Referring to this year's summaery motto – what does remote work mean for engineers?
Prof. Beier: Digital tools and being able to work from non-traditional locations have become an everyday routine for engineers. An increasingly flexible and fast-paced world of work requires us to master digital working methods. Many engineering projects require interdisciplinary cooperation in constantly changing teams. Digital project files, which can be edited at any time from a number of different locations, make this work culture possible while taking into account individual living and working realities.

In 2020, research and teaching were moved online in record time. What opportunities does digitization offer the construction industry?
Prof. Beier: We're able to design buildings more effectively through digital processes such as 3D modelling. Properties can be digitally viewed during the planning phase. Problems that normally only become apparent during the construction phase can be solved during the planning phase through Building Information Modelling (BIM). The Bauhaus-Universität Weimar has been advancing digitization within the construction industry at a very high level of teaching and research for years and is actively promoting it, particularly in cooperation with small and medium-sized companies.

What challenges have teachers and students of the Faculty of Civil Engineering had to deal with during the summer semester?
Prof. Beier: In my opinion, probably the greatest hardship was the lack of interaction between students. Even the best monitor resolution can't replace collective learning at the university. Some students also had to overcome financial difficulties because a lot of them lost their part-time jobs. We’re incredibly grateful for the amazing aid programme created by the Thuringian Ministry of Economics, Science and Digital Society for students, which included social loans. 
Our university was able to offer a variety of platforms for innovative digital teaching, enabling live lectures and attractive online offerings. Teachers had to come up with new didactic concepts and provide virtual excursions.
Our faculty cooperated closely with all those at the university and, in my opinion, managed to complete the semester successfully. A number of new digital resources have been created and will further improve the quality of teaching in the future.

Which projects in particular would you recommend to summaery2020 visitors? 
Prof. Beier: I was very impressed by the students' contributions in terms of the variety of content and social relevance. Water and environmental issues are particularly important to me. Personally, I also find the resources that combine art and technology and create spaces for a change of perspective compelling.
I believe that virtual visitors will have fun experiencing the impressive variety of projects at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar. I’m hoping for some inspiring feedback and perhaps even new and exciting project ideas.