#DigiWomenKA: Katharina Glock

Female role models are important. They show us opportunities, help us to define our own goals and we can learn from their experiences. In our blog series #DigiWomenKA, Katharina Iyen meets one such role model from the Karlsruhe digital sector once a month to find out more about them, their experiences and their commitment. Today she talks to Dr.-Ing. Katharina Glock, Head of the Information Process Engineering research department at the FZI | Research Center for Information Technology in Karlsruhe.

I meet Katharina Glock on a sunny day at the FZI | Research Center for Information Technology in the eastern part of Karlsruhe. She picks me up in the foyer and we are immediately on a first-name basis. Since March 2022, Katharina Glock has headed the Information Process Engineering research department together with Dr. Fabian Rigoll. There she deals with data-driven decision-making in various domains, from logistics to civil protection. She researches how data can be used to make better decisions, optimize technologies and design efficient logistics systems. Her focus is not only on theoretical research, but above all on application in the real world.

Expanding boundaries and challenging conventional ways of thinking

Katharina Glock’s work at the FZI enables her to put theoretical concepts into practice and thus make a substantial contribution to the further development of technologies. “My main focus is on the optimization and efficient design of logistics systems,” she explains. She is driven by her fascination with data and its utilization: “I am particularly interested in how we can integrate robotic systems into areas such as intralogistics in a meaningful way.”

The industrial engineer with a focus on computer science emphasizes that success in computer science depends not only on technical know-how, but also on the ability to think outside the box. “Our industry is about pushing boundaries and challenging conventional ways of thinking,” adds Glock. “Our goal should be to shape technology so that it serves society and improves everyone’s lives.” As a computer scientist at the FZI, she finds herself at the interface between technical expertise and innovative application. “Computer science is more than just code; it’s about how we use technology to tackle real-world challenges,” explains the researcher.

In this context, it is increasingly striving to publish more results as open source software. This is done in particular to make funded research results accessible to the public. “We have colleagues who are doing this very successfully, and I think we should strive to do this more in general,” emphasizes the Head of Research.

For the FZI division manager, innovation in technology means always remaining curious and being prepared to explore new avenues. Nevertheless, she doesn’t seem to want to reach for the stars: “I’m more of a down-to-earth type and prefer to focus on continuous improvement and achieving realistic goals for the coming years.” With her down-to-earth approach, however, her goal is no less than to have a positive impact on the world through her work – be it in the field of disaster prevention, resource efficiency in the healthcare sector or in traditional logistics.

Intelligent linking of different disciplines

Her current professional research focuses on the question of how data can be used to make better decisions. She deals with the optimization of systems, in particular the meaningful integration of robotic systems in logistics. “I see my role as constantly pushing the boundaries of what is technically possible,” she explains. Her desire is to drive both technical and social innovation through her work in computer science: “The future of computer science lies in the intelligent linking of different disciplines and I would like to contribute to strengthening and expanding these connections.”

She sees it as an important task to take computer science and technology out of the academic ivory tower and make it more widely accessible. “It is crucial that we break down the complexity of computer science and robotics and make it understandable and appealing to the general public,” she emphasizes. Glock is convinced that the key to success lies in collaboration between technicians, communication experts and the general public. “We need to build bridges between the technical world and people’s everyday lives in order to create real innovation.”

Early inspiration from physics and mathematics

Katharina Glock was born and raised in East Westphalia-Lippe, where she discovered her interest in mathematics and physics at an early age. A passion that expanded over time to include computer science. “In my school days, I was fascinated by mathematics and physics, which ultimately led me to computer science,” Glock recalled in our interview. Her parents, who both worked in business, supported her on her path and encouraged her interest in the sciences. “My childhood in East Westphalia-Lippe gave me a solid background. It was definitely the fascination for mathematics and physics that drove me,” reports Glock.

After high school, her path led her to Karlsruhe, where she completed her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in industrial engineering at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). Her academic journey took her from there to the Institut Polytechnique de Grenoble and to research in the field of Information Process Engineering (IPE). In 2020, Glock received her doctorate summa cum laude on the topic of “Emergency rapid mapping with drones”. Her doctorate deals with the optimization of information retrieval using drone technology. “Studying in Karlsruhe opened my eyes to the world of computer science,” she explains. “I was particularly impressed by the diversity and freedom at the university and the close links between science and business in the region.”

Pulling together

She has long since arrived in Karlsruhe. For her, the region is characterized by its high density of technology-oriented institutions and companies. “Karlsruhe offers a practical and diverse environment,” she reports. However, the fan-shaped city still has some catching up to do as far as women in STEM are concerned. “The industrial engineering course is comparatively female-heavy,” she explains. However, the focus here is less on computer science and more on economics. Nevertheless, she also sees potential for development, particularly in the research areas of machine learning and algorithms, which are still dominated by men. “The coronavirus pandemic has also slowed down some networks for women, which in my view needs to be significantly boosted again more quickly,” she adds. Especially because there are still fewer women taking up technology and IT-related courses. “It is therefore very important to get women interested in these fields at school and give them the opportunities they need.” Networking women in the IT sector is therefore an important step towards making better use of the potential of female talent.

However, this also applies to entering and remaining in the profession. As a division manager in IT, she faces challenges with determination and self-confidence: “In my career, I have learned that it’s not just about technical competence, but also about how to assert yourself in a male-dominated field and how to communicate,” she says. She greatly appreciates the supportive environment at the FZI and KIT, but also points out the need to actively address inequalities in the industry. “It is crucial that we women in technology strengthen each other and overcome inequalities together,” emphasizes Glock.

Contact Katharina Glock
Dr.-Ing. Katharina Glock on LinkedIn: https://de.linkedin.com/in/katharina-glock
FZI Website: https://www.fzi.de/team/katharina-glock/