The Week at TU Braunschweig | 18.09.2026 Our Newsletter for all Employees

Topics: Fungal Network + AI Resistance + 40 Years of Fire Safety Conferences

Editor: János Krüger

► Ecoversity Expedition: A week for the region

Under the motto “Discover. Connect. Create”, TU Braunschweig and its partners are offering a wide range of lectures, workshops and hands-on activities from 1 to 7 October for interested members of the public from Braunschweig and the surrounding region. Proposals for the expedition can still be submitted until 30 September.

► Quantum magnetism in Japan

Prof. Stefan Süllow is conducting research for eight weeks at Hokkaido University in Sapporo. This research visit is made possible by a JSPS Invitational Fellowship from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and strengthens international exchange in research into quantum magnetism.

► “Concrete is anything but boring”

Prof. Thomas Matschei has been heading the Building Materials section at the Institute of Building Materials, Concrete Construction and Fire Safety (iBMB) since April. For him, concrete is a fascinating material that he aims to develop further. In this interview, he talks about his vision for a more climate-friendly concrete.

► Fungal research: Network between Braunschweig and Pretoria is growing

With Humboldt Prize winner Prof. Bernard Slippers’ research visit to TUBraunschweig, the collaboration – which has been in place for three years – is developing into an international centre for fungal research. In the interview, Prof. BernardSlippers and Prof. André Fleißner from the Institute of Genetics explain why this collaboration is so important right now.

► Taiwan: Christoph Herrmann appointed visiting professor

Christoph Herrmann, professor at TU Braunschweig and director of Fraunhofer IST, has been appointed Distinguished Chair Professor at Feng Chia University in Taiwan. The visiting professorship strengthens research and educational collaboration in the fields of materials science and engineering.

► Register now for the Nagoya Protocol Compliance workshop

Anyone working with non-human genetic material from countries outside Germany may find the workshop on the international Nagoya Protocol on 11 November of interest. The Responsible Research Support team will provide an overview of the current legal situation.

► Knowledge nugget: Assessment in the age of ChatGPT

How can lecturers design exams with AI-resistant questions? On 24 September, Prof. York Hagmayer (University of Göttingen) will present, in a 45-minute online session, empirically tested question types that challenge AI whilst ensuring students are assessed fairly.

► DLR_Uni_Summer_School 2026 with students from across Germany

Unique: Together with flight test engineers, they plan experiments, collect measurement data during the flight and analyse it. Around 40 students specialising in aerospace engineering took part this year.

► Academic Advice Service: Events for prospective students

The first event for school pupils takes place on 24 September. Parents can find out more on 13 January. Click here for the winter semester programme (PDF).

► ‘Transforming Cities’ conference – register now

On 27 and 28 October, the ‘GeDiMINT’ project, in collaboration with the ‘City of the Future’ research cluster and ReSpace!, is organising a conference on gender dimensions in urban and mobility research. Registration is now open.

► Awards for student projects

Projects can still be submitted for the student competition “Best Impact Project 2026” until 25 September. The awards recognise projects developed in Impact courses. Please feel free to share this information!

► Applications for Die Junge Akademie in Berlin

The Academy promotes interdisciplinary collaboration between young researchers and artists. Applications for a five-year membership can be submitted until 11 November.

► On a personal note: Outstanding training

For the eighth year running, the Press and Communications Unit has been named among the winners of the Federal Association for University Communication. The award, presented at the annual conference, recognised the unit’s exemplary trainee programme. We are delighted!

► Our favourite of the week

… are the Braunschweig Fire Safety Days, which have been putting research into practice for 40 years. Right at the heart of it all: Prof. Jochen Zehfuß, scientific conference chair and head of the Fire Safety department at the iBMB. In the magazine, he talks about the development of fire safety research – and his personal motivation.

► Events

There is always something going on at TU Braunschweig. Discussions, information events, concerts and much more. Take a look at our calendar of events and get inspired.