News — University of Bonn

Using “Mini-Organs” to Study Disease

Two new assistant professors at the University of Bonn are setting out to develop “mini-organs” in order to study metabolic and disease mechanisms. Elena Reckzeh is using these so-called organoids to identify new drug candidates, while Ana Ivonne Vazquez-Armendariz hopes that they can give her a better understanding of lung disease. As Argelander Professors in the Life and Health Transdisciplinary Research Area (TRA), the two researchers are working at the interface between various disciplines—and bridging the gap between chemistry, biology and medicine in the process.

Rector Michael Hoch in Japan with State Premier Hendrik Wüst

The Rector of the University of Bonn, Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Michael Hoch, is currently traveling around Japan with an extremely high-ranking delegation led by Hendrik Wüst, State Premier of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). One of the main purposes of the trip is to consolidate partnerships in science and research. The Rector is expected back in Bonn at the weekend with some signed cooperation agreements in his suitcase.

Impressive Results in THE Impact Ranking for Sustainability

The Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Ranking 2023 sees the University of Bonn among the Top 50 universities worldwide in two of five ranked categories. The study highlights the impact of universities on the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). It is the first time that the University participated in this relatively new ranking.

New cooperation agreement for the Confucius Institute in Bonn

The University of Bonn and the Confucius Institute in Bonn are to continue their partnership on a new contractual footing, having now set out the conditions in writing for securing the transparency, scientific freedom and independence of the institute’s activities. The University of Bonn’s partners under the new contract are the Chinese International Education Foundation, Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU) and the association Konfuzius-Institut Bonn e.V. (Confucius Institute Bonn).

Experts for sustainable AI discussed in Bonn

What impact does artificial intelligence (AI) have on the environment? And what might the ramifications of AI be for society? These are some of the questions being tackled by the research group led by Prof. Dr. Aimee van Wynsberghe, a Humboldt Professor at the University of Bonn. Last week, she brought together international experts in the research field.

Honorary Doctorate for Bishop Johan Bonny

At a ceremony held yesterday evening at the Forum Internationale Wissenschaft (FIW) in Bonn, the Bishop of Antwerp was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Bonn in recognition of his hard work and dedication to the synodal process within the Catholic Church and to consolidating its teaching on marriage, the family and other forms of relationship. The major honor was conferred on him by Prof. Dr. Dr. Jochen Sautermeister, Professor of Moral Theology and Dean of the Faculty of Catholic Theology.

Sweet snacks: Children have very different preferences

Would third- and fourth-graders buy fewer unhealthy snacks if they were more expensive? The answer provided by researchers at the University of Bonn is nuanced: Some elementary school students do actually pay attention to the price. Others, however, have such strong preferences that they are willing to pay a little more for them. A third group, in contrast, does not yet seem to have sufficient cognitive skills to be significantly influenced by prices. The study illustrates above all how differently children behave when it comes to their snack purchases - a finding that should also be of interest to policymakers. The results have now been published in the journal "Food Quality and Preference."