Franz Rothlauf has been Professor of Information Systems at the University of Mainz since 2007. He has published outstandingly on machine and evolutionary learning, e-business and software engineering. His research focuses on the application of machine learning and modern heuristics in planning and optimisation systems. Since 2012, he regularly teaches VHB ProDok seminars on the design and application of modern heuristics.

Unlike many traditional optimisation methods, metaheuristics can be used to find good solutions to real-world problems, such as those that cannot be linearised or for which no standard problem descriptions can be found. This makes metaheuristics highly versatile.

As a young scholar, you are driven by rankings and the need to publish as many articles as possible in top-ranked journals. However, this should not make you forget that the joy of research is usually the reason why people choose an academic career.

Furthermore, we live in a disruptive and crazy world with AI disruption, hybrid warfare, and physical wars in the neighborhood. The truly relevant topics such as climate protection or the concentration of wealth in a globalized world often only receive attention for a short time before being displaced by less important issues. This makes it difficult for young researchers, as it is unclear whether the topic they have chosen will still be as exciting in three or five years' time, or whether suitable positions will be available.

I often have the best ideas when I have time to think. For this to happen, I need to be free from appointments, mobile phones, time pressure and deadlines, as well as busy people.

Even when it feels like the world is going crazy, we shouldn't be discouraged from doing the right thing. We should keep not only ourselves, but also others in mind, and work towards a just society.

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