who also contributed jingles for the radio.

The podcast is open to suggestions, criticism and topic suggestions from listeners. At the end of each episode, a viewer question is answered, which further promotes exchange and interest. Listeners can make inquiries at post@dasabfallgut.de submit.

Gilian Gerke sees the discussion about waste not only as a technical but also as a cultural issue: “Waste is a mirror of culture.” She devotes a lot of passion to the topic and conveys exciting information about sustainability and recycling - an area that is very popular these days.

For more information about Gilian Gerke and her work, please visit People's voice and the waste goods.