Dr. Katrin Pollmann is Head of the Biotechnology Department at the Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology/HZDR. As a dedicated researcher she is fascinated by interdisciplinary collaborations, seizing every chance to blaze a trail in environmental protection. As an ambassador of Biotechnologies in metal recovery she has met the (conservative) "carry on as before” quote of the mining industry, yet she clearly chooses to opt for the alternative: carry on as never before.
Q.: The mining-metallurgical sector is a particularly demanding professional area with a profile that supports modern technological trends yet, identified more by its conservative structure in terms of administration and operations. How/why did you choose this sector as a career path?
Katrin Pollmann: I originally did my PhD in environmental microbiology and worked on biodegradation. After my doctorate, I joined my research institution as a postdoc in 2002 and started investigating the interaction of metals with microorganisms and biomolecules. I also became increasingly interested in technical applications. As leader of a junior research group, I was able to follow up on ideas in the field of nanobiotechnology.
When the Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology was founded in 2011, it was a unique opportunity for me to bring my research ideas to the new institute and develop biotechnological applications for metal recovery. I am particularly fascinated by the interdisciplinary work and the collaboration with colleagues from the geosciences, engineering and chemistry.
Biotechnology has so far only been used to a limited extent in the mining and recycling sectors, but I recognise the great potential that this field offers for biotechnologies. The environmentally friendly and efficient extraction of metals is essential for the sustainability of current and future technologies. I think biotechnologies can contribute to this. This combines various key technologies.
Q.: Tell us a little about your experience as a professional in the mining sector. What challenge(s) have you encountered, hitherto, in your work environment?
Katrin Pollmann: The use of biotechnologies in the mining sector is very exotic, but highly innovative. Biotechnology such as bioleaching is used industrially for the extraction of metals from sulphide ores. Beyond that, however, biotechnologies are actually rarely used.
However, biotechnologies can be used to design and produce many bioreagents in an environmentally friendly way, which can be used in mining as biodegradable non-toxic chemicals. These include, for example, metal-binding microbially produced molecules such as siderophores, organic acids or specially designed peptides. These reagents are often criticised for being too expensive, too inefficient, taking too long to develop, etc.
Highly innovative developments in particular, such as those we see in the biotechnological field, require a great deal of basic research and long development times. However, this applies to many technological innovations until they achieve a breakthrough. The first sequencing of the human genome took around 15 years and cost around 3 billion dollars. In the meantime, this has become a routine task. So you should not just start with the initial cost of innovation.
In general, it is not easy to introduce new ideas in a very traditional and conservative field such as the raw materials industry, especially as a woman in a male-dominated sector. However, I have the impression that the realisation that innovation is necessary in all areas is gradually becoming established. Current challenges cannot be met by just «carrying on as before». Meanwhile, I have many international contacts with women, which was different a few years ago.
It is not easy to introduce new ideas in a very traditional and conservative field such as the raw materials industry, especially as a woman in a male-dominated sector.
Q.: What we acknowledge and welcome in recent years, is an attempt of the mining industry to set up a direct and meaningful communication channel with the modern societies that are more aware of the sector's pros and cons. In this context, albeit at a gradual pace, women are entrusted with executive level jobs. What are your thoughts about inclusion and diversity in the mining environment?
Katrin Pollmann: Inclusion and diversity are important everywhere in every sector. Women are underrepresented in the mining sector in particular, but also other social groups. However, the inclusion of different social groups is essential for the social acceptance of mining. Good communication is also essential. Paying attention to diversity offers a good basis for taking different interests into account. Diversity also enriches technological developments with new ideas and ways of thinking. Without diversity, you are stewing in your own juice, which not only restricts your perspective and makes you inflexible, but is also boring.
Diversity is extremely enriching. I have personally observed that the way we communicate is significantly improved by a balanced gender distribution. Interactions are more respectful, constructive, efficient, results-orientated, less ego-driven and career-orientated. It is also less stressful and more pleasant. This impression was confirmed to me by both women and men. I definitely have the impression that this diversity is indeed increasingly perceived as an enrichment and is leading to more women being actively involved in decision-making processes. This development must be continued.
Diversity is indeed increasingly perceived as an enrichment and is leading to more women being actively involved in decision-making processes. This development must be continued.
Q.: What are the «critical raw materials» for a woman in this sector to maintain the difficult but essential work-life balance?
Katrin Pollmann: It is fundamentally important for women, but also increasingly for men, to be able to balance family and career. In my own research environment, this is now well supported. In my region, there are enough options for full-day childcare. There are flexible working hours, options for working from home and opportunities to reduce excess hours. Business trips are certainly always a challenge. Participation via video conference and agreements within the team are one possibility here.
In the research sector, most positions are temporary. Women who become pregnant need a perspective for their return after parental leave. In my own team, we have been able to support this well so far. The different stages of life must also be taken into account. Young doctoral students have different experiences and needs than older employees, who have a greater range of experience but are no longer quite as flexible.
I myself worked a few hours a week during my own one-year parental leave. That was ideal for me to keep in touch. Such individual solutions must be supported by the employer. Of course, your career also needs to be supported by your partner in your private life. Promoting women therefore also means encouraging men to take over family and care responsibilities.
A woman's career needs to be supported by the partner in private life. Promoting women therefore also means encouraging men to take over family and care responsibilities.
SHORT BIO
Dr Katrin Pollmann holds a Diplom in Biology from Osnabrück University, PhD from TU Braunschweig and Postdoc with focus on Microbiology and Environmental Microbiology. Since 2002, she studies interactions of microorganisms and biocompounds with metals and since 2011 she is the leader of the Biotechnology group at the Helmholtz-Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology (HZDR). Dr. Pollmann's research work focuses in the development of bio-based approaches for the metal recovery from diverse primary and secondary resources (ores, mining residues, waste products, industrial waters, mining waters), research in the fields of bioleaching, biosorption, bioflotation, development of metal binding biomolecules and its use for material design. Her team comprises 24 scientists, PhD students and technicians.
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