365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge

  🧹 Today, I organize a #litterpicking event together with a local school. What felt special was that moment I walked in, I was greeted by around 60 children, buzzing with excitement to get started. ❤️ In fact, I barely made it through my explanation before they were already on their feet, ready to take action. That was so heartwarming! 👧 And the great think was that the idea came from two girls who simply decided they wanted to make a difference. And while the playground at first glance looked clean, we in the end had collected five full bags of trash. 💪 To me, this is a powerful reminder that anyone - no matter what age - can turn ideas into action with teamwork. And we will repeat this event at some point in the future!

  🎤 Today, I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Dennis Brunnecker for a radio documentary on plastic pollution. 💚 We spoke about the litterpicking initiative I’m leading, as well as my work in communicating the science behind this growing environmental challenge. 🧹 It turned was a wonderful conversation with great questions. I’m really looking forward to continuing our conversation in a more hands-on way when he joins the river cleanup this Saturday. Conversations are important but action is where change truly begins. #cleanup #environment #sustainability

Today we were interviewed by the local newspaper about the river #cleanup we’re coordinating this Saturday. We expect a lot of people and I’m sure their report inspires even more to join. I’m excited and really looking forward to it!

 💚 Today, I collected 14 bags of trash from nature! These tangible results are one of the many reasons I love litterpicking so much. Now I feel very satisfied and am sure I will sleep very well! 😊

  💬 Many of us assume our WhatsApp messages are completely safe because they’re protected by end-to-end encryption. But this is not quite true! ⚛️ Last week, I had the chance to join a guided tour at the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO "Quantum Lab". While AI continues to dominate headlines, researchers are already working on the next potentially world-changing technology: Quantum computing. 💡 One of the mind-blowing characteristics of quantum computers is that they can solve certain mathematical problems much faster than today’s computers. This is important to know, because many of the #encryption methods we rely on today – including those used to secure WhatsApp messages – are based on mathematical problems that are extremely difficult for current computers to solve. ❗ Quantum computers could change that. ℹ️ This means that your messages are safe today, but once quantum computers mature, they may be able to break today’s encryption standards far ...

  🥹 Wow, I didn’t expect this and made it an unforgettable experience: 🎇 At the Winterconference organised by the German Speakers Association, I was genuinely blown away by the positive feedback I received after my keynote! 🤖 This year’s conference focused on #ArtificialIntelligence, exploring both its incredible opportunities and the challenges it brings. As a #cybersecurity expert, I chose to focus on a side of #AI that often surprises people: how AI systems can be hacked. 🎤 During my keynote, I demonstrated how a chatbot can be manipulated to reveal sensitive personal data and even answer unethical questions. I could literally see stunned faces and jaws dropping. 😁 I truly enjoyed giving this presentation. And judging by the reactions in the room, the audience enjoyed it just as much. 🙏 What made the feedback afterwards especially meaningful to me is who it came from: fellow professional speakers who are used to seeing excellent presentations. Receiving such positive...

  🎉 And the winner is… me! 😄 🎤 Last week at the Winterconvention, organized by the German Speakers Association, I participated in a unique prompting competition. The challenge? Get #AI to generate the funniest possible answers based on the exercises given. 🏆 I think my everyday experience with prompting, and my background as an ethical hacker, testing AI #chatbots gave me the edge… because I won! 😁 It was such a fun and inspiring experience, and I’m beyond grateful for the amazing prize: an invitation to an exclusive meeting with “Speaker of the Year” award winners. As a professional speaker myself, this is a truly unique opportunity! 🚀 Feeling motivated, inspired, and ready for the next AI penetration test for more chatbot hacking! #ethicalHacking #penetrationTesting

  A few days ago, I had a blind date. 😁 On my way to the German Speakers Association Winterconference, I met my colleague Jörg Sutter for the first time. We had never seen each other before, but agreed to meet at our reserved seats on the train. It turned into hours of great conversation. ☀️ Jörg shared how he helps people successfully install solar panels and navigate the practical realities behind the technology. Even though I wrote about solar energy in my latest book (A Guide to a Healthier Planet 3), he is the true expert when it comes to real-world implementation. 🙏 I am very grateful for his book and look forward to learning from it. PS: The conference itself was amazing and very special to me. I will share more about that soon.

  🙏 I’m so grateful I could join Klimaatvrijplaats yesterday, the first day of a 4-day event organized for people like me - who care deeply about the planet - to connect, recharge, and simply say thank you for all the effort we put in. 💚 For many of us, the environmental crises and consequences feel overwhelming. Goals aren’t met, nature and people are suffering. In our work, it is easy to feel alone, burnt out, or hopeless. At Klimaatvrijplaats, I found a safe space to share these feelings, supported by both professionals and others who understand. Together, we explored ways to stay hopeful and connected, even in the face of such big challenges. 🌱 The four sessions are inspired by eco-philosopher Joanna Macy, whose work reminds us of our deep connection to all life. And the location, De Groene Afslag, was incredible: full of reused objects, like a Loch Ness Monster made from 800 old jeans (see picture). It felt like an expression of deep respect for our planet and earthly r...

Recently, I went litterpicking with a friend, filling 21 bags in 2 hours. But we weren't finished yet, because a few meter further down the bushes, we found this spot. What a relief that's now done too: another 15 bags.

  🌱 A few months ago I went to Belgium to support Planet Wild in restoring peatlands. The video of this adventure is now online! 💪 The reason I went is because peatlands are a huge carbon sink, meaning they store a lot of carbon and are therefore extremely important for limiting climate change. 🦋 Peatlands are also an important place for many species to live and thrive, supporting biodiversity. On top of that, peat soil helps clean water, which contributes to reducing pollution. 🔬 As #climateChange, #biodiversity, and #pollution are close to my heart, the focus of my science communication work, and because I am eager to make a difference in the real world, I am excited to now be able to see the video of our action. It explains very clearly why we removed certain plants, closed ditches, and cut down trees as part of the restoration process. 🎥 You can find the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtBCj9zGT70 👕 PS: Can you spot me in the purple t shirt? 💬 PPS: If ...

  🎉 I'm happy to share that the #AI paper I contributed to as been published! 🤖 As #artificialIntelligence becomes more common, it is also using more and more electricity. This has real consequences for how reliable and affordable our power systems are. At the same time, AI can help improve how energy systems are planned, run, and protected assuming that we use it responsibly. ⚡ With the India AI Impact Summit coming up, the new ORF America paper to which I contributed as AI Governance Professional (#AIGP), “The Nexus of Artificial Intelligence and Energy Security: Strategic Opportunities for US–India Leadership,” looks at how today’s energy systems are coping with these changes and what needs to be updated in policy and planning to keep up. 🤝 The paper explains why cooperation between the United States and India matters right now. By working together, both countries can better manage growing electricity demand from AI, strengthen grid resilience, and ensure power remains sec...

This week, I went #litterpicking with a fellow Sch(m)utzengel. In 2 hours, we filled 21 bags of waste! We were shocked and happy to make a huge difference: https://youtube.com/shorts/bhQn4isyJQU?feature=share #müllsammeln #cleanup  

  🎉 Happy to share that I’ve passed another exam: CompTIA Network+ I took it mainly to be able to even better support my students as they prepare for their own exams. And along the way, I learned even more about how computer networks work and how to keep them secure. Always learning, always leveling up 💪

💚 One of the most rewarding things I have do in 2025, was continuing leading the local litter-picking initiative I started three years ago with a neighbor. 🤩 What I love most is how tangible the impact is. I don’t have to wonder whether it matters; I can see the difference immediately. Cleaner streets, greener spaces, and constant reminders from passers-by that our efforts are noticed and appreciated. 🧹 This year was especially exciting. Together, we organized 92 clean-up events, filled more than 265 bags of litter, and removed over 107,000 cigarette butts from our city. Even more powerful than the numbers is the ripple effect: people joined us, people started picking up litter on their own, and similar initiatives popped up in other cities. That’s how real change spreads. 🚮 We also focused on stopping litter before it hits the ground. Through awareness campaigns and by helping get waste bins installed in key locations, we worked on prevention just as much as clean-up. 💪 This...

📱 Does the scene in this picture look familiar to you? Many people recognize this quiet pull toward their phones. Yesterday, I coached someone who wants to step away from this habit. Their breakthrough: 🧠 They told me that they reach for their phone even when they do not feel like using it. The urge feels stronger than their intention. I told that many apps are designed to keep our attention and trigger feel-good responses to make us stay and return more often. 🤔 So how do we loosen this habit and make more time for what makes us happy? Hiding the phone or limiting certain apps can help for a while, yet many people find creative ways to slip back into old patterns. 🌿 I suggested something simple. I invited them to think about activities they genuinely enjoy. Whenever they feel like random scrolling and surfing, ask the question what they like to do most and consciously choose. The idea: when something in daily life feels more rewarding than scrolling and as a result we DON'...

✨ Today, I had the pleasure of joining an online meeting with our local hospital to explore ways we can work together on sustainability. I shared the story of our local litter-picking initiative and was thrilled to see it spark interest and inspiration. 💪 When we come together as a community, even small actions can create a much bigger positive impact. Every piece of litter removed, every small effort shared, adds up and the ripple effect can be incredible. 💡 PS: Thinking of starting a litter-picking initiative in your city? Feel free to reach out as I’m happy to share how we organize ours and make it easier for you to get started. Together, we can make our cities cleaner and greener. #sustainableLiving #litterpicking #makeADifference

💡 Today reminded me why digital safety matters so much. A customer reached out in worry because her screen kept showing warnings that her antivirus was outdated. 🤔 Something felt off to her though, because he had just renewed her license. After a quick check, the cause became clear to me: she had stumbled into fake virus alerts, often called scareware. ⚠️ Here is the brief version of what I explained to her: After visiting a malicious site, this scareware showed up as alarming popups claiming her device was infected. These popups often use dramatic language, push you to act quickly, and try to trick you into installing fake security tools, clicking harmful links, or contacting scammers who want remote access to your device. ❗ Common warning signs include sudden popups, payment requests, phone numbers to call, strange links, grammar mistakes, simple or odd designs, unknown software names, and alerts that don’t behave like normal system notifications. When this happens, the safest ...

  🥵 Last Friday, I stepped out of my routine and tried something new. It felt like a risk, but it taught me a lot. 🥇 Last year, I won a prize for a presentation on why #cybersecurity and #sustainability matter for long term company success. One piece of feedback was to focus on one topic. Since I had already given a very successful talk on cybersecurity recently about how KI chatbots can be hacked, I chose sustainability this time, with a spotlight on litter picking. 🎤 I felt like repeating the presentation I held for the United Nations in September, as the reactions afterwards were incredibly uplifting. People came up to me and told me how inspired they felt. But only my voice was recorded. 🫢 During the slam, my presentation was filmed. But this time, it didn’t flow the same way. The clicker distracted me more than I expected. I usually speak with my hands free, and having something in my hand threw me off a little. I also sensed that a few people were disappointed because...

🌲 What if we could help forests come back much faster than by planting new trees, supporting flora, fauna and local communities at the same time? 🎋 That is exactly what the LEAD Foundation Tanzania is doing. They allow previously cut trees to regrow from their root systems, using the strength that is already in the ground. 💪 And I’m really happy that I could support this mission by donating to Planet Wild. They supported the project, filmed it and explained it so clearly that I love to share their video here: https://youtu.be/S5g60g9vmlY #reforestation #planetwild #sustainableliving #deforestation