The new forsch has arrived

forsch 2022/01 spring

The current issue of forsch is all about collaboration and digitalisation. We take a look at research in zero gravity, the key players in digitisation at the university and impressions of the new refectory.

On this page you will find the magazine as a PDF download and flipbook and the individual articles digitally. In addition, starting with this issue, podcasts and visual stories are available for selected content.

Issue as PDF

Podcast: forsch gelesen (in german)

Visual Stories

Personalia

Ein junger Student liest die forsch in einem Park.

The podcast "forsch gelesen"

You don't have time to read? You can listen to a large number of articles on the usual platforms - as a read-aloud podcast "forsch gelesen". In addition, you will find interviews in the detailed "NACHGEFRAGT" format. Alternatively, you can go via the buttons in the respective articles.

Note: the podcast is in german

Zu den Podcasts

Visual Stories

Discover our visual stories of the forsch.
Note: You will be redirected to an external provider.

Cells in 4.7 seconds of zero gravity

Excellence in Action

Bonn attracts prominent scholars yet again

Digitalization at the University

The new Lenné Mensa

Project Polyglot: Four Young Researchers at the University of Bonn Develop Open-Source Language Models

With the power of our supercomputer Marvin, numerous innovative projects have already been realized. Seven of them, selected for their outstanding results, competed in a university-wide contest in March 2025—on the occasion of Marvin’s first birthday. The grand prize: exclusive support from the High-Performance Computing (HPC) team to further develop their research. First place went to Tucano, a kind of ChatGPT for Portuguese, which had already received funding earlier this year from the Transdisciplinary Research Area (TRA) "Sustainable Futures". The creators of Tucano come from different disciplines and countries: Dr. Nicolas Kluge Correa (Philosophy, Brazil), Aniket Sen (Physics, India), Shiza Fatimah (Computer Science, India) and Sophia Falk (Resource Economics, Germany). Close friends as well as colleagues, the four researchers share a clear vision: language AI must be open, ethical, and—most importantly in the future—available for more languages, especially those that are underrepresented online. Unlike English, these languages often lack the large, high-quality datasets needed to train language models—a major challenge. In this interview, the team talks about their project Polyglot, what they’ve learned over the past months, and their hopes for the future.

How a team is using process management to bring about change at the University of Bonn

Going forward, students are to use a central online platform to apply for semesters abroad. The aim is to make the process faster, simpler and more transparent for applicants and staff alike. Before any digitalization work can begin, however, the Organizational Development team at the University of Bonn gets involved.

Bonn hosts student congress for comparative literature for the first time in 10 years

Julia Keuer and Simon Wiener, two comparative literature students at the University of Bonn, organized the 15th Comparative Literature Student Congress (Studierendenkongress der Komparatistik, or SKK)—the largest German-speaking conference for students of comparative literature—together with a team of fellow students. Entitled “Literatur und Grenzen” (“Literature and Borders/Boundaries”), it brought nearly 30 speakers and some 100 other participants together. In an interview and podcast, the pair discuss their challenges and successes—and why they would go through all the trouble all over again.

Learning to Learn

Loads of written exams, deadlines for handing in term papers, not enough time—for many students, things can quickly become too much. There is unlikely to be anybody who knows how to learn more effectively and divide up their time better as does Kathrin Herrmann from the Central Study Advisory and Counseling Service at the University of Bonn. In her workshop, entitled “Learning Strategies and More,” she tells students how they can “learn to learn” and what strategies are out there.

Second Life to Used Furniture from the University Main Building

What actually happens to the old furniture from the Main Building, now that it is being fully vacated for pending renovation works? This is a question many people in Bonn are pondering upon. Good news: The office desks, shelves and associated items will not be disposed of—they will remain in use.

Editorial forsch 2025/02

Dear Readers, The University of Bonn has come out right on top once again, retaining its crown as Germany’s most successful University of Excellence by securing eight Clusters of Excellence—more than any other university in the country.

Full House: University of Bonn awarded eight Clusters of Excellence

The University of Bonn once again made history in the contest to secure Clusters of Excellence. Having already set a record back in 2019, when it was awarded six clusters, it went two better on May 27 of this year, when the Excellence Commission accepted all eight of its proposals in the final round—more than any other university in the competition. The research being conducted at the eight Clusters span the full spectrum of different disciplines.

AI Think Tank “AI is a Must-Have for Anyone Who Wants to Do Top-Level Research”

How is the use of artificial intelligence going to shape research, teaching and administration at the University of Bonn? AI expert Professor Christian Bauckhage, Professor of Computer Science at the University of Bonn, Co-Director of the Lamarr Institute and Speaker for the University-wide AI Think Tank, explains how systems of this kind are already transforming people’s day-to-day work and why the power of human judgment is set to become ever more important in the future.

Pathways: “It’s Nice That People are Thinking of Us”

For many young people, embarking on a degree program at a university is a big step—even more so if they are also coming from a refugee or migration background. The University of Bonn runs a special grant program just for these students and doctoral candidates that offers them financial support as well as networking opportunities and career prospects. Two recipients of these grants explain how Pathways to Research is helping them.

Miniature Digital Treasure

What do old maps, aristocrats’ autograph books and travel journals all have in common? Across the world, historians are attempting to make historical sources like these accessible electronically. These digital treasure troves are a real font of information, including for University of Bonn students who are encountering historical sources for the first time. It is hardly surprising that the Department of Early Modern History and Rhenish Regional History is indexing precisely these kinds of data source and showcasing them on Instagram as part of the “Datendonner” (“Data Thursdays”) project, which is celebrating its fifth anniversary in July 2025.

Striving for Perfection: Effortlessly flawless?

Irina Dumitrescu describes writing as an adventure. Getting the first few lines down on a page is difficult, but when she eventually gets “in the flow,” she is enjoys the pleasure of discovery. Something unexpected always happens while she writes. “Writing is my obsession, my laboratory ... and my subconscious mind is the treasure trove I draw on,” says Dumitrescu, who is Professor of Medieval Studies at the Department of English, American, and Celtic Studies. Students attending her classes get to travel back through time: “Trying to be Perfect in the Middle Ages“ hit a nerve. Dialogue with students, new perspectives, and an intensity of production are part of her research process. Johannes Seiler interviewed Professor Dumitrescu, who is an author, essayist and podcaster.

Fit for Everday Hospital Work

Emergencies, night shifts, high-pressure decision-making ... it takes more than specialized knowledge to work in medicine. That’s why the University of Bonn Faculty of Medicine offers courses specifically designed to help students become more mentally resilient, in cooperation with Jung-Stilling Siegen Hospital—a protestant social services clinic. Extreme athlete Joey Kelly returned as one of this year’s special course participants at University Hospital Bonn (UKB) and in Siegen, who did a night hike with outdoor sleeping together with students.

Green Islands for Poppelsdorf Campus

Thanks to a student initiative, four plantbox seating islands were recently created at Poppelsdorf Campus, making this area of the University of Bonn greener and more inviting. The plantboxes promote biodiversity, improve the climate and make the campus a more pleasant place to be.

Sustainable Building in the Service of Research

The University of Bonn is continuing to invest in sustainable infrastructure and is currently constructing a new Sample and Vegetation Center for the Faculty of Agricultural, Nutritional, and Engineering Sciences. The newbuild will meet the most stringent environmental standards and thus serve as a role model for construction that is focused on the future.

From a Punched-Card Reader to a Supercomputer

Graduated. Now What?

You should start thinking about life after university even while you are still studying. The Career Service at the University of Bonn can help you out here. The Career Service’s tips for students.

Visual Computing Incubator Generating Virtual Worlds

The metal dome stretches across the nearly seven-meter-high hall like a spider’s web. With the help of over 300 specially developed high-performance lighting modules, laser projectors, cameras and other optical sensors, it will be transformed over the next few months into a “capture stage” that will enable University of Bonn researchers to generate lifelike digital worlds. With its new Visual Computing Incubator (VCI), housed in a building on Am Propsthof, the University of Bonn is helping its researchers and local start-up entrepreneurs to conjure up virtual worlds. Close collaboration with the University’s own enaCom Transfer Center is creating an incubator and technological breeding ground for deep-tech start-ups. The state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) is providing around €3 million in funding for the pioneering technology.

Why Bonn University Ambassadors are representing the University of Bonn abroad

Having got to know the University of Bonn inside out during a research visit, the 15 active Bonn University Ambassadors are now performing an ambassadorial role for their German alma mater. They are all successful researchers at research institutions in other countries, where they tell interested students and fellow researchers about how they might study and work in Bonn. They also engage in close dialogue with researchers at the University through joint teaching, event and research formats and put people in touch with contacts abroad. Four Ambassadors tell us why they have chosen to represent their German alma mater and what they appreciate about our city.

“Pioneers Aren’t Born, They’re Made”

Professor Denise Fischer-Kreer accepted her appointment as Professor for Entrepreneurial Behaviour at the University of Bonn in October 2023. Her institute is part of the Faculty of Agricultural, Nutritional, and Engineering Sciences. In an interview, she explains why she offers her new business management module to all the faculties and what skills you need when setting up your own company.

“Ethical Behavior Needs a Global Mindset”

Experts gathered at the German Reference Center for Ethics in the Life Sciences (DRZE) at the University of Bonn to discuss “the rediscovery of bioethics.” The center, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, represented a landmark in bioethics research in Germany when it was founded. Climate change and artificial intelligence (AI) are just two of the many developments presenting us with new ethical challenges. The head of the DRZE, Professor Dirk Lanzerath, explains in an interview how bioethics has evolved, why individual autonomy is no longer enough and what makes solidarity key. What he has to say makes it clear that responsibility and ethical behavior need a global mindset.