25. June 2022

Zentrum für Versöhnungsforschung ceremonially opened Zentrum für Versöhnungsforschung ceremonially opened

Covid-19, climate change, populism, and not least the Ukraine war make the question of how and whether reconciliation is possible highly topical and relevant. The new Bonner Zentrum für Versöhnungsforschung (Center for Reconciliation Research) at the University of Bonn bundles research on this topic in cooperation with partner organizations. The center’s aim is to analyze reconciliation practices in an interdisciplinary and comparative way looking at different cultural, social and regional contexts. The center has now been ceremoniously opened in the University's Festsaal.

Prof. Dr. Hans-Georg Soeffner, Speaker of the new Zentrum für Versöhnungsforschung, welcomed the guests in the University's Festsaal.
Prof. Dr. Hans-Georg Soeffner, Speaker of the new Zentrum für Versöhnungsforschung, welcomed the guests in the University's Festsaal. © Barbara Frommann/ Uni Bonn
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At the new Bonner Zentrum für Versöhnungsforschung (BVZ), scholars are working on the outstanding social significance of reconciliation. They come from a wide range of disciplines, since the comprehensive analysis of reconciliation processes takes many different approaches into account - including sociological, cultural anthropological, historical, theological, philological, philosophical, as well as literary, media, legal and political science. The center is organizationally anchored in the Faculty of Philosophy.

The BZV contributes significantly to the profile building of the University of Bonn and thus connects with the University's cross-faculty Transdisciplinary Research Areas "Individuals and Societies" and "Present Pasts", with which it closely cooperates. Currently, four faculties are involved - the Faculties of Philosophy, Protestant Theology, Catholic Theology, and Law and Political Science - as well as the Cluster of Excellence Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies and the Centre for Historical Peace Studies at the University of Bonn.

The German Development Institute (DIE), the Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies (BICC) and the Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities Essen (KWI) are also involved. The cooperation between university and non-university institutions is intended to ensure that the center's research also flows into policy advice at national and international levels.

International cooperation partners include the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) centers in Israel and Japan and the Democracia y Derechos Humanos Research Institute at the PUCP of the University of Lima.

Impressions from the opening ceremony:

Many guests from the participating faculties and beyond came to the ceremonial opening of the Zentrum für Versöhnungsforschung in the University's Festsaal.
Many guests from the participating faculties and beyond came to the ceremonial opening of the Zentrum für Versöhnungsforschung in the University's Festsaal. © Barbara Frommann/ Uni Bonn
Sociologist Prof. Dr. Hans-Georg Soeffner is the center’s Speaker. "Not only the interdisciplinary and international composition, but also the empirical-theoretical approach of the center to reconciliation research are unique in Germany," he says.
Sociologist Prof. Dr. Hans-Georg Soeffner is the center’s Speaker. "Not only the interdisciplinary and international composition, but also the empirical-theoretical approach of the center to reconciliation research are unique in Germany," he says. © Barbara Frommann/ Uni Bonn
Managing Director Esther Gardei is looking forward to the future. „We are planning collaborations with local partners in Bonn to host events. After all, the center should have an additional impact beyond the University into society and politics.“
Managing Director Esther Gardei is looking forward to the future. „We are planning collaborations with local partners in Bonn to host events. After all, the center should have an additional impact beyond the University into society and politics.“ © Barbara Frommann/ Uni Bonn
Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Klaus Sandmann emphasized the importance of the center for the university in his welcoming speech at the opening ceremony.
Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Klaus Sandmann emphasized the importance of the center for the university in his welcoming speech at the opening ceremony. © Barbara Frommann/ Uni Bonn
The center is organizationally anchored in the Faculty of Philosophy. Dean Prof. Dr. Volker Kronenberg spoke to the guests in a welcoming speech.
The center is organizationally anchored in the Faculty of Philosophy. Dean Prof. Dr. Volker Kronenberg spoke to the guests in a welcoming speech. © Barbara Frommann/ Uni Bonn
„Erbfeinschaft, Erinnerung, Versöhnung“ – the keynote speech was given by Prof. Dr. Moshe Zimmermann from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
„Erbfeinschaft, Erinnerung, Versöhnung“ – the keynote speech was given by Prof. Dr. Moshe Zimmermann from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. © Barbara Frommann/ Uni Bonn
…he received a small gift from Esther Gardei.
…he received a small gift from Esther Gardei. © Barbara Frommann/ Uni Bonn
The event was musically accompanied by Max Blumenrath on piano and Ella Rohwehr on cello.
The event was musically accompanied by Max Blumenrath on piano and Ella Rohwehr on cello. © Barbara Frommann/ Uni Bonn
The celebration concluded with a reception in the Senatssaal.
The celebration concluded with a reception in the Senatssaal. © Barbara Frommann/ Uni Bonn

Esther Gardei

Managing Director

Bonner Zentrum für Versöhnungsforschung

University of Bonn

Phone: +49(0)1775257515

Email: vforum@uni-bonn.de

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