Nele Handwerker – That's how she rolls

What makes you laugh?

Nele Handwerker: My daughter, when she discovers the world and lets me participate in it, my boyfriend with his humour, good books with puns or surprising twists.

What have you always been wanting to do and why have you never done this so far?

Nele Handwerker: Riding a scooter – I don't like that the other road users might overlook me and I might have an accident with serious consequences.

Which person has influenced you most? And why?

Nele Handwerker: It's hard for me to single out one person. Many people have accompanied me on my path so far, have been a role model, inspired me, spurred me on or been a deterrent to me. There is no single dominating person.

You have the chance to become the Commissioner for the Disabled. What would you do first?

Nele Handwerker: Launch a survey among all stakeholders on what the main issues should be for future improvements, what is already going well and what specific individual actions they would like to see. After the evaluation I would try to implement the collected points step by step.

What is especially near and dear to you?

Nele Handwerker: Animals and nature. We are currently intervening massively in the environment and many people forget that we cannot survive without nature and that we are only a part, but not really the crown of creation. I am all the more pleased that Fridays for Future and other initiatives are attracting a lot of attention and rethinking.

I would like to be ...

Nele Handwerker: a cloud that moves around the whole world and can calmly contemplate life on a large and small scale and then I would gradually rain down in a place of great aridity.

Which question would you like to be answered the most?

Nele Handwerker: What is the trigger for multiple sclerosis and many other diseases? (For only by finding the exact cause can we work on a cure.)