uni.news

» Published on 13. Dezember 2016

Optical tractor beam traps bacteria

Physicists from Bielefeld University report on new methods in ‘Nature Communications’

Up to now, if scientists wanted to study blood cells, algae, or bacteria under the microscope, they had to mount these cells on a substrate such as a glass slide. Physicists at Bielefeld and Frankfurt Universities have developed a method that traps biological cells with a laser beam enabling them to study them at very high resolutions. In science fiction books and films, the principle is known as the ‘tractor beam’. Using this procedure, the physicists have obtained superresolution images of the DNA in single bacteria. The physicist Robin Diekmann and his colleagues are publishing this new development this Tuesday (13.12.2016) in the latest issue of the research journal ‘Nature Communications’.

» Published on 12. Dezember 2016

Thinking Technology

Publication of latest issue of BI.research

For nearly ten years now, Bielefeld University’s Cluster of Excellence Center in Cognitive Interactive Technology (CITEC) has been carrying out basic research on smart technical systems that adapt their behaviour autonomously to the expectations and needs of their human interaction partners. The main theme of the latest issue of BI.research – Bielefeld University’s research magazine – is the innovative projects with which CITEC wants to improve our lives in the future, the researchers who are working there, and how the Cluster of Excellence has grown over the years.

» Published on 21. November 2016

New Collaborative Research Center at Bielefeld University

German Research Foundation approves new Collaborative Research Center “Comparative Practices” 

Beginning in January 2017, “Comparative Practices,” the new Collaborative Research Center 1288 (CRC, Sonderforschungsbereich) at Bielefeld University, will be funded by the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft), first for the next four years. The German Research Foundation announced its decision to provide nearly 9 million Euro in funding on 21 November 2016. The CRC, which was evaluated in September, is an interdisciplinary research group of scholars from the fields of history and literary studies, art history, Romance studies and English-language studies, philosophy, law, and political science, as well as inter-American studies. The Center also works closely with the Bielefeld Graduate School in History and Sociology (BGHS) and the Center for Interdisciplinary Research (Zentrum für interdisziplinäre Forschung). History Professor Dr. Angelika Epple serves as speaker of the CRC.

» Published on 7. November 2016

Bielefeld iGEM Team awarded Gold Medal

Students entered international competition in Boston 

Eleven Bielefeld University students have developed a system that could, for example, be used against viruses like Zika. They recently (27-31 October 2016) showcased their project at the finals of the iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machine) in Boston, USA. The team was awarded a gold medal for realising their project “Evobodies – molecular speed dating” and nominated for a further prize. All in all, around 300 teams from all over the world took place.

» Published on 17. Oktober 2016

UNIplus Staffing Initiative: More Than 40 Additional Professors for Bielefeld University

Significant investment in personnel to be made in the next two years

“In the next two years, we will be hiring more than 40 additional professors,” announced Rector of Bielefeld University Professor Dr.-Ing. Gerhard Sagerer in his speech at the annual university reception held on Friday, 14 October 2016. “We will mostly be accelerating tenure appointments, which is the core of our comprehensive staffing initiative known as UNIplus. With this initiative, we will ensure the quality of university teaching while at the same time enhancing our research profile.” This initiative is being made possible the university’s financial situation in the medium term, which has become more predictable. “I am pleased that Bielefeld University is using the financial resources for a strategic staffing initiative,” says Minister of Science Svenja Schulze. 

» Published on 10. Oktober 2016

Bielefeld University sets up clearing house for refugees

The 2016/2017 winter semester will also offer language courses, learning support, tutorials, and sponsorships

‘A year and a half ago, we had the first queries from refugees interested in studying at Bielefeld University,’ explains Professor Dr. Angelika Epple, Vice-Rector for International Affairs and Diversity. ‘We are now offering refugees a comprehensive programme based on three pillars: clearing, orientation, and language.’ In the coming 2016/2017 winter semester, more than 80 refugees will be taking orientation and language courses at Bielefeld University.

» Published on 30. September 2016

Chinese Friendship Award for Bielefeld chemist

Second award winner at Bielefeld University 

The Chinese government has conferred the highest national honour for foreign experts, the National Friendship Award of the People’s Republic of China, on the Bielefeld chemist Professor Dr. Katharina Kohse-Höinghaus. The award is traditionally conferred in Peking to commemorate the 1st of October, the National Day celebrating the founding of the People's Republic of China. Together with eight further Germans, Kohse-Höinghaus received the award in the seat of government Zhongnanhai.

» Published on 28. September 2016

New International Research Training Group in mathematics

Bielefeld University cooperating with Seoul National University, South Korea 

Whether cancer cells or galaxies: the universe is full of irregular structures. Mathematicians in the International Research Training Group (IRTG) at Bielefeld University and Seoul National University (South Korea) are searching for hidden laws in random systems. On Friday the 7th of October, the IRTG will open officially under the title ‘Searching for the regular in the irregular: Analysis of singular and random systems’. Guests include the South Korean Spokesperson of the IRTG, Professor Panki Kim from Seoul, and Kyoungae Mun, Director of the Korean Education Center at the Korean Embassy in Berlin. Ceremonies commence at 15.30 in Lecture hall E0-002 in Bielefeld University’s Building X.

» Published on 6. September 2016

Towards the Workplace of the Future – with Virtual Reality

Conference to be held at CITEC, the Cluster of Excellence at Bielefeld University 

Virtual reality (VR) does not just help companies save money when it comes to testing new technologies; it also enables trainees and students to quickly and intensively learn on-the-job skills (e.g. in a virtual hospital). From 8–9 September 2016, experts will present the latest developments and studies on augmented and virtual reality at the Cluster of Excellence Cognitive Interaction Technology (CITEC) of Bielefeld University. This conference also includes a competition in which the researchers will demonstrate how virtual and augmented reality will enhance the workplace of the future.

» Published on 6. September 2016

Bielefeld students working on a system to counter viruses such as Zika

iGEM team entering the international competition in Boston  

Pathogens such as the Zika virus regularly impose new challenges on modern medicine. With their great adaptability, viruses are particularly difficult to diagnose and treat. A team of eleven students attending different natural science courses at Bielefeld University is carrying out research on generating proteins to counter viruses such as Zika. The group is taking this idea to the 2016 iGEM competition in Boston, USA. iGEM stands for ‘international Genetically Engineered Machine’ and is the most important non-commercial competition in synthetic biology. From the 27th to the 31st of October, 300 teams from more than 30 nations have developed projects with which they will be competing in various categories.