Ethicist Prof. Dr. Christiane Woopen of the University of Bonn received this year's Wilhelm Weber Award in Dortmund for her many years of social commitment. The prize, named after the theologian and social scientist Prof. Dr. Wilhelm Weber (1925-1983), is awarded for "special services in the spirit of Catholic social ethics." During a ceremony at the Kommende Dortmund, the social institute of the archdiocese of Paderborn, former federal constitutional judge Prof. Dr. Paul Kirchhof gave the laudatory speech for the prize winner.

Malnutrition in developing countries is best addressed not by increasing the variety of crops grown on smallholder farms, but by improving access to markets. This is the conclusion of a recent study by the MwAPATA Institute in Malawi and the University of Bonn in Germany. More variety in animal production, however, does show positive effects. The findings are now published in the journal “Lancet Planetary Health”.

Prof. Dr. Uwe-Jens Wiese from the University of Bern receives a research award from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. Prof. Dr. Ulf-G. Meißner of the Helmholtz Institute for Radiation and Nuclear Physics at the University of Bonn nominated the scientist for the award. The two have known and appreciated each other for a long time and now want to further develop new methods together. The prize is endowed with 60,000 euros.

The Universitätsgesellschaft Bonn (UGB) presented its prestigious prizes for superlative doctoral theses and its Initiative Award for student involvement during its spring matinée. The ceremony returned to being held in person in the Arithmeum.

Members of the Senate and University Council of the University of Bonn have passed a resolution expressing their broad support for the Rectorate's plans to build sustainable interim spaces on part of the Hofgarten during the ten-year renovation period of the main building. This is intended to create urgently needed alternative space for the lecture halls and auditorium that will be eliminated.

Coevolution between pathogens and host plant immune systems shapes a multifaceted network of interactions that remain phenotypically unrecognised and functionally elusive unless single players are depleted from the system. The maize-colonising fungus Ustilago maydis secretes a complex effector blend in order to suppress defence and redirect host metabolism in its favour. An international research team, including scientist from IPK Leibniz Institute and the University of Bonn, elucidates the effector protein Rip1, which is involved in immunity suppression during biotrophy. The results were published in the journal Plant Cell.  

The Gender Studies Prize and the Maria von Linden Prize were presented last Friday at a ceremony held in the former Fritz’ Café in the University of Bonn’s main building. With these accolades, the Gender Equality Office is honoring superlative theses and doctoral theses on gender and queer studies and outstanding commitment to gender equality.

To promote the worldwide dialogue of theologies of different religions among themselves, but also to network with other disciplines - that is the goal of the newly founded International Center for Comparative Theology and Social Issues (CTSI) at the University of Bonn. The official opening of the Center will now take place on May 4 at 10 a.m. in the Festsaal (main building) of the University. Words of welcome will be given by Lord Mayor Katja Dörner, Rector Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Michael Hoch and Auxiliary Bishop Rolf Steinhäuser. Media representatives and all other interested persons are invited to attend the opening event. Registration is requested: lwiesenh@uni-bonn.de.