Peter Rangelow

Earthquakes and nuclear power plants – this is one of the most demanding combinations in engineering, and it is Peter Rangelow's field of specialisation. He is a member of several international committees in the field of nuclear power technology and is connected with earthquake engineering experts worldwide, from New Zealand to the United States. He laid the foundation for his international career early on: after completing his civil engineering studies at the Bauhaus University Weimar, he was drawn to one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world – Japan, where in Tokyo he earned both a Master's degree and a PhD in earthquake engineering. Back in Germany, he worked in power plant construction for a construction group before moving – as project manager, expert and checking engineer – to an energy group and finally to an engineering vendor company specialising in nuclear power plants. Since 2017, he has strengthened the Structural Safety team at Basler & Hofmann AG as a Senior Expert and checking engineer.

It is the outcome that moves me: a destroyed building saddens me, whereas a structure that comes through an earthquake with only minor damage fills me with pride. But the path leading there appeals to me just as much – assembling a team, structuring a complex problem and making the right decisions under time pressure.

An astrophysicist. I am fascinated by the countless galaxies, collapsing stars and black holes – and by the idea of drawing a little closer to the unknown, step by step, as the great visionaries of our time do.