Prof. Dr Volker Bucher stands next to a demonstration mannequin fitted with various active implants, including developments from his own projects – such as a chip that enables blind people to see.
"Spotlight on profs": Prof. Dr. Volker Bucher of Furtwangen University talks about reality and teamwork
The conversation with Prof. Dr. Volker Bucher begins with a brief tour of the Rottweil Research Center at Furtwangen University (HFU). Alongside his role as Professor of Surface Technology on the Schwenningen campus, Bucher has overseen the development of the facility. As its director, he remains responsible for its expansion and refurbishment. A cleanroom, donated by KLS Martin, is currently under construction, whilst in another part of the building old computers are being cleared out to make way for new equipment. “I’m not only interested in the depth of physics, but I’m also fascinated by its practical and technical application. I like to get stuck in myself,” says Bucher. He even took it upon himself to repair one of the many machines at the research centre by rewiring it.
It all began with a degree in physics. “I had a really good physics teacher at school, and it’s because of him that I chose to study this,” recalls Bucher. He initially studied in Stuttgart, but after his preparatory studies he moved to Tübingen – to focus on the practical side of things by studying Applied Physics. “In applied physics, there’s also a philosophical aspect that I wanted to understand − What actually is reality?” explains Bucher, adding, “There is a reality, and it can be shaped.” For him, the Rottweil Research Center provides the proof.
“Somehow I managed to inspire my team to such an extent that everything here was able to develop as it has. There were also many coincidences along the way – though I understand the term to mean that something simply falls into one’s lap. Without these coincidences, the centre would never have come into being,” says Bucher.
In 2014, Bucher submitted a proposal for a Master’s programme in ‘Micromedical Technology’ in response to a call for proposals from the state of Baden-Württemberg and received funding to get the project off the ground. “A master’s programme without research makes no sense, so we had to find premises for it,” recalls Bucher. By chance, he discovered the derelict site of a former paint manufacturing company in his home town of Rottweil. “We were able to rent the premises, complete with laboratory equipment, and open the research centre in 2016; it has been growing steadily ever since,” says Bucher. The centre also regularly hosts school classes for research-oriented work experience placements. This allows Bucher and his team to showcase the role of a researcher and inspire an interest in science.
Bucher’s path to the HFU was a gradual one. Whilst working on his PhD, Bucher was based at the Institute of Natural Sciences and Medicine (NMI) at the University of Tübingen. After holding a number of other positions, including a role in technical sales at Plasma Electronic GmbH, he eventually became group leader for micromedicine and surface technology at the NMI. “The NMI’s aim was to forge closer links with the medical technology cluster. So I spent 50% of my time at the NMI and the other half as a professor at what was then the new HFU campus in Tuttlingen,” says the scientist. In 2014, he took up a full-time post as Professor of Surface Technology on the Schwenningen campus. “A major motivation for my move from industry was the flexibility and freedom to plan my own schedule again. There are days when you’re more creative, and I can now decide for myself when I do what,” says Bucher happily. “I try to pass that on to my staff too; I give them tasks and they can work on them however suits them best. If they need support, I’m there.” Daily checks would not only go against Bucher’s management style, but would also be difficult to implement, as he frequently moves between sites and enjoys travelling a great deal.
“Without my team, I’d be nothing. For example, I wouldn’t be able to carry out any projects,” notes Bucher. And there are quite a few projects on the go at the moment. After a quick search on his computer, he reveals, “We currently have seven research projects running; we’ve submitted six applications and are currently preparing four more.” As well as his team, a special talent he’s had since childhood helps Bucher keep track of everything. “I grew up on a farm, where there were strict ‘deadlines’, for example for bringing in the hay or milking the cows. But I was always interested in other things, so I had to work out how to balance my interests and obligations. I’ve retained this ability to juggle multiple demands to this day,” says the researcher.
With this talent, Bucher keeps an eye not only on his projects but also on current developments – not just figuratively, but also literally. The researcher is involved in a project with Tübingen University Hospital and the University of Ulm, which focuses on vision in old age. Bucher is investigating how the signal from the ciliary muscle – which can no longer deform the lens as it becomes increasingly stiff with age – can be utilised for an artificial lens. “With a motorised lens, the 80-year-old test subjects were able to see as well as they did at 15. This could mean that spectacles will soon be a thing of the past,” Bucher reports proudly.
“At the moment, I’m fascinated by quantum physical effects,” says Bucher, referring to the fact that, from a physical point of view, there are no ‘smallest’ particles; ultimately, only energy remains. “For industry, this means new possibilities such as quantum computers, quantum sensors and much more,” Bucher lists. A research consortium has already approached him about a joint project centred on quantum physics, which Bucher was happy to agree to.
“Somehow I managed to inspire my team to such an extent that everything here was able to develop as it has. There were also many coincidences along the way – by which I mean things that just happen to you. Without these coincidences, the centre would never have come into being,” says Bucher.
Bucher finds a balance to his professional dealings with reality through his hobby – playing the French horn. “Music helps me switch off and recharge my batteries. I’ve been playing since I was 13 and am a member of the Baden-Württemberg State Wind Orchestra,” he explains.
Just as in the orchestra, Bucher needs not only a feel for his own instrument at the university, but also for the bigger picture. Alongside many projects, he continues to plan for the future of the research center. He reveals, “I’d like to initiate many more collaborations between industry and the research center in order to further build the bridge between science and practice.”
Spotlight on profs:
In this series, we introduce the renowned academics who teach and conduct research at Furtwangen University. HFU is a university of applied sciences; as such, its professors have many years of practical experience. We present these fascinating personal and professional stories in no particular order.