Portrait of an alum: Frank Reppel

Frank Reppel studied physics at the University of Karlsruhe (TH). After completing his studies, he turned to the flourishing software industry. After working in Karlsruhe and Munich, he ended up in Singapore for 24 years in 1997. There he founded his own consulting company and his family. In 2021, he returned to a much changed Germany. In the presence of Prof. Horst Hippler, the founding president of KIT, he founded the AlumniKIT Club in Singapore in 2008, which is still a popular contact point for KIT alumni in Southeast Asia today. In addition to his company in Singapore and consulting activities in Germany, Frank is dedicated to building a start-up dedicated to "Responsible AI".

What valuable experiences and insights from your studies still shape you today?

A few. Academically, I was very lucky to have had extraordinary professors in my lectures. I was also influenced by the fact that I only had to rely on myself in physics as it was taught at KIT at the time. Although there was already a student council, you had to find your own way through and around the university.

One memorable lecture was the elective lecture on quantum field theory (supersymmetry) by Julius Wess. He made these lectures an absolute highlight with a very economical blackboard and a brilliant, human and understandable manner. Another memorable spectacle was the lecture by Prof. Gottfried Falk, who was able to derive all of physics without fractions from the sum of states and thus from thermodynamics. Not least these two contributed to the fact that my love of physics never waned.

In my private life, I came to appreciate Karlsruhe because of its very high recreational value and made lifelong friends through my membership of the Akademische Turn- und Sportverbindung Karlsruhe (ATSV).

Even though I never directly applied my physics degree, the principles of "understanding problems in complex contexts" and "solution orientation" have shaped me throughout my life. They have successfully shaped my career path and never made me lose interest in new developments.

What added value do you get from being a member of the alumni network?

In Singapore, you are at the heart of world events and at the pulse of what is probably the world's biggest economic power. At the same time, however, you are far away from your alma mater. Regulars' tables, where we meet and exchange ideas, are always a nice reminder of the good times we had at the Fridericiana and also allow us to discuss current topics and generate ideas.

In this context, the AlumniKIT Club also organized an event together with ETH Zurich and our co-alumnus Felix Kottmann, where we spent a successful afternoon and evening with numerous representatives from science and the local government. The highlight was when we were able to welcome Prof. Hanselka and Prof. Hirth to the event, highlighting the importance that Singapore plays in KIT's deliberations.

In addition to the expected benefits of an interesting network, participation in the KIT alumni network also offers the opportunity to get involved in forums such as "Industry Experts" and to get to know interesting technology offers. In addition, events such as the "Innovators Homecoming" of the Gründerschmiede offer a good opportunity to get an overview of the current status.

What is your vision for KIT?

First of all, I think KIT is well positioned and in very good hands with Prof. Hesthaven and Prof. Hirth. Scientifically, I am not very worried, especially as I hope that the funds raised through the excellence status will be converted into consistent technology transfer in addition to basic research.

In teaching, I hope that it is conveyed at all times that knowledge also always represents the social responsibility of the individual.

And that together we are able to convey to future KIT alumni that they must never run out of knowledge. They must understand the problem they are working on: but this must never be the focus, but always the search for the solution!