uni.news

» Published on 22. Oktober 2015

Heavily Wired

How Microorganisms organise their power supply via nano-wires to oxidise the greenhouse gas methane

Electrical energy from the socket - this convenient type of power supply is apparently used by some microorganisms that form nanowire connections to transfer energy. Researchers have now discovered such small power grids between dual-species microbial consortia that jointly degrade methane. Using genetic methods and electron microscopy the scientists demonstrated how the wire-like connections between the cells are relevant in energy exchange. Now the researchers report their findings in the journal Nature.

» Published on 15. Oktober 2015

Do genes shape personality characteristics and social inequality?

New research group studying the causes of life chances at Bielefeld University’s Center for Interdisciplinary Research (ZiF)

We do not start life as a blank slate. Genes influence our personality characteristics and individual abilities just as strongly as social inequalities, social mobility, and social integration. But how exactly do genetic and social influences impact on our position in society? What are the advantages and disadvantages of modern research strategies such as genome-wide association studies or extended twin family designs? Can the advantages of different designs be combined? These are the questions being addressed by the second Research Group in 2015/2016 at Bielefeld University’s Center for Interdisciplinary Research (ZiF). It starts on the 19th of October with an opening conference on ‘Genetic and Social Causes of Life Chances’.

» Published on 2. Oktober 2015

Opus magnum for Professor Dr. Véronique Zanetti

Philosopher at Bielefeld University awarded grant

Compromises – what are they and what are they good for? Over the next two years, Professor Dr. Véronique Zanetti will be able to engage in an intensive academic study of this topic. She has been selected by the Volkswagen Foundation for an ‘Opus magnum’ funding. This frees outstanding academics from their university duties for up to two years by financing a teaching substitute. This grants the candidate the necessary freedom to write a larger scholarly treatise. The Volkswagen Foundation provides up to 100,000 Euro per year. This year, it has granted nine ‘opera magna’.

» Published on 2. Oktober 2015

The ethics of copying

Conference at the Center for Interdisciplinary Research (ZiF) marks the start of a new research group

Human life would be impossible to imagine without the copying of things or behaviours. Copying is essential for individual and social learning processes, cultural development, and economic success. Copying enables processes of democratization by providing access to cultural goods and relevant information. However, until well into the twentieth century, copying was the business or specialists. Nowadays, through the development and dissemination of digital data and communication media along with computerized production techniques, the copying of texts, images, video recordings, and audio recordings has become an everyday mass practice that is even performed automatically. Nonetheless, this has been an increase in conflicts over who may copy what. These are the topics of the new research group ‘The Ethics of Copying’ at Bielefeld University’s Center for Interdisciplinary Research (ZiF) that will start work with an opening conference from the 6th to the 9th of October.

» Published on 29. September 2015

Information for refugees who want to study

Refugees invited to Bielefeld University on the 30th of September   

On the 30th of September, Bielefeld University will be hosting an information event for refugees in the region of East Westphalia-Lippe. It will start at 4 p.m. in Room X-E1-203 in Building X. Refugees’ escorts and advisors are also cordially invited to attend.

» Published on 29. September 2015

Millions of Euros for teacher-training project

‘Bi-professional – Sei professionell!’

Bielefeld University’s proposals on the topics ‘critical and reflective practice orientation’, ‘learning through research during internships’, and ‘inclusion-sensitive diagnosis, support, and didactics’ have been approved for the programme ‘Quality Pact for Teaching. The funding programme by Germany’s federal and Land governments is providing a total of 500 million Euros from now until 2023 to improve study conditions and the quality of teaching in higher education through sustainable projects.

» Published on 23. September 2015

Physicists find new explanation for key experiment

Researchers at Bielefeld University publish findings on spin caloritronics and are the first to apply measurement methods in the field

An experiment at Tohoku University (Japan) in 2008 laid the foundations for research on ‘spin caloritronics’ – a field that aims to develop more effective and energy-saving data processing in information technology. Since then, many new spincaloric effects have been studied, but the key experiment in Japan could not be replicated. Researchers at Bielefeld University’s Faculty of Physics have now found an explanation for this. They have published their findings in the journal Nature Communications. By applying a new measurement method available at major research facilities, they have also extended the experimental repertoire in spin caloritronics. These results can be found in the journal Physical Review Letters.  

» Published on 21. September 2015

Interactive Sonification of Hand Induced Water Flow of Elite Swimmers

Elite swimmers will attend a hands-on workshop at Bielefeld University, where they will train to optimize their swimming technique with sound

Bielefeld researchers are supporting swimmers to improve their performance by listening to the flow due to self-induced actions in the water. At a hands-on workshop from 24-25 September 2015, organizers Dr. Bodo E. Ungerechts, Dr. Thomas Hermann, and Dr. Daniel Cesarini will introduce for the first time an experiment on how elite swimmers can interactively use sound effects based on displaced water flow. During the practical component, which will executed at Bielefeld University’s pool, the researchers will examine how Germany’s Elite swimmers from the year 2015 individually generate their propulsion in water. These swimmers are currently preparing for the 2016 Olympic Games. Following this, the findings will be evaluated and the latest research results will be presented. The research team is funded by the Cluster of Excellence Cognitive Interaction Technology (CITEC) at Bielefeld University.

» Published on 15. September 2015

Targeting cancer

Researchers from all over the world meeting in Bielefeld

The fight against cancer with chemotherapy frequently has many unwanted and severe side effects such as hair loss, nausea, and vomiting. Medicines that fight cancer are poisons; they don’t just attack and damage the tumour, but all other cells as well. Internationally renowned scientists engaged in academic and industrial research will be meeting in Bielefeld between the 20th and 23rd of September. At the 5th International CeBiTec Research Conference ‘Drug Conjugates for Directed Therapy’, they want to discuss strategies with which these side effects may be circumvented.

» Published on 9. September 2015

Opening a window into the universe from Norderstedt

Researchers from Bielefeld and Hamburg inaugurate part of the largest radio telescope in the world

People have always been fascinated by the universe. The largest digital radio telescope, LOFAR, is now opening up a window. Stars, planets, and galaxies emit radio waves that can be many millions of years old. The signals received by each individual station are processed by a computer and assembled into an image of the heavens. Researchers at Bielefeld University and Universität Hamburg have set up the station together with the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy ASTRON. Today (09.09.2015) the 47th station of the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) is being officially inaugurated in Norderstedt.