The Week at TU Braunschweig | 30.10.2025 Our Newsletter for all Employees
Topics: Forest pathology + IT class reunion + Award-winning teaching
Editor: Bianca Loschinsky and Anika Stegeman
► Humboldt Research Award for fight against tree diseases
On the recommendation of Prof. André Fleißner from the Institute of Genetics, Prof. Bernard Slippers from the University of Pretoria was awarded the Humboldt Research Award. He will spend his research stay at TU Braunschweig to deepen the existing cooperation in researching and combating tree diseases.
► These quantum dots connect Taiwan and Braunschweig
Almost 9,500 kilometres separate Prof. Vadim Issakov’s team from their partners at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) in Taiwan. Together, they are focusing on tiny germanium-atom-based atoms with the aim of enabling quantum computers.
► Entrepreneurial passion can be learned!
Dr Mirjam Nicole Streeb from the University of Bayreuth, has won the Stöbich Entrepreneurship Promotion Prize for her outstanding dissertation on entrepreneurship. In her thesis, she examined the role of passion in start-ups. Congratulations!
► Rottendorf Science Awards presented
Dr Lukas Ernst, formerly of the Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology at TU Braunschweig, and Dr Lennart Brewitz of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Oxford, recently received the Rottendorf Foundation Science Award at the House of Science in recognition of their exceptional contributions to pharmaceutical research.
► “Travelling light“: Digital solution wanted – please get in touch!
This week, the “Creative, Digital Interim Solutions“ team from the “Travelling Light“ transformation project is promoting the Element Chatroom “Tech Tinder: Solution wanted – please get in touch“, which offers a straightforward way to post digital requirements and receive suggestions for possible solutions from the TU community. It is now in trial operation and can be found here! Further information is available on the project website.
► “Travelling light“: Internal work shadowing
How does the department next door actually work? Until 21 November, the “Support instead of control“ team is offering a work shadowing programme. If you would like to shadow someone during a typical working day or explore the department next door, you can register at interne-hospitation@tu-braunschweig.de. More information is available on the project website.
► Starting university 50 years ago!
This is a great opportunity to bring together around 30 alumni, who made up about half of the first-year computer science students from 1975. After a guided tour organised with the support of the Alumni network, participants shared many memories at the Informatics Centre.
► Inaugural lecture
Prof. Selma Saidi, Institute of Computer Engineering, will hold her inaugural lecture “Designing Thinking Machines: Reasoning in the Era of Physical AI” on 4 November.
► Virtual worlds, real education?
This is the title of an interdisciplinary hybrid lecture series organised by the INTERXR project on the use of extended reality (XR) in educational contexts. Prof. Alexander Büssing will open the series with a talk entitled ‘Extended realities as a topic of educational research’ on 11 November.
► Online symposium “Global Citizenship in Action”
On 19 November, TU Braunschweig and the University of Rhode Island will be organising an online symposium featuring presentations by students, researchers and other stakeholders on various topics related to global education.
► Wizlav the young singer
To mark the 700th anniversary of the death of the medieval poet, Wizlav of Rügen, the Institute of German Studies is holding a conference and concert on 7 and 8 November. The aim is to raise awareness of his minnesongs and songs of praise, which have received little attention to date.
► Online lecture series: “Healthcare buildings of the future”
In this dialogue series, organised by Architects for Hospital Construction and Healthcare, Lukas Jurk from the Institute of Construction Design, Industrial and Health Care Building (IKE) will present the new “PlanGesund.info” platform on 18 December. The series is aimed at architecture students, among others.
► Virtual lunch breaks: Sustainability in Teaching
The Green Office is inviting you to its digital lunch series. Every Thursday from 12–12:30 p.m., experts from academia and professional practice will share their insights. The series begins on 6 November with Dr Jochen Spielmann from the Competence Centre for University Didactics in Lower Saxony.
► “TUmorrow Journal 25/26″ published
The second issue of the sustainability journal has been published, this time in both German and English. The TUmorrow Journal illustrates how teaching, study and engagement at our university contribute to sustainable development.
► Abbot Jerusalem Prize: Apply now!
The Abt Jerusalem Prize recognises exceptional scientific research at the intersection of the humanities, natural sciences, and technology. The deadline for applications is 15 January 2026.
► Global Minds in DFG Consortia
This funding initiative allows DFG-funded consortia to integrate an outstanding, experienced researcher from abroad into their work. EXC and CRC can apply for additional funding through either the Professorships or the Mercator Fellows Global module. The application deadline is March 6, 2026.
► New DAAD project funding
In October, the DAAD announced new programmes for project funding. The programmes support international projects in the fields of study, research, teaching and administration. There are currently eight open calls for proposals.
► Blood donation on the main campus
On 3 and 4 November, the German Red Cross will be present with its blood donation vehicle on the main campus between 11am and 5pm. Appointments to donate blood can be booked in advance.
► Darling of the week
… inspire students with their teaching and convey knowledge vividly. At the TU Teaching Award ceremony on 27 October, lecturers were honoured in five categories for their exceptional commitment. A total of 136 courses and 177 lecturers were nominated by students in advance. Congratulations!
► 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.