Profile of the Month

This monthly profile focuses on Jan-Michael Blum, who has been a part of the  YWPDK board for the past two years and an active member since 2015. Jan has helped drive the network through his dedication and structured approach. Jan has been involved in most of the YWPDK activities in the recent years and has been a very familiar face of the network through his responsibilities on the board of coordinating events for the member base. Jan has been an entrepreneurial influencer during his time on the board where he, among other things, has initiated the YWPDK Artificial Intelligence group and the YWPDK outreach program. After his 2-year term, Jan will make room on the board for new faces at the coming general assembly. That’s why we dedicate this monthly profile to him. Instead, he will focus in the next years on the AI group, the outreach program and potential new initiatives. We conducted a short interview with Jan about his involvement in the network and his visions for YWPDK. You can read the outcome below.

Interview with Jan-Michael Blum 

Why did you join the YWPDK network in the first place, and what led you to run for a position on the board?

When I came to Denmark and started my PhD project, I quickly realized that I wanted to learn more about the water sector, than a specialized PhD project allowed. YWPDK was the answer. I was introduced to it by a colleague and quickly met numerous interesting people with diverse backgrounds. The learning curve was steep and the board members inspiring. Becoming a board member myself was the next consequent step. That way I could work together with the other young water professionals and implement my own ideas at a larger scale, than I would have been able to do on my own.

Where do you see the role and the position of the YWPDK network in the Danish water sector and for the young water professionals in Denmark?

Since its beginning in 2014, YWPDK has experienced a continuous growth of members. That clearly shows that the concept of the network is attractive to young people. Being mainly a platform for exchange between young water professionals in its early phase, YWPDK has experienced increasing visibility and attention in recent years, also from the senior water sector, not only in Denmark.  Based on this development, I see the role of YWPDK to date in three categories: promotion of the water sector as an exciting career opportunity for the future generation, the platform of choice for young water professionals as a companion in their early career and finally, YWPDK being an initiator of new ideas and concepts for the entire Danish water sector.

How do you envision the future activities and progression of the role of YWPK?

YWPDK will develop professional structures that support its strategy. Some projects are already on their way: Thor Danielsen streamlines the network’s communication, Trine Stausgaard Munk coins YWPDK’s legacy for the IWA World Water Congress 2020 and Niels Malmmose Askjær connects YWPDK to the other stakeholders of the sector. Simultaneously, YWPDK offers its members diverse events that range from excursions to companies, to capacity building and fun networking events. Additionally, YWPDK will reach out to its neighbors. We are already in contact with the young water networks in Norway, Sweden and Finland and will develop our collaboration with them in the next two years.

What did you gain personally from joining YWPDK and contributing to the network?

I rapidly gained an overview over the stakeholders in the Danish water sector: in the academic, commercial, as well as the public sector. More importantly, by getting to know so many people from different fields, I understand the questions and challenges in other fields than “my own”, i.e. wastewater treatment, much better. I learn about the trends in climate change adaptation, ground water modelling, but also the viewpoints of regulators and policy makers. I believe that overcoming barriers between the different fields in the water sector is key for finding holistic solutions and for creating synergies. We work with the water cycle – that should also be the narrative in our sector: a circular mindset.

What would be your advice to anyone contemplating on increasing his or her activity in the network or even just joining?

YWDPK is driven by the personal network among its members. Therefore, I encourage everyone, who is interested in becoming more active, to join our events. Stop by, say hello, and share your story. Very soon you will find like-minded people and will return with a full basket of new views. How do you know what is coming next? Be open to our communication channels: visit our website www.ywp.dk, subscribe to the e-mails list and join our LinkedIn group “YWPDK”. YWPDK has different projects, where support is welcome. Come with a realistic estimate of how much time you can spend. And remember: YWPDK is a network driven by volunteers, not professionals. Your active involvement is key for its success.

You are, luckily for us, continuing your activity in the network. Can you shed some light on what you are going to be involved in, and can we still expect to run into you at YWPDK events?

Two projects will have my main attention, namely the YWPDK Artificial Intelligence Group and the Baltic Outreach Program. The goal of the AI group is to explore, share and prototype topics and applications connected to artificial intelligence and digitalization in the Danish water sector. The Baltic Outreach Program will connect YWPDK to other young water professional networks around the Baltic sea and will contribute to a higher awareness of water related issues in the younger generation in these countries. Finally, as a new idea, I want to explore if and how Design Thinking can be applied to the water sector. I am looking forward to the next years with YWPDK. The network is a fascinating platform to test ideas and it is filled with inspiring people that help expanding your horizon every time you meet them.

The board and regional representatives would like to extend a thank you to Jan-Michael for his contribution during his time on the board. We are looking forward to the results of the AI-group and Outreach program and to continue to see you at the YWPDK events.
Thor Danielsen

What is your current work title and what is your background/degree?

Since December 1st 2017, I have been working at Rambøll as a consulting engineer. Here I’m working with projects in climate adaptation and sewage networks, mainly rainwater separation.

In 2015 I graduated as Forest- and Landscape engineer from University of Copenhagen, and in 2017 I graduated as master in Environmental engineering from University of Southern Denmark. In both my degrees I have focused my education on nature and stream management.

What is your motivation for working with water?

In the past we haven’t been kind to the water environment. Streams have been straitened and wetlands have been drained. Fortunately, we have changed our views on how we should protect nature, and I would like to be part of protecting the water environment. Also, I would like to be part of the restoration as I really like how nature reacts when a stream or a wetland is restored. Almost right away plants and animals inhabit the restored area, and from year to year you can see new species.

What are your main interests within this field?

My main interest lies in stream and wetland restoration. But I also think that projects where you create areas for climate adaptation and rainwater handling that incorporate the nature is interesting. I like the idea of creating natural looking areas that can also be used for recreational use and where animals can live, instead of using pipes and concrete ponds.

What was your motivation for becoming a member of YWPDK and how did you hear about the network?

As a student assistant at Rambøll in Odense I heard about YWPDK from my colleagues. They told me about YWPDK and I thought it sounded like good network to be part of. It’s a good place to meet people in the same situation as you and share knowledge with them.

What are your thoughts on the challenges that we, as young water professionals, face in the coming years?

Climate changes creates a lot of challenges, not only for finding a way to handle the rainwater, but also to handle it better and protect the environment. We also need to reduce our nutrient emissions to lakes and the sea, and find solutions to improve the ecological environment in them

What is your current work title and what is your background/degree?

I am hired as a postdoc at the Agroecology Department, at Aarhus University. The daily work aims at developing cost-effective technologies able to mitigate site-specific nutrient loss from agriculture. Nutrient inputs from intensive farming are in fact responsible for eutrophication in water bodies and thus pose a challenge to meet the quality goals of the European Water Framework Directive for the aquatic environment.

In Italy I graduated in environmental engineering, which made me acquainted with water and wastewater technologies. From December 2010 until February 2014 I was Ph.D. student at Aalborg University, where I investigated flow transport in coarse granular porous media.

What is your motivation for working with water?

I have been always looking for challenges and rewards, and the water sector offers countless opportunities. Water is a finite resource and we, as YWPs, should use our knowledge to support water conservation and sustainable use.

What are your main interests within this field?

Currently, I have great interest for surface and subsurface constructed wetlands. These man-made systems are designed to mimic wetland ecosystems, and are considered some of the most biologically productive ecosystems on the planet. Among the different tasks I enjoy performing tracer tests to investigate hydraulic efficiency and the effects on nitrogen and phosphorus removal.

What was your motivation for becoming a member of YWPDK and how did you hear about the network?

The opportunity to broaden my knowledge and to enhance my network are without any doubts the main reasons why I decided to join YWPDK. I first heard about it from a colleague at the IWA specialist conference on wetland systems for water pollution control, in Poland.

What are your thoughts on the challenges that we, as young water professionals, face in the coming years?

There is a common rising concern among the population for a large number of worldwide water issues. These issues are often complex and require the synergy of different and specialized water professionals to be solved. Young water professionals have an obligation to contribute in a meaningful way with innovative and sustainable solutions.

What is your current work title and what is your background/degree?

I graduated from the University of Copenhagen in June 2015 with a master’s degree in geography and geoinformatics and have been working at EKJ Consulting Engineers AS for the past 1.5 years. I am mainly responsible for planning, executing and evaluating environmental risk assessments including groundwater contamination and I have furthermore been involved in groundwater modeling. Additionally, I am currently working as an external consultant for Copenhagen Metro Team – the contractor on the Cityringen Metro project – with the responsibility for the authority coordination and groundwater monitoring.

What is your motivation for working with water?

Overall, working with water motivates me because of its fundamental necessity. I think it is fascinating that a resource that seems so elementary can be the foundation for great complexity ranging from everything between international political crises to local drainage problems.
On a more daily basis I am motivated by the fact that my work is contributing to a more sustainable use of the resource.

What are your main interests within this field?

My interests within the field are quite broad. Among other things, I’m interested in how to provide holistic and reliable groundwater management, how to mitigate contaminations and how the hydrological cycle is impacted by climate changes.

What was your motivation for becoming a member of YWPDK and how did you hear about the network?

I heard about YWPDK from a fellow student. I thought it sounded interesting and a good way to expand my network and knowledge within the water sector. I think YWPDK is a good forum for creating connections between different fields within the sector.

What are your thoughts on the challenges that we, as young water professionals, face in the coming years?

The more knowledge I have gained through my studies and my work, the more I have become aware of the complexity that characterizes the challenges concerning water. Solutions to complex matters call for cross-disciplinary cooperation. As young water professionals, we will have to integrate a holistic approach to address the challenges.

What is your current work title and what is your background/degree?

I graduated as Civil Engineering in Environmental Technology (Aquatic Ecology) from the University of Southern Denmark and has been working at Herning Water A/S for the past 4,5 years as a project manager responsible for planning and hydraulic calculations of storm water systems. I am leading projects from the planning phase, when it is “just a drawing”, through the design/calculation phase and all the way to the implementation phase, when the pipes are actually buried in the ground.

What is your motivation for working with water?

Flood prevention is a complex, multifaceted task, which involves a lot of coordination between different stakeholders such as utility companies, municipalities, nature protection organizations, politicians, citizens etc. It is a dynamic process, which is challenging and exciting at the same time. It is very motivating, when you find a solution, which satisfies most of the stakeholders.

What are your main interests within this field?

Designing the storm water systems, which will be functioning the next 100 years. Finding robust solutions, which will also add some recreational value to the society. Being ahead of the future challenges as much as possible.

What was your motivation for becoming a member of YWPDK and how did you hear about the network?

I have read about YWPDK in DANSKVAND (DANVAs magazine) and thought that it is a good idea, because being a young professional in an organization, where most of your colleagues have 25 and more years of experience can be challenging in its special way.

What are your thoughts on the challenges that we, as young water professionals, face in the coming years?

As young water professionals, we will have to find new and more effective solutions to face the future problems in the water sector. The legislation is changing constantly, we are facing new challenges every day and our task is to march in step with progress or even being one step ahead.

What is your current work title and what is your background/degree?

I am an environmental engineer working as a consultant at Rambøll which provides me with a large range of interesting projects in the field of water management and climate adaptation. I plan and design sewage networks where I work with both traditional and sustainable urban development solutions (SUDS). In the implementation phase, I have construction management and supervision. I concretise climate adaptation plans and am also involved in nature restauration projects. As a part of my work I do a lot of hydraulic modelling of urban water networks and natural streams.

I graduated from the Faculty of Engineering at University of Southern Denmark in 2014 as an engineer in environmental technology. I have a master in aquatic environment and wrote my master thesis about stormwater basins, and how these can be used as link between climate adaptation and the EU Water Frame Directive.

What is your motivation for working with water?

The increased amount of stormwater we will experience in the future, and is already facing, is a challenge that affects all of us. I find great joy in being a part of the team that will secure the cities from being flooded, as we have the responsibility of finding sustainable solutions in balance with nature to secure our environment for future generations.

What are your main interests within this field?

I have a great interest in projects where urban water and nature work together. I like the challenge when you have to plan and design the storm water network in a smart and natural way in respect of the demands of fresh water ecology in the surrounding streams and/or lakes.

However, I also like the more traditional projects where you have to separate an old, underscaled combined sewage network into a two string network of waste water and stormwater. I like the engineering challenge where hydraulics, self-cleaning, crossing pipes, economy etc. all come together. If the project allows it, you can implement some green solutions, and often you close overflow of combined water to a recipient and thereby improve the environment

What was your motivation for becoming a member of YWPDK and how did you hear about the network?

I think YWPDK is an important network where we without barriers can talk and discuss the challenges we are facing in our work. We all have a common task and interests, and do not look at each other as competitors.

I first heard about the network from a colleague who introduced me to YWPDK just before the first conference in 2015.

What are your thoughts on the challenges that we, as young water professionals, face in the coming years?

I think it is important that we keep seeking new knowledge within our field and keep focusing on being innovative. As young water professionals we are open minded and good at idea generation. We need clever and sustainable solutions that both prepare our cities to withstand climate changes and also protect the environment as we have a responsibility to the next generations.

What is your current work title and what is your background/degree?

I am working as a planner at the Plan Water section of HOFOR, the Greater Copenhagen Utility, where I work with drinking water distribution. I work with planning renovation of the pipe network, planning water supply for new city developments, modelling flow in case of contamination and setting up/maintaining our hydraulic models.

I graduated with a master of science in environmental engineering from DTU in 2016. I did not follow a specific study line, as I spend one year at University of Cape Town and one year at the Technische Universität München, but my focus was water resource management and urban water management. I did my master thesis at HOFOR, analyzing the optimal locations for water sampling in water distribution network based on hydraulic modelling.

What is your motivation for working with water?

I chose to work with water because I am interested in developing work. Water is a necessity for live, and I find the challenges in water distribution very interesting. This was especially something I saw firsthand when I lived in Cape Town and did projects around the informal settlements there.

What are your main interests within this field?

I am very interested in the planning of water distribution, water works, and the pipe network. There is a lot of work coordinating the projects we do with numerous other stakeholders, including the municipality, climate change adaptation projects, subway construction, other utilities and God knows what. It can be quite a challenge, but it is also fun. Although I work with water supply, I am also interested in development work within sanitation and hygiene awareness. I did a study project with sanitary awareness in West Bengal through the NGO UBU when I was at university, and I hope to get the chance to do some similar projects abroad in the future.

What was your motivation for becoming a member of YWPDK and how did you hear about the network?

I heard about YWPDK when I was studying at DTU, and joined already then. I found that the group was a nice way to network with young water engineers, and I find it fun to do activities within our field of interest.

What are your thoughts on the challenges that we, as young water professionals, face in the coming years?

Due to the climate changes, which are slowly starting to occur, there will be an increase in urban flooding in some regions and shortage of water in many regions, just to mention some of the negative impacts. Therefore, there will be an increased need for new innovative solutions, across borders and counties. I think the young generation of water professionals will play a big part in preparing us for these future changes.

What is your current work title and what is your background/degree?

I’m working as an environmental engineer in the consulting company Orbicon. I have a wide arrange of work assignments, like business cases and climate adaptation plans, and my main projects are typically within the fields of climate adaptions, Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) and sewer constructions.

I graduated as an environmental engineer from The Technical University of Denmark (DTU) in 2014, with a Master degree specialized in Urban Water Management. My graduate project was an economic assessment of climate adaptions in Copenhagen, which combined economics, statistics and hydraulic modelling.

What is your motivation for working with water?

I’ve always been very interested in climate change, of which water is a huge part. Especially the challenge of creating climate adaptation solutions in dense urban areas. Assessing a technical issue in a context that affect a lot of people, is what got me into environmental engineering in the first place I guess.

Creating climate adaptations is not just a matter of technical solutions, as the context in which the solutions are to be applied, is much bigger than just hydraulic equations. In dense urban areas, climate adaptations and water handling is more of a fusion between politics, architecture, sociology and engineering, and the objective and process of finding such a solution, is what drives and thrives me.

What are your main interests within this field?

Climate change is one of my main interest fields, both in terms of engineering practice but the aspects of landscape architecture and political planning. Moreover, I find it intriguing to map the possible solutions to a technical issue, using an engineering approach, and discussing the pros and cons of such solutions with people both within my own field and people from other academic areas.

What was your motivation for becoming a member of YWPDK and how did you hear about the network?

A friend of mine introduced me to YWPDK, and I soon realized that this was an appropriate forum for me, where I would have the opportunity to network with people who share the same field of interest, academics and age as me. I attended the second yearly YWPDK conference, and I have been hooked ever since.

What are your thoughts on the challenges that we, as young water professionals, face in the coming years?

Networking is still one of the main focus area of the YWP community, and I think one of our greatest asset both also our greatest challenge, is the ability to communicate across distance and professional areas. Having such a great amount of potential right in front of us, is a huge opportunity to create something fantastic – we just got to figure out how to assess it and who to talk to. To me, that is what the YWPDK forum is all about.

What is your current work title and what is your background/degree?

My current work title is Landscape Architect. I am the only Landscape Architect at VCS Denmark. I work closely with colleagues in other fields, mostly engineers. Graduated from the Faculty of Science at Copenhagen University in 2014 with a degree in ‘Green Space Management’.

What is your motivation for working with water?

My job is to develop and implement green structures in the city for handling stormwater and my main motivation to work with water is creating greener city’s. Additionally, I find it very meaningful to work with water as we do in VCS Denmark, where the main target is to function as an environment steward, reducing the human footprint on the water cycle.

What are your main interests within this field?

I enjoy working in this field since is so multidisciplinary. I find it inspiring and challenging to work with people with another background and opinion than my own. Together we build solutions which one mind can’t do on its own.

What was your motivation for becoming a member of YWPDK and how did you hear about the network?

I was motivated by the the knowledge sharing and relation building which the network creates an important platform for. Both nationally as well as internationally. I heard about the network through a college and decided to join.

What are your thoughts on the challenges that we, as young water professionals, face in the coming years?

I see the next generation of young water professionals as having an important role in the future. Water is the foundation of life, as we know it on this beautiful blue planet. It seems to me that we through our decisions have a large effect on how long we want to stay alive as a human race. I do believe that our main challenge is to keep focus on the long perspective and make decisions for a better future.