The state awards were presented as part of the ceremonial events surrounding the start of the academic year at the University of Bonn. The purses connected with these awards, going to outstanding young researchers, are endowed by the respective presenting national governments. These awards are traditionally presented simultaneous with the awarding of the DAAD Prize by the German Academic Exchange Service.

Does an infection also affect the immunization of subsequent generations? Researchers at Radboud University (Netherlands) have studied this together with the Universities of Bonn, Saarland (Germany), Lausanne (Switzerland) and Athens (Greece). Mouse fathers who had previously overcome an infection with fungi or were stimulated with fungal compounds also passed on their improved protection to their offspring across several generations. The team showed at the same time an improved immune response being passed on to the descendants. The study has now been published in the renowned journal Nature Immunology. 

The senior representatives of NeurotechEU, the European University of Brain and Technology, meet face-to-face again for the first time since the launch of the alliance. The rectors and board of governors members of the universities comprising this consortium convened in Bonn to discuss plans to expand the university alliance over the long term, stepping up their level of partnership.

Born on January 2, 1822, the professor and physicist Rudolf Clausius spent the years from 1869 to 1888 teaching and conducting research at the University of Bonn. As far as natural scientists are concerned, his name will always be associated with the definition of the second law of thermodynamics and the term “entropy.” It was he who linked the observation that thermal processes are irreversible to a hitherto undiscovered property that they shared, namely that the entropy of a system of this kind can only ever increase. His discovery had far-reaching consequences, not only for our understanding of how heat engines work—from steam engines through to generating electricity from fuels—but also for what we knew about information or the dynamics of biological processes. To describe this phenomenon, he coined the term “entropy,” a fundamental parameter in the natural sciences. Marking what would have been his 200th birthday next year, the University will be shining a light on the scientific achievements of an extraordinary thinker who, for a long time, remained forgotten.

The University of Bonn will start the academic year 2021/22 with a ceremony in the auditorium of its main building on Monday, October 18, at 5 p.m. All university members - especially students - as well as media representatives and all interested parties are cordially invited! The ceremony will be livestreamed on the internet.

What does “reconciliation” even mean? Every week from November 3 onward, two researchers will climb into the ring to argue about this topic in an online dialogue forum—and perhaps reconcile again once it is all over. Anyone who is interested can dial in via Zoom to follow the debates, which will be held every Wednesday from 6:15 to 7:45 pm. However, they will not be “duels” in the literal sense, as landing the better argument in a moderated discussion will be what counts. The floor will be opened after 45 minutes, with students, researchers and members of the public all welcome to participate.

Prof. Dr. Joachim von Braun from the Center for Development Research (ZEF) of the University of Bonn, has chaired the scientific group for the UN Food Systems Summit, which recently took place online. Some 40,000 participated at times. As Chair of the Scientific Group, Prof. von Braun chaired a committee of twenty-five internationally recognized experts who prepared the technical aspects of the Summit.

The University of Bonn has opened a "Green Office" as a central contact point for sustainability and to promote the exchange between students, teachers and other employees.