How can inflammatory responses be stimulated or inhibited? How do inflammasomes act as inflammatory switches at a molecular level? Prof. Dr. Matthias Geyer from the Institute of Structural Biology at University Hospital Bonn, the transdisciplinary research area “Life & Health” and the ImmunoSensation2 Cluster of Excellence at the University of Bonn is carrying out research into these and other questions. The scientist has now been awarded a coveted Advanced Grant from the European Research Council (ERC) for this project. The European Union will provide total funding of around 2.5 million euros over the next five years.

New high-tech measurement methods are required to detect new phenomena sought after in particle physics. The University of Bonn Research and Technology Center for Detector Physics (FTD), thanks to its research groups, is a leading developer of such detector technology, employed at research institutions around the world. A ceremony was held for operational start-up of the scientific equipment, attended by numerous high-profile guests. 

Constantly increasing data volumes, ever more complex calculation and modeling—working with large amounts of data is crucial in many fields of research. The new high-performance computer "Marvin" now makes it easier for University of Bonn researchers to leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning. Featuring a scalable GPU partition, Marvin is among the world’s top 500 most powerful computers. Funded in part under the Excellence program, the acquisition of Marvin comes as part of the University of Bonn digital strategy. 

A high-profile delegation from the University of Ghana visited the University of Bonn in connection with the International Days. The two universities are strategic partners, collaborating across all areas institution-wide: degree programs, teaching and research. Members of the University of Bonn Rectorate had visited Accra before the outbreak of the global coronavirus pandemic, so this reciprocating visit of several days by friends from Ghana represented an important moment for the partnership.

Which sustainability goals do people in Germany find more important: Animal welfare? Or environmental protection? Human health is another one of these competing sustainability goals. A team of researchers from the Department of Agricultural and Food Market Research at the University of Bonn have now found that consumers surveyed in their study would rather pay more for salami with an “antibiotic-free” label than for salami with an “open barn” label that indicates that the product promotes animal welfare. The results have now been published in the journal “Q Open.”

The University of Bonn started the academic year 2023/2024 with the traditional ceremony, as the members of the Rectorate and the deans of the seven faculties greeted several hundred staff and students and numerous guests from the academic and business communities as well as policymakers and influential figures in local government in the main auditorium of the University’s Main Building. Eight Bonn University Ambassadors were on hand for the event as well, whose role is to represent Bonn as their alma mater vis-a-vis other universities around the world.

As part of this year’s International Days, the state awards and the DAAD Prize have been presented to young early-career researchers who have shown exceptional dedication to their academic field with their theses. The DAAD Prize has also recognized one individual for going above and beyond in terms of her social engagement.

The University of Bonn joins the cooperation network of the Femtec Network and will enrich the long-standing network with female MINT talents. This makes the University of Bonn the tenth partner university in this Germany-wide network of leading universities as well as internationally active partner companies. Femtec's study-accompanying program prepares female students with a passion for technology for their career entry and offers them a strong network. Female students of the University of Bonn from MINT courses at the beginning of their master's studies can apply for the study-accompanying program at Femtec until November 5.