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Studierende sitzt am Arbeitsplatz und schaut auf den Laptop. © Aliona Kardash​/​TU Dortmund

Uwe Grützner's 40 Years at the Department of Spatial Planning

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Uwe Grützner bekommt eine Urkunde zum 40-jährigen Dienstjubiläum verliehen. © Marie Hartmann
On July 10, Uwe was honored by the dean during a small ceremony and received his anniversary certificate.

Uwe Grützner actually celebrated his 40th anniversary with the university three years ago. However, since his training as a photographer at what was then the University of Dortmund was not initially counted as part of his tenure, we had to wait another three years. But now the time has finally come!

On July 10, Uwe was honored by the dean during a small ceremony and received his anniversary certificate. Afterward, a few colleagues gathered for a cozy get-together to look back together on four decades of dedication, creativity, and loyalty to the de­part­ment.

Photography has been a part of Uwe Grützner’s life since childhood. He’s always been the type who preferred to be behind the lens rather than in front of it. As early as age 15, he was earning a few marks by having his photos published in the daily newspaper. The desire to become a photographer was therefore a natural one—and so Uwe began his training as a photographer at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering after standing out among a large number of applicants.

After completing his training, Uwe moved to the Department of Spatial Planning. The years that followed were consistently varied and exciting. Time and again, he found his own unique niche to initiate and implement new ideas. Fortunately, he never allowed himself to be reduced to the role of a “mere photographer”: time and again, he contributed his own ideas to the department’s research and teaching.

One example of this is his involvement with the volunteer fire department, such as during the 2013 Elbe flood disaster and the 2021 disaster in the Ahr Valley. The impressive photos he took during these events were later used at the de­part­ment in the emerging field of climate impact research. Uwe also recognized early on the potential of drones for research and teaching. Whether thermal imagery or aerial photographs—his images have been incorporated in a variety of ways into the de­part­ment’s projects in recent years and have opened up new perspectives.

In recognition of this exceptional dedication, Uwe was awarded third place in the 2024 Dr. Michael Brenscheidt Transfer Prize at TU Dortmund University. The award specifically recognized his use of drones in interdisciplinary collaboration both within TU Dortmund University and with external partners. In 2025, he received another honor: the TU Dortmund University Teaching Award in the category “Teaching Support by Staff in Technology and Administration” .

We are delighted to celebrate this special anniversary with Uwe and look forward with great anticipation to the next decade with him at the Department of Spatial Planning.

Dear Uwe: Thank you for your dedication, your ideas, and your unique perspective on our department!