Prof Dr Martina Otten receives award for good teaching

Science Minister Markus Blume presented the award on 17 April at Augsburg University of Applied Sciences to outstanding university lecturers from all over Bavaria. Award winner Martina Otten, Professor of Chemistry at the Sustainable Agriculture and Energy Systems department, was deeply moved by the award: „The prize for good teaching makes it clear that we do an excellent job of educating our students at our University of Applied Sciences. I am delighted and would like to thank all our supporters.“ She was already honoured by the HSWT as the best teacher at the Weihenstephan campus in 2022.

Practical relevance and sustainability as guidelines

Professor Martina Otten teaches in the fields of Chemistry, Agricultural Sciences, Food Technology and Energy and Climate Protection. In her teaching, she combines academic depth with a strong practical orientation. She works with real-life issues from Agriculture, Healthcare and the Energy sector and also addresses topics that students bring in themselves. Her broad didactic portfolio encourages active participation, independent thinking and critical reflection.

The jury particularly emphasised the fact that Professor Otten represents her subject in a social context and incorporates current issues relating to sustainability and health. Practice-orientated laboratory exercises, excursions, illustrative material and her own projects are integral parts of her didactic approach. Sustainability plays a central role here: students are encouraged to think about the responsible use of natural resources, the use of pesticides and the impact of their own consumption on the environment and climate.

„I want to closely link theory and practice so that even challenging content becomes tangible. My teaching is about listening, doing and seeing. The students are at the centre of this. They are our future, and I see myself as a coach and companion,“ explains Professor Otten. In addition to her teaching activities, she is involved in numerous functions within the University of applied sciences. Among other things, she is Commissioner for Equal Opportunities for Women in Science and the Arts at her department.

Vice President Homann-Wenig: Award exemplifies high quality at the HSWT

The prize for good teaching is awarded annually to 20 Bavarian lecturers who are characterised by a high level of commitment and exemplary teaching concepts, with students participating in the selection process. It is endowed with 5,000 euros. The Vice President for Studies and Didactics at the HSWT, Prof. Dr Sabine Homann-Wenig, is also delighted with the honour: „The award is an example of the high quality and great passion with which teaching is carried out at our University of applied sciences. We are proud to have such a committed colleague in our ranks.“

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