Besides traditional elements such as the ceremonial entry of the members of the Rectorate and deans, the program also included edifying scientific talks and musical performances as well as an overview of the past year and a look ahead to the future. Rector Professor Michael Hoch shared a long list of exceptional achievements by the University of Excellence with an audience of several hundred University members and numerous guests from the worlds of science, academia, business, politics and city society. For instance, the total amount of third-party funding secured increased to €206.9 million, which marks a new record in both absolute and per capita terms. With seven new Starting Grants awarded during the 2024 call, the number of University of Bonn researchers being funded by the European Research Council (ERC) rose to a new record of 52, while many members of the University won illustrious research prizes. The University of Bonn also climbed to 89th in the world and 5th in Germany in the rankings published by the UK-based magazine “THE” and as high as 61st in the world and 4th in Germany in the Shanghai Ranking—both new all-time highs.
The University of Bonn is continuously improving its standing in the global competition, Rector Professor Hoch said. “It’s this constant dynamism that sets our University of Excellence apart as it works tirelessly to deliver its strategy for the future.” However, this was not the only figure that the Rector announced with great pride: “At the cut-off date, which was on October 1, 2024, no less than 30.3 per cent of our professorships were held by women, meaning that we have hit the ambitious target that we set ourselves for 2026 two whole years early. This is a fantastic achievement, although of course we shan’t be resting on our laurels.”
Commemorating the events of 80 years ago
This year, the opening ceremony was also an opportunity to remember back to a particularly difficult time: 80 years ago to the day, an Allied airstrike reduced the University’s baroque Main Building and vast swathes of central Bonn to ashes and rubble, killing a great many people in the process. Mayor of Bonn Katja Dörner also commemorated the incident in her welcoming speech: “From today’s perspective, historical events like these often seem a world away from the realities of our own lives. However, current conflicts and crises are making it crystal clear that we cannot be allowed to take our peace in Europe and our democratic values for granted.” She stressed how students and the University had a particularly important role to play within city society in this regard. “The University, as a space for discourse and debate, and the political and social engagement of many of its students make Bonn a richer place to live in. One example of this is the demonstrations toward the beginning of the year that spoke out in favor of a tolerant society and against hate and exclusion and that many students also took part in.”
United against anti-Semitism
Janna Reif, President of the General Students’ Committee of the University of Bonn, presented the students’ perspective, discussing the impact of the Middle East conflict on University life, which in the previous academic year was marked by protests that are still ongoing. “The actions of various groups mean that a lot of Jewish and Israeli students no longer feel safe on campus,” she lamented. Reif believed that the pro-Palestinian activists were painting themselves as victims instead of taking responsibility for their own actions and said that they had refused to engage in dialogue. She firmly rejected the protesters’ demand that the Student Parliament revoke its resolution against anti-Semitism: “Needless to say, this will never happen, and we will continue to stand united against anti-Semitism in all its forms!”
Professor Christian Bauckhage from the University of Bonn’s Institute for Computer Science gave a keynote speech entitled “The world of tomorrow—How artificial intelligence will change our lives.” “As shown not least by the destination of this year’s Nobel Prizes, artificial intelligence is now revolutionizing research and teaching,” the researcher said. “The University of Bonn is already in an outstanding position in this regard. In the next few years, however, we will need to keep on working together if we are to shape this change successfully over the long term.”
Marie-Leonie Zabel and Mia Wietkamp from the campus radio station bonnFM were the moderators for the event, while the Jazz Choir from the Music Forum at the University of Bonn ensured a convivial atmosphere. The event was simultaneously interpreted into sign language (German) and into English.
