Submitted by editor on 28 July 2025.

We are happy to welcome Dr. Tina Heger, from Leibniz, Germany, to the Oikos Editorial Board. To know more about her, read our interview below!

Website: https://www.tinaheger.de/

What's your main research focus at the moment?
My current research focus is on how we can make ecological knowledge better available for scientists as well as for restoration practitioners and other societal groups. So much evidence is being produced in ecological research, plus there are many other forms of knowledge (e.g. grey literature, local and traditional ecological knowledge) that are related and quite relevant for solving the biodiversity crisis. Therefore, I am working together with computer scientists and philosophers to figure out ways for integrating all this into a FAIR and openly accessible knowledge base that can be queried by ecologists as well as restoration practitioners. Further, I am very interested in how to deal with the constantly rising levels of ecological novelty in nature conservation and restoration, and what could be meaningful future human-nature relationships.

Can you describe your research career? Where, what, when?
I studied biology in Frankfurt and Hamburg (Germany) and did my PhD at the Technical University of Munich. During my PhD, my first kid was born, and after finishing the thesis my main focus was on spending time with my kids. For ten years, I preferred working part time only. Once the kids were a little older, we went to the US for one year, where I had a Postdoc project at UC Davis. Coming back, I first returned to TU Munich, but then got a project position in Berlin, with the offer to work from home mostly (even though it was before Covid). Since that time, I’ve had different project positions affiliated with University Potsdam, IGB Berlin and FU Berlin. Currently, I am on a part-time position due to lack of funding and am applying for more project money. I’m still calling the TU Munich my home institution, since this is where I did my habilitation (this weird German thing that is like a second PhD) and where I was appointed as an adjunct professor (which does not mean I have a paid position, another weird German thing). Recently, I was additionally awarded a honorary professorship at Leuphana University in Lüneburg, Germany – so in theory, I can be called ‘Prof. Prof.’ (to add even more weirdness).

How come that you became a scientist in ecology?

After finishing school, I had the idealistic idea to do something that helps save the world. I started out by studying biology and chose nature conservation as a major. After finishing, I did some biotope mapping as a freelancer. This made me realize that I am much more interested in revising the key for biotope classification than doing the actual mapping in the field, and I started looking for PhD positions. I ended up in a very nice interdisciplinary group with Prof. Ludwig Trepl at TUM, and this inspiring environment convinced me of staying in academia.

What do you do when you're not working?
When I am not working, I love spending time with my family and friends. I live in Munich, which is quite close to the Alps, so we do a lot of hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter (cross-country and ski-hiking). Spending time outdoors is really important to me, and I also like biking, swimming in natural lakes, canoeing and going on camping trips. Luckily, Munich also has a very rich cultural scene, and I love visiting theater performances, art exhibitions and concerts.

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