Niedersachsen Science Prize in three categories for TU Braunschweig Professor Andreas Waag, Professor Patrick Schwerdtner and Master student Sarah Koop-Brinkmann honoured

On the evening of 20 November, the Niedersachsen Science Prize was awarded by Science Minister Falko Mohrs to scientists and students from universities in Niedersachsen. Technische Universität Braunschweig was represented by three award winners – Professor Andreas Waag, Professor Patrick Schwerdtner and Master student Sarah Koop-Brinkmann. The prize is worth a total of 109,000 euros.

On Wednesday evening, Niedersachsen’s Science Minister, Falko Mohrs, presented the Niedersachsen Science Award 2024 at the Landesmuseum Hannover to four scientists who have made outstanding contributions to the development of higher education in the state. He also honoured three students and one student team. The prize honours outstanding achievements in research, transfer, teaching and studies. The winners were nominated by the universities of Niedersachsen. The selection was made by the Scientific Commission of Niedersachsen (WKN). A separate jury was responsible for the ‘Teaching’ category.

Falko Mohrs, Niedersachsen’s Science Minister, said: “Science provides us with the tools and knowledge to understand and shape the world around us. It plays an important role in the functioning of democracies and drives the innovation we need to remain competitive as a business location. Our universities are the source of new ideas, knowledge and technologies every day. With the Niedersachsen Science Award, we honour personalities who make an important contribution to this through their outstanding achievements – in research, transfer, teaching or study. They create the scientific and technological basis for key technologies, find solutions to challenges related to our most important resource, water, and contribute to new therapeutic concepts with their findings: This year’s award winners impressively demonstrate how our science in Niedersachsen is a driving force for the development of our state and contributes to making life in Niedersachsen a little better every day. And the prizewinners show: Our universities train the well-qualified and committed specialists we need for our economic progress and public services. I would like to congratulate all the prize winners.”

Winner Professor Andreas Waag

Professor Andreas Waag, from the Institute of Semiconductor Technology at TU Braunschweig, won the €25,000 prize in the ‘Scientist at a university in Niedersachsen’ category. The jury wrote about him: “He has made an exemplary contribution to raising the profile of TU Braunschweig through his outstanding research achievements. This is reflected not only in the high number of publications and third-party funds acquired (…), but also in the extremely successful transfer of his research results to industry and his strong commitment to international cooperation and students.”

Angela Ittel, President of TU Braunschweig: “A metrology research centre, a Niedersachsen alliance for quantum research, a research alliance for gallium nitride research and much more – Prof. Andreas Waag is a prime example of how cooperation and the recognition and use of synergies across disciplines, university boundaries and nations not only lead to excellent research, but also to new technologies for society. TU Braunschweig is very proud to have such an outstanding and integrative scientist and role model among its members. My sincere thanks for the unique work and my warmest congratulations on winning the Niedersachsen Science Award!”

Professor Andreas Waag heads the Institute of Semiconductor Technology and his research focuses on the light-emitting material gallium nitride. Gallium nitride microelectronics are now used in a wide range of applications that we come into contact with every day. White light LEDs have completely replaced incandescent lamps, fast nitride transistors are used in 5G communications technology, and gallium nitride power transistors increase the efficiency of inverters in photovoltaics. By miniaturising and scaling thousands of light-emitting semiconductor devices on a single chip, Professor Waag is developing key optical technologies for quantum and nanometrology and other next-generation applications. As spokesperson for the LENA research centre and the TU metrology research focus, and as co-spokesperson for the ‘QuantumFrontiers’ metrology excellence cluster, he is contributing these technologies to enable measurements at the quantum limit with unprecedented precision and to develop novel optical processors for artificial intelligence.

The focus on miniaturisation and scalability provides a bridge to the application of quantum research. For example, Professor Waag is one of the initiators of Quantum Valley Lower Saxony (QVLS), a cross-institutional network that aims to realise scalable quantum computers in Niedersachsen by 2021. On the other hand, as co-founder of the Nitride Technology Centre (NTC), he is working on combining the luminosity of gallium nitride with conventional silicon microelectronics. With Professor Waag, Technische Universität Braunschweig has established itself as a nucleus for innovative networks and large-scale projects in the field of quantum metrology and microelectronics.

Winner Professor Patrick Schwerdtner

In the ‘Teaching Award’ category, Professor Patrick Schwerdtner of the Institute of Construction Management and Economics (IBB) at TU Braunschweig received the €25,000 prize. The citation for the award reads as follows: “Mr Schwerdtner impresses with his combination of theory and practice and his great commitment. This obviously applies not only to the content of his teaching, but also to the didactics and methodology. He values the opinions of his students and uses them to continually improve his courses. Mr Schwerdtner convinced the jury with the breadth and continuity of his commitment, which is reflected in the vote of the Study Commission as well as in the vote of the students from the fields of Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering and Industrial Engineering/Construction.”

Angela Ittel, President of TU Braunschweig: “Professor Patrick Schwerdtner is a highly valued member of TU Braunschweig among professors and students, whom he supports in a variety of ways both in and out of the classroom. The Academic Commission regularly reviews the teaching evaluations and conducts end-of-semester interviews with students. All of his lectures regularly receive the highest praise and recognition. In particular, his motivational style, the way he encourages discussion and the many practical examples he gives are all praised. This teaching award shows how good teaching can be successful and how it is appreciated at TU Braunschweig. Congratulations!”

Professor Patrick Schwerdtner emphasises a holistic approach to teaching, integrating subject-related principles and practical experience with the training of academic skills. In particular, innovative teaching concepts such as game-based learning are an integral part of the Institute’s curriculum. He continuously develops his teaching in a student-centred way, incorporating the latest research findings and taking into account current social and didactic discourses on sustainability and digitalisation. He incorporates elements of hybrid/digital and blended learning, innovative methods and practical examples into his teaching to ensure student learning. In this way, Professor Schwerdtner creates good practice in teaching that benefits both the subject and the students.

In a larger context, the research infrastructure ‘Digital Construction Site’ should also be mentioned – a project that has been funded with approximately 3.4 million euros from EU regional funds. The aim is to conduct large-scale research into modern, increasingly digitised construction methods. Professor Schwerdtner and his team aim to actively integrate this infrastructure into teaching, thus preparing students for future professional challenges.

Winner Sarah Koop-Brinkmann

Sarah Koop-Brinkmann, an electrical engineering student at Technische Universität Braunschweig, won the Student category and will receive a cash prize of €3,500. The jury based its decision on the fact that “she has distinguished herself both by her outstanding academic achievements and by her social commitment in supporting students interested in studying a subject of their choice as well as foreign students.

Even before completing her Master’s degree, Ms Koop-Brinkmann had already published three peer-reviewed articles as first author. She is involved in the ‘step in MINT’ programme and answers questions from prospective students about MINT studies (…). She also supports Ukrainian students and researchers at the Institute for CMOS Design in their daily work.”

Angela Ittel, President of TU Braunschweig: “Sarah Koop-Brinkmann completed her bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering with outstanding grades and is currently doing research as part of her master’s degree at Keio University in Japan. She also mentors prospective female students and international students during their studies. She is an outstanding role model, combining the pursuit of scientific excellence with social and community engagement. It gives me great pleasure to see a new generation of committed, outstanding and internationally experienced researchers emerging at TU Braunschweig. At the same time, it is an inspiration for young women to pursue a technical career. Congratulations!”

During her electrical engineering studies at the Institute of CMOS Design, Sarah Koop-Brinkmann specialised in analogue integrated high-frequency circuit technology, where she also works as a student assistant during her current master’s programme. As part of this work, she pursues her own research interests, the results of which she has already presented at international conferences. In addition to her academic work, she supports international students at the Institute with translations and visits to the authorities, has worked as a language coach and organised study meetings.

Through the cooperation in the field of quantum electronics between the Institute of CMOS Design at TU Braunschweig and the Ishikuro Laboratory at Keio University in Tokyo, she is able to deepen her knowledge of mixed-signal circuits on an international level and pass on her expertise in RF circuits.

Sarah Koop-Brinkmann is keen to inspire female students to take up STEM subjects, for example at orientation events for girls. She is currently involved as a mentor in the CyberMentorPlus programme. In combination with an offer in schools, she accompanies a female student in a weekly exchange for one year and serves as a contact person for questions about career and study choices.

About the award

The Niedersachsen Science Prize has been awarded in four different categories since 2007. The prizewinners are nominated by the universities in Niedersachsen and selected by the Niedersachsen Science Commission. TU Braunschweig has been represented by several winners, most recently by Prof. Franziska Neumann and Antonia Schultz (2023), Mandy Hoffmann (2022), Prof. Arno Kwade and the student initiative MethodAid (2021) and Prof. Stefanie Kroker and Michael Perk (2020).