Face of the LIB: Thorsten Hermann

Mr Hermann, you work in IT at the LIB. What brought you to a scientific research institute?

It was a mixture of several reasons. On the one hand, I wanted to make a career change. Secondly, my wife was already working at the LIB site in Bonn. And then there is my interest in the natural sciences: I once studied biology myself for two semesters - it never quite let go of me. When the job was advertised here, everything suddenly fell into place: my technical background, my interest in nature and science and the opportunity for a new career start. That was almost eight years ago.

Why did you decide to study biology back then?

I was fascinated by forensic biology. I wanted to be like the second Mark Benecke - I read almost all of his books and attended his events. At that time, however, there was no separate degree programme for forensic biology. You had to take the diversions via entomology, i.e. entomology. That wasn't quite my path. I cancelled my studies, but my connection to nature has remained - not least through fishing, which I have been doing for around 30 years. In general, I realise how difficult the career path of a biologist is. Many struggle to find permanent positions and often have no long-term job security.

Is there a nature experience that has had a particular impact on you?

Yes, my fishing club has an old gravel pit near Sinzig on the Rhine. Gravel used to be mined there industrially. Mining ended in the 1980s and the area was renaturalised - trees were planted and fish were introduced. Today it is a species-rich habitat with an impressive variety of animals and plants. It is always fascinating for me to see how such a barren, industrialised place can be transformed back into a natural paradise in just a few decades.

Which fish species are you particularly fond of?

I find large, imposing species very exciting - the arapaima from South America, for example, one of the largest freshwater fish in the world, or the European catfish, which reaches considerable sizes in this country. In terms of flavour, salmon-like fish such as trout or salmon are my favourites. But I don't have a favourite fish.

What aspect of your job do you particularly enjoy?

In general, I like the interaction with all the different people here at the LIB. No two days are the same and there are always challenges, at all levels of IT.
From the classic "I deleted the internet" to really complex issues.
I feel most at home in network technology. If data doesn't arrive somewhere, I go looking for clues - step by step, until I find the cause. For me, it's a bit like forensics: like a criminal investigation, but with data packets instead of evidence. Of course, there are also days when an error stubbornly persists, but it's precisely these challenges that make it so appealing. When you solve the problem at the end, it's always a good feeling.

How do you experience the collaboration between IT and science at the LIB?

It works extremely well with colleagues who are IT-savvy themselves - for example with the HPC unit or biodiversity informatics. It's sometimes more difficult with people who only see IT as a tool and don't understand it in depth. Particularly when it comes to IT security, we are sometimes perceived as a brake on scientific work. However, our aim is exactly the opposite: we want to prevent something from happening, as has unfortunately already been the case with other museums that have fallen victim to cyber attacks. Our aim is to protect research and safeguard its work in the long term. What is always important when working together is that we all bring different skills to the LIB and we work best together when everyone can contribute their strengths and appreciates each other's expertise.

What do you see as the biggest challenges for IT in the coming years?

For me, there are two main issues. Firstly, we need modern, well-equipped buildings in Bonn and Hamburg that are also ideally suited for the IT infrastructure. We are currently planning a move in Bonn to our new building in the Poppelsdorf district and of course hope that a suitable location for the new Natural History Museum in Hamburg will also be found soon. We are currently working at the limits of our capacity in Bonn - in terms of power supply, emergency power and cooling. On the other hand, IT security remains an ongoing issue. Attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated, not least due to the use of AI. There is no such thing as 100% security, but we can do everything we can to minimise risks - from robust backup strategies to clear security guidelines.

Do you see AI more as an opportunity or a risk?

Both. AI can help us speed up processes, analyse data or create scripts, all in much less time than just a few years ago. At the same time, it brings with it new risks - for example in the area of data protection or through potential security gaps. We have to manage its use well and ensure that it benefits the LIB without making us vulnerable.

Would you recommend a career in IT to young people today?

IT is exciting because the field is constantly changing and I learn something new every day. This makes the job varied, but also challenging - you have to be prepared to stay on the ball at all times. In the past, I would have said: "Absolutely do it!" Today I say: "It depends on whether you like this dynamic and are prepared to work evenings or nights if necessary." In the private sector, very long working days are often normal and the end of the working day is not always predictable. Of course, the public sector offers somewhat more favourable working hours, but salary and promotion opportunities are rather limited. I would recommend anyone with an interest in IT to take a look at everyday working life in an internship.

If you could make your career choice again - would you do anything differently?

Perhaps I would have specialised more, for example in IT forensics. Or I would have learnt a trade - such as an electrician. We have a house and I do a lot of the work myself, which I enjoy and is a good balance to working at a desk. Tradespeople are needed today more than ever and are also being paid fairly again.

Is there anything in the museum that particularly inspires you?

The rainforest exhibition in Bonn is impressive - because of the animals on display, but also because of the detailed work that goes into it. The live fish in the basement are of course also great to see. But I am even more fascinated by the collection rooms that visitors don't normally see: Millions of butterflies, entire rooms full of taxidermied mammals. There is something awe-inspiring about this concentrated collection of natural history.

After graduating from high school in 2005,Thorsten Hermann began studying biology at the Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences, which he completed after two semesters in favour of an IT apprenticeship. He then completed an apprenticeship as an IT specialist for system integration. After working in the private sector, he joined LIB as a system administrator in 2017. He has been Deputy Head of the IT department at LIB in Bonn since April 2021.