Our researchers are unique. Here they introduce themselves and show their very personal side behind the scientific work.
Sebastian Mantsch:
I completed both of my degrees in Paderborn. The Master's programme consisted of the subjects Digital Humanities and Philosophy, where I was always interested in the interface between Computer Science, technological possibilities, but also ethical conflicts and dilemmas. Since November 2025, I have been part of the ERC project "Cultures of the Cryosphere" as a doctoral candidate and am now employed at the Heinz Nixdorf Institut.
As a small component of a large Synergy project, I am researching the concept of "Digital Availability". By this I mean, among other things, the constant availability of information, digitalised goods, live services and also the permanent accessibility of us as individuals. What I would like to explore is when and how this desire for constant availability arises in a networked world, and I would like to explain which infrastructural dependencies are necessary to fulfil today's expectations of permanent availability. As part of the project, the focus here is on cooling technologies and practices in data centres to ensure uninterrupted operation.
My day-to-day work therefore consists of various tasks, e.g. the usual literature research from various specialist areas. I am also working on establishing new annotation software that will enable us to carry out precise corpus analyses in the future.
To create a balance between everyday life and free time, I do strength training in the morning and enjoy going to the cinema or theatre after work. I'm also active in animal welfare and have developed a soft spot for old dogs that can hardly or no longer find a home. I also enjoy travelling immensely and have found my second home in theme parks. Accordingly, my holidays usually end in the countryside or on a rollercoaster.
