Interview with Barbara Fahrngruber

Please briefly introduce yourself: What is your name? In which department and at which site do you work? What is your job title?

My name is Barbara Fahrngruber. I am a materials and environmental engineer in the starch non-food department at the AGRANA Research & Innovation Center in Tulln – the research and development centre of the AGRANA Group.

Why did you decide to work in a technical profession?

Technology has always interested me. At school, my favourite subjects were geometric drawing and mathematics – instead of needlework I decided to take handicraft classes. I was absolutely sure I had made the right decision after an open-day event at the TGM technical college in Vienna. I got an insight there into metal processing in the workshops and a computer demonstration showed us how an injection mould is built.

Which aspects of your everyday working life in a technical profession interest you most?

As a materials and environmental engineer, I am involved in the development of organic plastics for special application areas and processes. The focus here is always on the resource-saving and sustainable use of materials. Developing a new material and considering its life cycle, from the extraction of the raw materials to their ultimate disposal, is what makes my work exciting and varied.

Can you share with us a tip why women should decide to work in a technical position?

Technical professions can often appear to be daunting at first glance. Before (out of fear) you make too many concessions when selecting your educational focus area, you should ask yourself the following question: What would I do if it were impossible to fail?

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