JenAlumni Newsletter
Summer 2023
Botanical Garden of the University of Jena
News in brief
Top results in international rankings
The University of Jena is among the top 1.6 percent of 20,531 universities analysed worldwide. This is the result of the current ranking by the Center for World University Rankings (CWUR). In numbers, that means: 328th place worldwide, 131st place in Europe and 24th place in Germany. The University also achieved very good results in the QS World University Ranking 2023, in which twelve Jena degree programmes were evaluated that are in the top third worldwide and nationally. Specifically, the ranked degree programmes in the life sciences achieved 291st place worldwide (in Germany: 22nd place), the natural sciences 309th place (Germany: 25th place) and the humanities between 401st and 450th place (in Germany: 19th place). In both assessments, the University of Jena has continuously improved compared to previous rankings.
New institute is coming to Jena
The University of Jena and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (Helmholtz Centre for Materials and Energy, HZB) are jointly founding the “Helmholtz Institute for Polymers in Energy Applications” (HIPOLE) on 1 July 2023. The aim of HIPOLE is to develop sustainable polymer materials for energy technologies that can be rapidly brought into application, in particular polymer-based batteries and perovskite solar cells with polymer additives. HIPOLE will be funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (90 %) and the Free State of Thuringia (10 %) with up to 5.5 million euros per year from 2028.
The two founding directors are Prof. Bernd Rech, scientific director of HZB, and Prof. Ulrich S. Schubert from the University of Jena, who is also the spokesperson for HIPOLE. Co-spokesperson is Prof. Yan Lu, an internationally recognized polymer expert at HZB, who will take up a professorship at the University of Jena in the winter semester.
New communication centres
Two communication and meeting centres for interdisciplinary exchange are being built in Jena: the FORUM near the university main building and the FOCUS on the Beutenberg campus. The realization of these architectural highlights is made possible primarily by a grant of 18.4 million euros from the Carl Zeiss Foundation. Construction will begin in spring, and the new buildings should be completed by the end of 2025. The FORUM communication centre will be realized according to the plans of BAYER ARCHITEKTEN and WGF Objekt Landschaftsarchitekten GmbH from Nuremberg. The FOCUS communication centre is being planned by CODE UNIQUE Architekten GmbH and RSP Freiraum GmbH from Dresden.
Democracy in Thuringia under pressure
Every year, the Thüringen-Monitor asks Thuringians about their political attitudes, right-wing extremism and anti-Semitism. The current edition of the Monitor paints a rather gloomy picture of the mood in 2022, according to the team led by political scientist Prof. Marion Reiser. Satisfaction with the practice of democracy and trust in state institutions are at their lowest levels in 16 years. The Thüringen-Monitor focused on the differences between urban and rural areas, clearly showing that people are less confident in democracy if they feel they live in regions that are more backward.
Deutschlandstipendium: Six additional scholarships acquired
The University's crowdfunding campaign for the Deutschlandstipendium was successfully completed. The fundraising goal of 5,400 euros was even reached before the deadline, thus winning the “Matching Challenge”. Now Inverso GmbH and Dr Georg Greitemann from the business law firm POELLATH are doubling the amount and the federal government is doubling it again, so that 21,600 euros are available. This means that talented students at the university can be provided with six more scholarships.
Current issue of LICHTGEDANKEN
Issue 12 of our research magazine is about water research at the University of Jena.
People
Honouring and award ceremony for Schiller Day
Junior-Prof. Giancarlo Soavi
The "Schiller Day" at the University of Jena commemorates the inaugural lecture of former professor Friedrich Schiller in 1789. At the ceremony on 30 June, the best young scientists of the past twelve months were also honoured. Junior Prof. Giancarlo Soavi (photo) was presented with the Rowena Morse Prize worth 5,000 euros, named after the first woman to earn a doctorate at the University of Jena. The physicist Soavi received the prize for his extraordinary achievements in research and teaching as well as for his pioneering contributions in the field of nonlinear optics and ultrafast spectroscopy of quantum-constrained systems.
The dissertation prizes, each endowed with 750 euros, were also awarded during the festive graduation ceremony, while beforehand, those present from the total of 495 doctoral candidates who successfully completed their doctorates in the past academic year received their certificates. In addition to the prizes for scientific activity, the artistic-creative side of the "Doctores" was also honoured. In the Graduate Academy's photo competition "Hats off!" the most beautiful doctoral hats were chosen online and the prizes announced for the first time at Schiller Day.
Walter Rosenthal is new HRK President
University President Prof. Walter Rosenthal (photo) was elected as the new President of the German Rectors' Conference (HRK) in the first round of voting on 9 May. Rosenthal had already been in office since December 2021 as HRK Vice President for Research, Academic Career Paths and Transfer. His term of office began with the election and will last until 31 July 2026. Rosenthal will initially hold the new office on a part-time basis and will continue to serve as President of the University of Jena until his succession is settled.
Elected Vice President of the DFG
Prof. Johannes Grave of the University of Jena was elected one of the Vice Presidents of the German Research Foundation (DFG) on 28 June. His four-year term at Germany's renowned research funding organization will begin on 1 January 2024. The art historian will represent the perspective of the cultural sciences and humanities on the Executive Board of the DFG. Graves' special interests include the cultivation of multilingualism in today's scientific landscape and the role of collections and museums in research. Another Jena researcher, microbiologist Prof. Axel Brakhage, is also one of the nine current Vice Presidents of the DFG.
New Head of Division of Student Affairs
Dr Marcus Hornung has been head of the Division for Student Affairs since 1 July. The Erfurt native holds a doctorate in social sciences and studied at universities in Chemnitz, Berlin and Brno. Since then, he has focused on the management of studies, teaching and international cooperation in science management. Most recently, he was head of the "Studies and International Affairs" division at Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences, and before that at Goethe University in Frankfurt am Main and at Chemnitz University of Technology. As a sideline, Hornung looks after international government delegations, takes on teaching assignments and leads seminars domestically and abroad as an intercultural trainer. These experiences are to be incorporated into the continuous development of the Division for Student Affairs, which is oriented towards ever more rapidly changing framework conditions. For the 36-year-old, aspects of digitalization, internationalization and target group diversification play a prominent role.
Award for excellent university lecturer
This year's Ars legendi Faculty Award for excellent university teaching in the category Biology goes to Prof. Holger Schielzeth. Schielzeth is Professor of Population Ecology "and has developed an exemplary teaching profile that runs from the first semester of the Bachelor's programme in Biology to the Master's programme in Ecology, Evolution and Systematics," according to the jury. The Ars legendi Faculty Award for Mathematics and Natural Sciences recognises academics who distinguish themselves through outstanding, innovative and exemplary achievements in teaching, advising and supervision. It is endowed with prize money of 5,000 euros each. The award ceremony will take place on 25 April in Berlin.
International
EC2U receives EU funding for another four years
The European University Alliance EC2U, of which the University of Jena is a founding member and the only German representative, will receive 14.4 million euros in funding from the European Commission for another four years. The goal of the network of currently seven universities is to create a European campus that connects science, civil society, and interest groups through a network of joint activities and increased mobility. In Jena, a new virtual institute and a new international Master's programme “Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions” are to be established in the new funding phase, among other things, and doctoral students are to be more intensively involved in all topics in addition to students.
International students enthusiastic about Jena
The University of Jena has once again received top marks from its international students. 90 percent of them were “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with all aspects of their studies, as the current “International Student Barometer” shows. For this survey, international students at 146 universities in 17 countries were asked at the end of 2022 how satisfied they were with the study and living conditions at their university. At the University of Jena, 533 international students took part, which is 21 percent of the total of 2,571 international students in the winter semester 2022/23. The academic reputation and teaching at the University of Jena as well as the career prospects as a graduate were rated particularly positively. Service offers, for example the counselling at the Career Point, were also rated positively. International students are also highly satisfied with the study environment: Jena is perceived as a location with a high quality of life.
Alumni
Events during the Summer Semester
Golden diploma students of physics at the historic city wall
- 22 April: Reunion Psychology after 20 years
- 3 May: Golden Diploma German and History Teachers
- 12 May: Golden Diploma Chemistry
- 13 May: Golden Matriculation Chemistry
- 15 June: Golden Diploma Physics, Matriculation 1969
- 30 June: IWK Alumni Barcamp
- 14 July: Golden Diploma Mathematics and Physics Teachers
Alumni Association of the Nutritional Sciences at the University of Jena celebrates anniversary
The APFEL e. V. (Alumni and Partners of the Friedrich Schiller University Jena "Nutritional Sciences and LifeSciences") is a very special plant. It was founded in July 2003. For 20 years now, the alumni association has been taking care of a close connection of the graduates of the nutritional science courses to the Institute of Nutritional Sciences and thus to the Jena University. The original goal of creating an association that is attractive for the many graduates but also for the students has not changed until today. Among other things, the cultivation of contacts between university and practice, the organisation of excursions to Thuringian companies, the awarding of prizes for outstanding theses and travel grants for congress visits are important cornerstones of the association's work.
These goals have been steadily implemented, notes Prof. Dr. Michael Glei on the occasion of the 20th anniversary. "We currently have more than 350 members and are also supported by some companies in the region, but this is still expandable," reports the 1st chairman of APFEL e. V. Important for the successful work of the association was and is, the founding of a student subgroup, says Glei. "It informs our students about the association, organises student meetings and thus actively supports the board in its work. Direct contact with the student body helps to further optimise the association's activities and thus increase the attractiveness of membership."
We are on a very good path and will continue to follow it," Glei is sure. "Our graduates have a very good reputation. They are spread all over Germany and work in many areas of our society." The annual graduate talks act as a mirror for the diversity of job opportunities. Here, alumni provide information about their experiences and career paths.
The work of the association also depends on the commitment of each individual, which is why the board of APFEL e. V. continues to rely on the active support of its members. "We are optimistic that we will be able to make even better use of this potential for the association," says the chairman of the association - APFEL is still crisp even after twenty years.
Anniversary events in September
- 1 September: Golden Matriculation Medicine
- 8 September: Golden Diploma Psychology
- 12 September: Diamond Diploma Agriculture
- 28 September: Golden Diploma Physics, Matriculation 1968
- 29 September: Golden Diploma Engineers Section Technology for Scientific Instrumentation
Campus Life
The MINT Festival Family Afternoon: All small and big MINT fans are welcome!
MINT for everyone: the MINT Festival Family Afternoon on 27 September and more offers for the public
No matter if you are a pupil, student, trainee, parent, grandparent or just curious: the MINT-Festival Jena is for everyone! That's why there are many offers not only for school classes but also for the public. The highlight is the MINT Festival Family Afternoon, which will take place for the first time. All young and old MINT fans are welcome!
For the family afternoon, we have prepared a special programme with various shows and lectures. In the exhibition landscape, families can also experience exciting hands-on experiments and find out about STEM professions.
Mineralogical Collection shows stony holiday souvenirs
The Mineralogical Collection of the University of Jena is exhibiting very special souvenirs of past holidays in its special exhibition “Sommerzeit – Reisezeit – Mineralogische Mitbringsel & blinde Passagiere” (“Summertime – Travel Time – Mineralogical Souvenirs & Stowaways”) until 15 October in Sellierstraße 6. Dr Birgit Kreher-Hartmann, curator of the special exhibition, takes visitors on a journey around the world. On display are shimmering golden ambers from the Baltic Sea, rock crystals from the Alpine countries and nephrites from New Zealand. A special feature are the “stowaways” of the Jena collection, those minerals and gemstones of which no locality is known. Kreher-Hartmann is hoping for the help of visitors in determining the origin. The special exhibition is open Mondays and Thursdays from 1 to 5 pm. Admission is free.
New episode of IS THAT TRUE? about myths
People have believed in myths for thousands of years. The stories originally spread through hearsay and nowadays through the internet. But why do people believe in myths at all, and easily also in conspiracy theories and fake news? Cultural anthropologist Dr Anne Dippel (photo) from the Department of Cultural Anthropology explains in a new episode of the science communication series IS THAT TRUE? why people believe in myths – then and now.
Are you doing research at the University of Jena and would like to clarify, set the record straight or explain something in the video series "Is that true?" Then get in touch with online-redaktion@uni-jena.de.
Interdisciplinary team brings the early days of the University to life
Insights into the early days of our University are provided by the new web portal "Collegiunm Jenense – Universitätsgeschichte” (Collegium Jenense – University History). In this interdisciplinary project, archaeological excavation finds from the buildings and graves of the Collegium, such as epitaphs, skeletons, clay jars and clothing, are analysed and university life and work more than 400 years ago are reconstructed.
In addition to a 3D model of the reconstruction of the Collegium, the new website also offers film diaries that tell the story and its exploration in an engaging way. In them, for example, viewers get to know descendants of former professors, learn more about the pompous funerals in the Kollegienhof and why the university nevertheless had the reputation of being a "beggars' university".
Learn moreExternal link
Go to the film diariesExternal link
Psycho Choir is Germany's second-best choir
The Psycho Choir of the University of Jena took second place in the “Pop/Jazz” category at the German Choir Competition in Hannover with 24 out of a possible 25 points. The 58 singers, including ten doctoral students and employees of the University and the University Hospital, are thus among the absolute top choirs in Germany. The result was not only the second highest score in the “Pop/Jazz” category, but also the second-best result of the entire competition in all categories. With this result, the ensemble led by choir director Maximilian Lörzer left chamber choirs, choirs of music academies and ensembles with certified professional singers behind. In Thuringia, the Psycho Choir is thus the absolute top, because it is the highest score ever achieved in the history of the German Choir Competition by a choir from Thuringia.
New name for physics lecture hall in the Abbeanum
On 6 February, the former lecture hall 2 in the Abbeanum of the University of Jena was given the name Rudolf Straubel Lecture Hall during a small public ceremony. The naming is intended to commemorate the life and work of the physicist Rudolf Straubel, who taught in Jena between 1893 and 1943 and was long forgotten. Because of his wife Marie's Jewish origins, Straubel lost his entry in the university's course catalogue. In the GDR, Straubel was regarded as an imperialist corporate lord and the publication of his biography was prevented. All this happened despite the fact that Prof. Rudolf Straubel (1864-1943) studied physics and mathematics in Jena and Berlin and was appointed professor of physics at the University of Jena in autumn 1897 after receiving his doctorate and habilitation. Straubel was managing director of the Zeiss factory from 1903 and later one of the managing directors of the Schott & Genossen glassworks. With funding from the Carl Zeiss Foundation, he has left his mark on the University of Jena and the cityscape like no other.
15 years of JUniKinder
JUniKinder is a flexible childcare service run by the University of Jena and the Studierendenwerk Thüringen directly on the Ernst Abbe Campus. For 15 years now, working and studying parents at the Jena universities have been able to take their children to the flexible childcare facility from the age of three months to seven years. In the event of short-term childcare needs or the desire for hourly relief, up to ten children are cared for by trained childcare workers and students with experience in childcare.
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Friedrich Schiller University Jena | Summer 2023 | Communications and Marketing | Alumni | Dr Nadine Ritter