An espresso with... Bastian Bullwinkel
Sometimes the past and present are only a few steps apart. For Bastian Bullwinkel, this is quite literal: for the past ten years, he has been the press spokesperson for Universum® Bremen, located directly opposite the University of Bremen, where he began his political science studies around 20 years ago. Day after day, he looks out at a place that has had a decisive influence on both his professional and personal journey. This physical proximity also reflects his ongoing connection to the university, with which he remains closely involved as an alumni member to this day.
Bastian Bullwinkel talks about his formative years as a student, the unique Bremen spirit, the value of networks, and why staying in touch with the university continues to matter long after graduation.
Dear Mr. Bullwinkel, you have been the press spokesperson for Universum Bremen for ten years and have been a member of the alumni association for almost as long. What does this dual perspective mean to you, and to what extent do you still feel connected to the university?
Similar to public relations, the alumni association is also about relationship management — for example, building and maintaining contacts and keeping networks alive. For me, membership therefore primarily means staying connected. For many people, their time at university is one of the most formative phases of their lives—and that is certainly true for me as well. The alumni association offers a wonderful opportunity to connect past and present.
Through my work at Universum Bremen, which, like the university, is located in the Technology Park, I also maintain both a spatial and a thematic proximity to my alma mater — for example, when inviting scientists to participate in discussion events at the Universum or through collegial exchanges with communications officers from the university’s institutes and research facilities. And of course, I also use the occasional lunch break to visit the cafeteria or simply stroll along the boulevard. My connection to the University of Bremen is therefore not only nostalgic, but still very much alive.
When you think back to your studies at the University of Bremen: which topics, discussions, or courses shaped you the most?
Very early on in my studies, I developed a particular interest in questions related to electoral and party research. I still vividly remember my very first seminar paper: in an introductory course on political science methods in my first semester, I explored the question of whether and to what extent media coverage influences people’s voting behavior. I was also a big fan of the General Studies program from the very beginning — the university’s interdisciplinary course offerings. Although I occasionally considered it, a career in research and teaching was never my primary goal. That made me appreciate opportunities to look beyond my own field all the more, especially courses offered by the Center for Study and Practice. For example, in the seminar “Public Relations for Politics, Culture, Society, Environment, and Business,” I had my first contact with my current professional field. My semester abroad as part of the Erasmus program was also particularly formative. I spent six months in Gothenburg, Sweden—a time I still look back on very fondly.
Were there people — fellow students or lecturers — who had a lasting influence on your professional path and whom you still remember fondly today?
Some of my fellow students from back then have become close friends to this day—an often underestimated aspect of university life, beyond all the knowledge you acquire and the professional developments that follow. Among the lecturers, Prof. Dr. Lothar Probst was particularly influential for me. Not only do I remember his lectures and seminars on the political system of the Federal Republic of Germany, but also the way he engaged and supported students. Through his research group on electoral, party, and participation research, I had the opportunity during and after my studies to contribute to publications on the political system of the federal state of Bremen. We also co-authored an article based on my master’s thesis, which was published in the journal Zeitschrift für Parlamentsfragen. Even though I pursued a career outside academia, I still had opportunities to stay connected to the academic world.
You are organizing an alumni reunion for this autumn with your former fellow students from your bachelor’s program. What defines the special “Bremen spirit” that brings former students back together even after many years?
For many people, Bremen is a highly livable city of manageable size that still offers plenty of opportunities. What I find particularly nice is seeing how many former fellow students remain connected to Bremen even years after graduating. Some stayed here after finishing their studies, others returned later. And many still carry Bremen in their hearts, even if they now live elsewhere. That, to me, is what defines the special Bremen spirit: an emotional connection to the city that endures across great distances and many years.
In your role as press spokesperson for Universum Bremen, you work daily at the intersection of science, the public, and society. Which skills from your studies still help you today?
At Universum Bremen, we primarily see ourselves as translators of mostly scientific topics for a broad audience. Therefore, it is less the specific subject knowledge from my social science studies that helps me in my professional life. Much more important are the methodological, personal, and social skills I developed during my studies: analytical and research skills, writing and text competence, the ability to work with studies and statistics, as well as structured and independent working.
From your perspective, how has the University of Bremen changed over the past 20 years, and what has remained typically “Bremen-like”?
To assess this comprehensively, I naturally lack the day-to-day proximity to university operations. However, what I do notice is that the university is increasingly opening itself up to society. For example, the OPEN CAMPUS did not yet exist during my time as a student. I am also following with great interest the development of the university’s new location in the city center, at the Forum am Domshof. I find the “Kassenhalle” particularly exciting as a so-called “third place” for dialogue, interactive knowledge transfer, and engagement with science and research. This also offers thematic points of connection to my work at the Universum.
What advice would you give to current political science students who are interested in communication, media, or public relations?
For me, starting a degree in political science was primarily driven by an interest in political topics, structures, and debates—less by a concrete idea of what career I would pursue afterward. That perspective only developed over the course of the first semesters. My most important advice is therefore: stay curious and open, but at the same time try to gain practical experience as early as possible and explore different fields—whether through part-time jobs or internships. In my view, the great advantage of political scientists is that we are initially very broadly educated. This versatility makes us attractive for a wide range of fields in communication and public relations—whether in political and social contexts or in the business world. Once you discover what truly interests you, you can then pursue a more targeted specialization.
Finally: if you were sitting down for an espresso with your former fellow students, what would you most like to talk about today?
In addition to exchanging updates about family and careers, we would probably very quickly turn to current political topics — both national and international. As unsettled and sometimes troubling as some developments may be at the moment, they naturally provide plenty of material for discussion and analysis when viewed through a political science lens.