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» Published on 30. September 2013

Paternalism and Justice in Preventive Health Care

Opening workshop of the new Research Group at the Center for Interdisciplinary Research of Bielefeld University

The phenomena are well-known: educated top earners are healthier than uneducated poor people – and that is not only due to their having easier access to health care. A healthy lifestyle contributes considerably to preventing disease outbreaks and increases life expectancy. How far can the state go to encourage a healthy lifestyle in citizens? Paternalism and justice in preventive health care are the central topics of experts` discussions at an international workshop at the Center for Interdisciplinary Research (ZiF) of Bielefeld University. It is the kick-off event to the new ZiF Research Group which investigates questions concerning a fair public health policy.

» Published on 17. September 2013

Using sensory gloves to feel objects remotely

Bielefeld University involved in an international large-scale project

Would you like to be able to “hold” products from Internet retailers before ordering and delivery? In the future, people are expected to be able to sense objects despite large geographical distances with a sensory glove. The scientific foundation for this aim is now under research at the cluster of excellence Cognitive Interactive Technology (CITEC) at Bielefeld University as part of a large-scale project with ten international research institutions, funded by the European Union with 7.7 million Euros and coordinated by the Italian University of Siena (UNISI).

» Published on 16. September 2013

Doing research in the pub

Scientists at Bielefeld University study how orders are placed at the bar

Dim lighting, a jumble of conversations, and loud music: bar staff have to master numerous challenges when serving their customers. In a crowded place, they have to identify who would like to place an order and who does not. A Bielefeld research team analysed how the body language of the potential customer helps the bartenders to achieve this. The team found that real-life observations were at odds with the widespread belief that customers wave for signalling that they would like to order a drink. Analysing the real-life data showed that it is crucial how customers position themselves at the bar counter. These findings were integrated in the ‘brain’ of the robotic bartender James. The Bielefeld scientists published their study in the online research journal ‘Frontiers in Psychology’.

» Published on 13. September 2013

Inheritance of lifespan is sex-dependent in fruit flies

Researchers from Bielefeld and Uppsala publish joint study

Like mother, like daughter; like father, like son. Evolutionary biologists at the universities in Bielefeld and Uppsala (Sweden) have now shown that this proverb also applies to inheriting a long life – at least for fruit flies (Drosophila). The research team found that the descendants of these insects mostly inherit their lifespan from their own sex: male descendants will very probably live about as long as their fathers; female descendants, about as long as their mothers. The scientists have published their findings on Thursday 12 September in the renowned journal „American Naturalist”.