"Water is a topic of the present and the future, highly relevant to society and closely linked to the political framework for action," emphasises Prof. Dr.-Ing. He has been a professor at Landshut University of Applied Sciences since the winter semester 2024/25 and has been appointed to the Faculty of Mechanical and Civil Engineering for the Department of Hydraulic Engineering and Urban Water Management. He continues: "Water is in the news almost every day, either because of its quantity - concerning floods, heavy rainfall or drought - or because of its quality, which is reflected in the pollution and protection of water resources or water quality - it is the basis of all life. Dealing with it responsibly is one of the greatest challenges of our time. The father of three wants to give students the opportunity to shape a sustainable and liveable future.
The key to success: combining theoretical and practical experience
He endeavours to achieve this through a solid basic engineering education for students at Landshut University of Applied Sciences, as well as excursions and internships in cooperation with companies: "Combining theory and practice is the key to training experts who are able to shape the future of our water supply and infrastructure". Hydraulic engineering and urban water management are disciplines that have a direct impact on everyday life and the environment. For this reason, Landshut University of Applied Sciences is planning to set up a water laboratory during the winter semester, which will be realised with the help of several experimental setups, for example a flow channel that illustrates the basic principles of hydrodynamics. The project will help students to immediately apply their theoretical knowledge and better understand interrelationships. University President Prof. Dr Fritz Pörnbacher is in favour of this: "A new water laboratory for the Faculty of Mechanical and Civil Engineering opens up new opportunities for our students to engage with the subject matter on a practical level and experience research in a variety of ways. After all, this is a high priority at Landshut University of Applied Sciences. It is the foundation for our excellent teaching and has a lasting influence on industry and society."
Winter's career: Opening doors and driving innovation with a broad network
Prof Winter brings a broad network of different stakeholders from local authorities, municipal companies and engineering firms to the university through his previous professional stations: From 2022, he headed sales for Barthauer Software GmbH and has also worked as an account manager in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) since 2016, advising and supporting customers in the field of urban water management.
Prior to this, he was Team Leader Hydroinformatics at Dorsch International Consultants in Munich from 2012 to 2016, where he was responsible for project management with a focus on "numerical modelling" and technical support in all engineering-related tasks in the fields of flood protection, hydraulics and hydrology, water balance modelling and urban water management.
Winter wrote his dissertation on the effects of agricultural cultivation methods on runoff formation and concentration on arable land against the backdrop of land use and climate change at the University of the Federal Armed Forces in Munich. During this time, he worked as a research assistant at the Institute of Hydraulics, planning and independently organising courses and supervising numerous bachelor's and master's theses.
His multifaceted career, together with numerous contacts, offers students the opportunity to participate in real projects that promise lasting and efficient innovations for global challenges.
Photo: Landshut University of Applied Sciences / Kerstin Isabella Marx
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