JenAlumni Newsletter
News in brief
Prof. Dr. Georg Pohnert is interim president of the University of Jena
At its meeting on 7 November, the University Assembly of the University of Jena elected the Vice-President for Research, Prof. Georg Pohnert, as interim President of the University. This election had become necessary after Prof. Walter Rosenthal stepped down from the presidency at the end of October. As the elected head, Prof Pohnert will now be appointed by the Ministry and will fulfil the duties of the President of the University of Jena until a newly elected President takes office.
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University supports the »Weltoffenes Thüringen« initiative
Following the approval of the Senate the University of Jena has joined the »Initiative Weltoffenes Thüringen« (»Initiative Open-Minded Thuringia«). The decentralized, networked initiative aims to send out a signal that many people, institutions, associations and companies in the state stand for a democratic, diverse, cosmopolitan, and open-minded Thuringia.
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University of Jena in the final round of the Excellence Competition
Die Universität steht mit einem neuen Projekt und ihrem bereits bestehenden Exzellenzcluster in der Finalrunde der Exzellenzstrategie von Bund und Ländern. Das geistes- und sozialwissenschaftliche Projekt "Imaginamics. Praktiken und Dynamiken sozialen Imaginierens" möchte dazu beitragen, gesellschaftliche Konflikte besser zu verstehen, indem es soziale Imaginationen untersucht. Diese Vorstellungswelten können sich von Mensch zu Mensch stark unterscheiden, wie aktuelle Debatten, etwa zur Demokratie, dem Klimawandel oder der Pandemie, zeigen. Das Forschungsvorhaben will sich außerdem den Praktiken des sozialen Imaginierens widmen, aus denen die unterschiedlichen Vorstellungen und Ideen hervorgehen.
The Friedrich Schiller University Jena has reached the final round of the Excellence Competition with one new project and the existing Cluster of Excellence, as announced today by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the German Council of Science and Humanities. "Imaginamics. Practices and Dynamics of Social Imagination" aims to contribute to a better understanding of social conflicts by examining social imaginaries. These imaginaries can differ greatly from person to person, as current debates, for example on democracy, climate change or the pandemic, show. The research project will also focus on the practices of social imagining that give rise to the different perceptions and ideas.
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Senate approves sustainability strategy
In December, the Senate approved the University of Jena's sustainability strategy. The strategy serves as an orientation and guideline for the sustainable development of the university. It commits the University to sustainable action in the areas of research, teaching, operations, transfer and governance. The strategy marks the end of a two-year participatory process and summarizes the results of a future workshop in which over 130 university members developed goals and measures in various working groups. The university management sees the strategy as an invitation to all members of the university to get involved and contribute to its implementation. To this end, various activities are currently being developed and coordinated by the Green Office.
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Research
Origin of mummies analysed
An interdisciplinary research group has comprehensively analysed fragments of 15 mummies from the University of Jena's collections for the first time. The study, led by Dr Enrico Paust, provides insights into the origin and history of the mummified objects. It also shows how difficult provenance research is when there is a lack of information. Nevertheless, it was possible to gain insights into the Jena mummy fragments, for example by examining the fabric used to wrap the human remains from Egypt and South America. The material provides valuable information and serves not least as a dating aid. The study has been published in the "Annals of the History and Philosophy of Biology".
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Since 2018, researchers have been jointly investigating the eventful history of our university's founding site across the boundaries of academic disciplines. A film team is always on hand in their search for clues. The fifth and sixth instalments of the documentary film series "The Kollegienhof" have now been released
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Diversity protects
Areas with high plant diversity are better able to regulate soil temperature in both extreme heat and cold. This was reported by a research team from Jena University, Leipzig University, the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research Halle-Jena-Leipzig (iDiv) and other research institutions in the journal Nature Geoscience. The researchers obtained the underlying data from the Jena experiment, which has been collecting data on soil temperature for more than 18 years. This regulating effect of plant diversity has far-reaching effects and is crucial for slowing down and mitigating the consequences of climate change, among other things.
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The differences between East and West are melting
When asked about their quality of life, people in East and West Germany or people in rural and urban areas hardly differ in their assessments. This is one of the findings of the first Germany Monitor, which was presented recently. The study also shows that people in structurally weak regions feel more left behind than those in structurally strong regions. This feeling is particularly pronounced in structurally weak regions in eastern Germany, which are more affected by ageing and emigration.
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Living alone doesn't mean to be lonely
Around 20 per cent of Germans live alone - and the trend is rising. This trend can also be observed in most other Western countries. However, contrary to widespread prejudices, living alone does not necessarily mean isolation and loneliness. Psychologists at the University of Jena have discovered this in a study funded by the German Research Foundation. Over a period of three years, they surveyed around 400 people aged between 35 and 60 living alone in the Thuringian urban centres of Erfurt, Weimar, Jena and Gera.
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Travelling with Karl and Karla into the world of microbes
Anyone interested can now watch the film "Karl and Karla in the Microverse: A journey through the fascinating world of microbes" from the Cluster of Excellence "Balance of the Microverse".The 15-minute 360-degree adventure shows from the perspective of two drones how important microorganisms are for the health of other living organisms and how they influence processes in ecosystems.Originally made for planetariums, the film can also be viewed on a computer or similar in German or English.
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VideoExternal link
People
New library director
Dr Andreas Klinger became the new Director of the ThULB on 1 February. He succeeds Michael Lörzer, who retired on 31 December 2023. Karsten Leydolph had been acting director of the library in January. Andreas Klinger comes from the Thuringian Ministry of Science, where he is primarily responsible for the academic library system in Thuringia, in addition to other tasks. He is no stranger to Jena and the university in particular, as the early modern historian specialising in political history completed his doctorate here and was an Academic Councillor at the Institute of History.
On the Board of Trustees of the Martin Buber Society of Fellows
Prof Stefanie Middendorf has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the Martin Buber Society of Fellows at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem since 1 December 2023. The historian was appointed by the Federal Minister of Education and Research for a term of four years to succeed the former President of Humboldt-Universität Berlin, Prof Sabine Kunst.
Number 1 of the German Haematology and Oncology Society
Prof. Andreas Hochhaus, Director of the Department of Internal Medicine II at Jena University Hospital, has been Executive Chairman of the German Society for Haematology and Medical Oncology (DGHO) since 1 January. His term of office is two years. In addition to his activities as Clinic Director and Executive Chairman of the DGHO, Prof. Hochhaus is also Chairman of the Board of the Thuringian Cancer Society and heads the Central German Cancer Centre in Jena. He was recently awarded the "John Goldman Prize" by the international foundation of the same name for his tireless commitment and achievements in the research and treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia.
Dean of Medicine Thomas Kamradt remains in Jena
Prof Thomas Kamradt has not accepted the appointment as Scientific Director at the Mainz University Medical Centre and will remain Dean and Scientific Director of the University Medical Centre Jena (UKJ), which he has been since January 2021. "I did not accept the attractive offer from Mainz because I see good prospects for the UKJ, want to continue the work I have started successfully and have received very strong support from the faculty, the hospital and the FSU. I am looking forward to taking the UKJ forward as the only university hospital in Thuringia, particularly in terms of science," he said, explaining his decision.
Prof Benno Werlen appointed to European expert group
In view of the faltering implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Science Council (ISC) believe that a reorientation of UN sustainability policy is urgently required. To this end, a science-based foresight project is now being funded to serve as a basis for decision-making and to develop a future-oriented approach to dealing with the unprecedented social and ecological changes. As part of the project, the initiative to develop a scientifically, socially and culturally broad-based foresight was launched at the beginning of this year. Prof Benno Werlen from the University of Jena was recently appointed to the European group of experts due to his many years of experience in global projects for the reorientation of sustainability policy, the aim of which is to establish a future-oriented culture of sustainability policy and present it at the UN Future Summit 2024.
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Brazilian theologian receives honorary doctorate
The Faculty of Theology has awarded the Brazilian theologian Prof Dr Euler Renato Westphal an honorary doctorate. His systematic theological, ethical, cultural-scientific and social-charitable merits as well as his great commitment to the partnership between the Faculty of Theology at the University of Jena and the Faculdade Luterana de Teologia in São Bento do Sul in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, were honoured, according to the explanatory statement. The honouree is not only an excellent systematic theologian and internationally highly respected scholar from the Global South, but is also closely linked to the University of Jena through various cross-faculty research collaborations.
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New member for the University Council
The University Council has a new external member: the Secretary General of the Leibniz Association, Dr Bettina Böhm. The legal scholar worked in the legal department at Bielefeld University and as a department head and permanent representative of the chancellor at TU Dortmund University before becoming the first female chancellor of Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster in 2004. Her colleagues Prof. Wolfgang Marquardt, former Chairman of the Board of Directors of Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Dr Michael Stückradt, former Chancellor of the University of Cologne, and Prof. Hans Weder, former Rector of the University of Zurich, were re-elected for a further term of office. The same applies to the two internal members Prof Birgitta König-Ries, holder of the Heinz Nixdorf Professorship, and Dr Kristina von Rhein, Managing Director of the Faculty of Business, Economics and Informatics, as well as State Secretary Carsten Feller as representative of the Thuringian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Science and Digital Society. The members are elected by the Senate and confirmed by the Thuringian Ministry of Science. Their term of office is four years. The University Council makes recommendations on matters such as profile development and prioritisation in research and teaching as well as the further development of the range of courses on offer.
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Alumni
Brochure on the first female professor
Exactly 100 years after her appointment, the University of Jena, together with the Society for the Study of the History of Democracy, commemorated Germany's first female university professor in a variety of ways this autumn: Mathilde Vaerting. A comprehensive brochure is now available that presents Vaerting's life, work and influence in detail. The publication, which includes the complete inaugural lecture by the controversial educationalist, is now available free of charge from the university shop.
Anniversary celebrations 2024
31 May: Golden Diploma Economics
31 May: Golden Diploma Biology
4 June: Golden Diploma Technology for Scientific Instrument Engineering
July: Golden Diploma Psychology
5 September Platinum Diploma Chemistry
25 September Golden Immatriculation Physics
28 September Golden State Examination in Medicine
11 October Golden Diploma Physics (SG3)
19 October Golden Diploma Physics (SG2)
25 October Golden Diploma Chemistry
All alumni who meet regularly in their seminar groups and who have an anniversary coming up, be it silver or gold matriculation or diploma, state examination or doctorate, are welcome to contact the Alumni Office.
New alumni portal
In the course of this year, we will again be changing the software for managing alumni data. In future, all alumni will be able to manage their data themselves. We will notify you by e-mail in due course.
Reasons to come to Jena again
Caesar, Kleopatra und Co in portrait
A "Hall of Fame" of a somewhat different kind can be admired from 1 February at our university's Institute of Classical Studies. The new special exhibition brings together great names of antiquity, including Homer and Sappho, Pericles and Caesar as well as Augustus and Cleopatra. The portraits - mainly plaster casts - come from the Jena University collection, supplemented by loans from the University of Leipzig.
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Gowns - between mustiness and autonomy
"Does this have a future or can it go?" asks a new special exhibition at the Thuringian University and State Library (ThULB). On display are pictures by Carlotta Wegener, who photographed professors at our university in their gowns. At the University of Jena, the traditional robes are worn at festive events such as the matriculation ceremony;
The exhibition on the "Jena gown tradition" can be seen from 31 January to 30 April 2024 in the Thuringian University and State Library Jena (Bibliotheksplatz 2).
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8-22, Sat 10-20, Sun 10-19
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University summer festival and classical music in the botanical garden
We look forward to the next summer festival (Sommerfest de) on Schiller Day, 28 June 2024. The following day, the Botanical Garden of the Friedrich Schiller University Jena will be transformed into a garden of classical music de. Tickets are available here:
Tickets summer festivalExternal link
Tickets Classics in the Botanical GardenExternal link
25 years of court opera
Our annual court opera is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and would like to mark the occasion with a very special performance: The opera Salomé by Antoine Mariotte. The abysmal and captivating story between Princess Salomé and the prophet Iokanaan will be told as a mystical psychogram in the style of the fin de siècle.
Sebastian Krahnert, Head of the Music Department at Friedrich Schiller University, would like to have a new stage built for this performance with the help of a crowdfunding campaign. What began more improvised and spontaneously in 1999 with Mozart's Zaide in the idyllic and acoustically ideal inner courtyard of Jena's main university building has now developed into a permanent and popular fixture in Jena's cultural calendar. The performances take place from 15 June.
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Opera CrowdfundingExternal link
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Friedrich Schiller University Jena | Winter 2023/24 | Communications and Marketing | Alumni | Dr Nadine Ritter