University

News from the University: FAU at a glance – strategic developments, awards, alumni successes and life at one Germany’s largest universities.

73 to 84 of 99

18DEC 2025
Passion 2025
The art of craft
Brewing beer is the perfect way to put the theory of bioprocess engineering into practice, says Kathrin Castiglione. The practical courses at the Chair’s own Röthelheim Brewery are highly sought after – and so is the beer. Not much can really go wrong. Once the malt is milled and mashed, the fermentation vessels are disinfected, […]
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18DEC 2025
Innovation 2025
Robots with empathy
Mechatronics engineer Jörg Franke and psychologist Cornelia Niessen are researching a new generation of robots. These robots are intended to master social behaviors and become assistants for humans. Imagine coming home in the evening. Your robot greets you warmly, tells you that your dinner is on the table, and can already tell from your response […]
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18DEC 2025
Innovation 2025
Grim humor
From radio studio to Grimme Award: FAU alumna Jana Forkel shows how humor and integrity can help approach even the toughest topics. Jana Forkel looks proudly at the silver shimmering trophy, its many surfaces skillfully interwoven, sitting atop a small black base. In April 2025, she won the Grimme Award for the screenplay of the […]
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18DEC 2025
Diversity 2025
Transforming Human Rights
Strengthening human rights in a critical time and breaking new ground in research: The new Cluster of Excellence at FAU shows that human rights and inter- and transdisciplinary human rights research are not obsolete. “Our goal is to shed new light on the potential and the limits of human rights,” emphasizes Katrin Kinzelbach, Chair of […]
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18DEC 2025
Passion 2025
Why, how, what for?
A day of studying like the grown-ups This fall, the Children’s University at FAU is back again. For organizer Laura Kneppe, the most important thing is that the children develop a love of science. It all starts at nine o’clock – with a welcome and handing out the “study booklet” The morning program begins at […]
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18DEC 2025
Innovation 2025
Moving with the organs
Jana Hutter wants to adapt MRI imaging to the movement of tissue and organs. That would significantly improve the diagnosis of diseases. Her research has been awarded a Starting Grant from the ERC. When patients go for a scan in the “tube”, they only have one job: not to move. If they remain still, the […]
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18DEC 2025
Diversity 2025
Breaking the silence
Christoph Safferling has researched the Nazi history of the Federal Ministry of Justice. Now he is dedicating himself to a project right on his doorstep: transforming the former asylum in Erlangen into a memorial site. As a child, on his way to school, Christoph Safferling walked past the building behind the high wall on Maximiliansplatz […]
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18DEC 2025
Diversity 2025
“If you don’t love what you do, life is too short”
Bernd Montag, CEO of Siemens Healthineers, on passion, balance, and loyalty. He is one of the leading minds in medical technology: FAU alumnus Dr. Bernd Montag, CEO of Siemens Healthineers. He studied physics at FAU, where he also earned his Ph.D. in theoretical multi-particle physics. In this interview, he shares the values that guide him […]
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18DEC 2025
Innovation 2025
Breaking down spacetime
Until now, quantum theory has not been applicable to gravitation. Wolfgang Wieland has developed a theoretical approach that provides a quantized upper limit for gravitational waves. Wolfgang Wieland sits in his office on Erlangen’s Staudtstraße, a coffee cup beside him, a white wall behind him. He does have a computer, but he prefers to work […]
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18DEC 2025
Innovation 2025
Everything in its place
Whether tools in the hardware store or cows in the barn: With the start-up Pelora, Johanna Geiß is developing a system that precisely locates objects and devices. It is research that makes everyday life easier. Dr. Johanna Geiß leans back in her chair in a relaxed manner. She is currently on a break between many […]
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18DEC 2025
Innovation 2025
Full of energy
With her Master’s thesis on innovative energy storage, Tamara Hein won the Hightech Prize Bavaria. The doctoral candidate is researching how sustainable energy can be used more effectively. When Tamara Hein was informed by email about her nomination for the Hightech Prize Bavaria, she could hardly believe it. “I didn’t even realize that the dean […]
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18DEC 2025
Diversity 2025
Magical and hidden
Long-forgotten texts, instruments, and practices are a true treasure for Petra Schmidl. Oftentimes, occult knowledge and modern sciences are much closer than one might think. Petra Schmidl opens a dark red box and takes out a round, brass-colored plate that resembles a compass. Rotatable disks, fine scales, and grid lines adorn the solid tool. “People […]
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