Prof. Lars Bernard – Vice-Rector Digitalization and University Development

"If processes do not become more efficient, effective, secure or cost-effective through digitalization, they are not or not yet suitable for digitalization."

Visualisierung Gehirn mit digitalen Schaltstellen

Targets

Digitalization to support and increase flexibility for excellent learning, teaching, research and life at TU Dresden is the main goal of the Vice-Rector Digitalization and University Development. The basis for this is to ensure and further develop a capable, secure, responsible, sustainable and future-proof information and IT management system.

Ein Mann und eine Frau sitzen vor ihren Laptops im Gebäude der Fakultät Informatik

Tasks

The team develops the strategies for digitalization and information management at TU Dresden as a cross-sectional task. These strategies are always geared towards the needs of teaching and research and ensure the safeguarding of capable IT environments. Digitization projects with reference character are initiated and accompanied into successful operation.

Vortragender mit laptop vor einem Publikum

Values

Capable IT environments at TU Dresden not only support innovative approaches to data science, but are also an essential basis for creating reproducible science with the aim of making research transparent and comprehensible for society.

Role

The Vice-Rector Digitalization and University Development develops strategies for digitalization in teaching, research and administration as well as for the responsible use of IT, for securing IT equipment and for IT administration at TU Dresden.

About the Vice-Rector

since August 2025	Vice-Rector Digitalization and University Development
since August 2020	Chief Officer Technology Digitalization and Information Management at TU Dresden
2019–2020	Speaker for the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering / TU Dresden
2018–2020	Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Sciences / TU Dresden
since 2015	Professor for Geoinformatics at the Faculty of Environmental Sciences / TU Dresden
2007–2015	Chair of Geoinformation Systems / TU Dresden
2003-2007	Science Council of the European Commission / EC Joint Research Center / Ispra (Italy)
2003	Deputy Chair of Geoinformatics / WWU Münster
2001–2003	Research Assistant and Group Leader / Institute for Geoinformatics / WWU Münster
2001	PhD (Geoinformatics) / WWU Münster
1995	Diplom (Geography/Landscape ecology) / WWU Münster

Positions in teaching and research

since 2019	Speaker of the NFDI4Earth consortium
2013–2020	CIO of the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering / TU Dresden
2013–2019	Speaker of the Department of Geosciences / TU Dresden
2011–2018	Program Coordinator for the Master’s degree program Geoinformation Technologies / TU Dresden
2010–2013	Dean of Studies for Geodesy, Cartography and Geoinformation Technologies / TU Dresden
since 2010	Member of the Faculty Council for Environmental Sciences / TU Dresden
2007–2013	Representative of the faculty in the Digitalization and Development Commission / TU Dresden
2002–2003	Member of the Departmental Council for Geosciences / WWU Münster
1998–2003	Member of the Examination Board Diplom-Geoinformatics / WWU Münster

Honors and awards

since 2013	Member of the German Geodetic Commission (DGK) Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities
since 2003	Numerous invitations to German and international keynotes and expert discussions on the design and development of geoinformation infrastructures
2000	Award from WWU Münster for an outstanding PhD
1998	NSF Scholarship Varenius Specialist Meeting Ontology of Fields / Bar Harbor, Maine (USA)
1995	ESF Scholarship GISDATA Specialist Meeting: GIS and Spatial Models – New Potential for New Models / Stockholm (Sweden)

Activities in science and society

2020	Deputy Chairperson of the Council for Information Infrastructures (RfII) -
2020	Steering Committee Dresden Nexus Conference
since 2018	Mentor for PIKOBYTES GmbH
2014–2019	Speaker of the Geoinformatics Department of the German Geodetic Commission
2014-2017	Co-Chair Association of Geographic Information Laboratories in Europe (AGILE)
since 2014	Member of the Council for Information Infrastructures (RFII)
since 2014	National Delegate Academia European Spatial Data Research (EuroSDR)
2007–2016	Council Member Association of Geographic Information Laboratories for Europe (AGILE)
2014–2018	Member Editorial Board Environmental Modeling & Software
2007–2010	Chair Editorial Board Journal GIS.Science
since 2012	Scientific representative in the Steering Committee of the GDI-DE
since 2008	Member of the Advisory Board of 52°North GmbH
2008–2014	Member of the Steering Committee of GDI Sachsen