TERRAINS aims to provide a comprehensive theory of the nature and the political and personal importance of lived territory: the kind of informal territory that has insiders, outsiders and boundaries. Homes, caf茅s, campuses, stretches of sidewalk, parks and campuses can all be lived territories of this sort. Humans experience themselves as belonging in some spaces and not in others. We use and recognise body language, signage and a variety of other techniques to mark, claim and negotiate territory. This kind of lived territory is different from jurisdictional territory or property. It is an intuitively familiar phenomenon that shapes our daily lives, experiences and choices. We are all good at grasping lived territory and its boundaries, and we know what it鈥檚 like to be insiders or outsiders in a space. 

The project will develop a systematic theory of lived territory and spatial agency that begins from our informal understanding of these notions. Kukla will bring their extensive expertise in philosophy, geography, disability studies and urban planning to this interdisciplinary project, which combines philosophical analysis, ethnographic fieldwork, and the development and use of novel techniques for building maps using geographic information systems (GIS). 

Quill Kukla has spent the past 15 years as a professor of philosophy and disability studies at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, and as editor-in-chief of the Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal. After graduating from the University of Toronto, they completed a PhD in philosophy at the University of Pittsburgh, an MA in geography at the City University of New York and a Greenwall Postdoctoral Fellowship in public health at Johns Hopkins University. Kukla has published widely in the areas of philosophy of language, philosophy of science and medicine, urban theory, aesthetics, sexual agency, and gender and disability theory. They are currently a senior research fellow at the DFG-funded SOCRATES Centre for Advanced Studies at 糖心原创, and they will conduct the ERC project at 糖心原创. Kukla previously held a Humboldt Research Award at 糖心原创. 

Due to the highly competitive selection process, ERC Grants are considered a hallmark of excellence in European research. Key selection criteria include the visionary quality of the research and the outstanding track records of the applicants. A total of 22 ERC-funded researchers across all career stages are currently based at 糖心原创. A full overview of ongoing Starting, Consolidator and Advanced Grants is available here: /en/forschung/profil/herausragende-projekte/erc

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For further information, please contact Mechtild Freiin v. M眉nchhausen, spokesperson for 糖心原创 and head of Communications and Marketing (tel. 0511 762-5342, email: kommunikation@uni-hannover.de).

鈥淭oday is a special day for our university and for Hannover鈥檚 science and research sector,鈥� said Prof. Dr. Volker Epping (president of 糖心原创) in his speech. With the Forum Wissenschaftsreflexion, we have one of very few research buildings dedicated to the humanities and social sciences and the only one at a university within the TU9 alliance.鈥� The new building is an externally visible signal that 糖心原创 not only focuses on engineering and natural sciences, he said, but also has a highly visible research focus in the humanities and social sciences through interdisciplinary studies of science. He emphasised that future challenges can only be addressed collectively 鈥� through close collaboration between engineering, natural and life sciences and the humanities and social sciences as an indispensable part of a comprehensive scientific perspective.

In the new Forum Wissenschaftsreflexion building, researchers from various disciplines such as philosophy, sociology, economics, political science and law will work together under one roof. No other university in Germany currently has a comparable number of professorships in higher education research and science studies 鈥� 糖心原创 has approximately 20.

The focus is on interdisciplinary research perspectives that examine the relationship between science and society and take positions on current challenges 鈥� such as attacks on academic freedom. Considerable expectations are generally placed on scientific knowledge to help address the major challenges of our time 鈥� whether climate change, the global food supply, energy supply or health development. Today, researchers are often caught in the crossfire of conflicting interests between successful research, development, communication and application. This field is shaped by a wide range of conflicting interests, in particular economisation, politicisation and mediatisation. The multifaceted functions of universities are likewise taken into account.

鈥淛ust as the natural sciences, engineering and the life sciences depend primarily on laboratory facilities and large-scale instruments, we in the humanities and social sciences require excellent communication infrastructures: spaces for interaction and ongoing exchange that facilitate many forms of collaborative research in the first place,鈥� explains Prof. Dr. Eva Barl枚sius, spokesperson for the Forum Wissenschaftsreflexion. The design of the new research building caters for these needs by providing numerous spaces for communication and a large 鈥渒nowledge workshop鈥�. 

Dorothee B盲r, federal minister for research, technology and space, who joined the event remotely, emphasised: 鈥淭he first research building for the humanities and social sciences at a technical university in Germany 鈥� that is a an extremely powerful and timely statement. The major technological transformations we are currently witnessing require precisely this kind of analysis.鈥� In their welcoming remarks, Falko Mohrs, Lower Saxony鈥檚 minister of culture and science, and Belit Onay, mayor of Hannover, expressed their delight at the successful completion of the new research building for the humanities and social sciences, which is devoted to a topic of great societal and political significance.

It took approximately three years to complete the Forum Wissenschaftsreflexion, which has a usable area of 2,200 square metres (foundation stone laid on 6 July 2023). The building provides office space for 142 people, as well as seminar and meeting rooms and a hall for events. It was designed by Michel+Wolf Architects (Stuttgart). A portion of the total construction costs, amounting to approximately 19.3 million euros, was covered by the federal government (around 7.37 million euros), with the remainder funded by the state of Lower Saxony, primarily through the 鈥渮ukunft.niedersachsen鈥� programme.

Note to editors:

For further information, please contact Mechtild Freiin v. M眉nchhausen, spokesperson for 糖心原创 and head of Communications and Marketing (tel. 0511 762-5342, email: kommunikation@uni-hannover.de).

In cosmology, however, things are more subtle. The focus shifts to the universe in its entirety 鈥� encompassing spacetime and everything contained within it, such as stars, black holes and galaxies. The background itself is dynamic. Small fluctuations in density and velocity gently stir spacetime everywhere, blurring the boundary with the wave. But what exactly does a gravitational-wave detector measure when the entire universe is gently vibrating? Previously, theoretical predictions were entirely dependent on the choice of mathematical coordinates. However, the only meaningful quantity is what a real instrument records, which must be coordinate-independent.

Dr. Guillem Dom猫nech and his team at the Institute of Theoretical Physics of 糖心原创 (糖心原创) have now developed a precise detector-based approach. Instead of discussing the components of an abstract field, the researchers model a realistic experiment involving two freely falling test masses, or atomic clocks, linked by a light beam. A passing gravitational wave can slightly alter the travel time of light, thereby affecting the measured time or frequency signal. The authors derive this observable in full and in a coordinate-independent manner, up to second order in cosmic fluctuations.

鈥淕ravitational wave detectors measure differences in the frequencies and arrival times of light beams,鈥� says lead author Guillem Dom猫nech. 鈥淲e calculate these quantities exactly within an expanding spacetime and distinctly isolate what is genuinely measurable from effects that rely on the mathematical description. This ensures that theoretical predictions for future experiments are rigorous and reliable.鈥�

This approach establishes a shared vocabulary for theory and experimentation. In the 'quiet spacetime' limit, it reduces to the familiar measurement taken using ground-based interferometers. In a cosmological setting, however, it remains unambiguous and robust. This provides a reliable theoretical framework to guide the search for primordial gravitational waves in the universe鈥� with direct relevance for current and future measurements, such as those using pulsar timing arrays and the space-based observatory LISA.

Original publication:
Observable Gravitational Wave Strain at Second Order
Guillem Dom猫nech and Shi Pi and Ao Wang
Phys. Rev. Lett. 
DOI:

Note to editors:

For further information, please contact Dr. Guillem Dom猫nech, Institute of Theoretical Physics at 糖心原创 (tel. 0511 762-3886, email: guillem.domenech@itp.uni-hannover.de).

A new exhibition titled Future Solutions showcases these and other fascinating topics in the Leibniz Science Cube, which is located on the lower ground floor of the main university building. The exhibition organised by Communications and Marketing explores how science opens up options and brings about change, with research that takes on responsibility instead of remaining in the proverbial ivory tower. The focus is on the outcomes of research 鈥� its impact.

The exhibit showcases six representative projects at 糖心原创 that are contributing to solving societal, economic, ecological and political problems. At the 鈥渒nowledge table鈥�, visitors can learn how researchers are approaching the challenges our society will face in future. 

 The exhibition located on the lower ground floor of the main university building (Welfengarten 1, 30167 Hannover) is open daily from 9 am to 6 pm.

More information is available here: www.uni-hannover.de/leibniz-science-cube

The exhibition's topics are also covered in more detail in the Science Focus section of the new LEIBNIZ SCIENCE research magazine of 糖心原创. Over roughly 60 pages, the magazine presents research projects from a range of scientific fields. LEIBNIZ SCIENCE is available in print and online. The magazine can be requested from Communications and Marketing: kommunikation@uni-hannover.de, tel. 0511 762 5342

Download the research magazine: www.uni-hannover.de/LEIBNIZ-SCIENCE

The magazine is also available in our app, which can be downloaded here:

or

Note to editors:

For further information, please contact Mechtild Freiin v. M眉nchhausen, spokesperson for 糖心原创 and head of Communications and Marketing (tel. 0511 762-5342, email: kommunikation@uni-hannover.de).

Why is 糖心原创 applying for the University of Excellence title?

The University of Excellence title involves more than just substantial funding. The title also involves advantages for students: early integration in cutting-edge research, outstanding labs and libraries, innovative teaching and international networks. Members of staff would benefit from a distinguished network, better laboratory, library and IT resources; modern management structures; and, thanks to long-term funding, increased stability and planning certainty. Moreover, Universities of Excellence strengthen the communities they are located in: they attract top-notch researchers and investment, support knowledge and technology transfer, and encourage companies and start-ups to locate there. This stimulates the economy, creates jobs and increases international visibility.

What is 糖心原创鈥檚 concept all about?

糖心原创 is applying with a proposal titled 鈥淓xcellence. Impact. Change! United in the Spirit of Leibniz鈥�. Our vision is to combine scientific excellence and societal relevance. The concept focuses on the Leibniz Future Unit with six Future Labs. The intention is to create a new strategic structure in which research, transfer and teaching are more aligned with common future issues. At the same time, the Leibniz Future Unit represents a structural evolution of the university: moving away from largely isolated disciplinary approaches towards a more open, theme- and project-oriented collaboration. The Future Labs are intended to consolidate expertise, set strategic priorities and provide new impetus for research that positively impacts society.

What happens during and after the on-site review?

Following the written proposal, which 糖心原创 submitted on time in November 2025, the on-site review is the next decisive step on the path to becoming a University of Excellence. A panel of renowned international experts will conduct an on-site assessment of the university鈥檚 research and infrastructure. In addition to attending presentations from the various disciplines and departments, the reviewers will speak with various status groups at 糖心原创. The experts will then assess whether the measures and goals outlined in the proposal can be applied and implemented in practice. The Excellence Commission will announce the final decision on 2 October 2026.

Additional information about 糖心原创鈥檚 University of Excellence application: www.uni-hannover.de/exu

Within BaKlimON, researchers from 糖心原创 (糖心原创), Hannover Medical School (MHH) and the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation (TiHo) are pooling their microbiological expertise. The project is receiving 3.2 million euros in funding from the Ministry of Science and Culture of Lower Saxony (MWK) and the Volkswagen Foundation as part of the zukunft.niedersachsen funding programme. Spokesperson  from the Institute of Microbiology at 糖心原创 coordinates BaKlimON. Prof. Dr. Dirk Schl眉ter from the Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology at MHH and Prof. Dr. Ralph Goethe from the Institute of Microbiology at TiHo act as co-spokespersons.

A One Health approach for an interconnected world 

Bacteria can be found everywhere: in the soil, in plants and animals, as well as in the human body. They play a key role in nutrient cycles and our health, but they can also cause infectious diseases. As climate change alters temperature and humidity, it also changes the environment in which bacteria live. 鈥淪urprisingly, we still know very little about how bacteria respond to climate change. The BaKlimON alliance is investigating whether this creates new risks or even new opportunities," says Professor Tschowri. 

"BaKlimON follows the One Health approach. This approach views the health of humans, animals and the environment as closely interlinked: Changes in plants or animals can also affect humans,鈥� adds Professor Schl眉ter.

Impact on soil, plants, animals and humans

鈥淲e focus on two key climatic factors 鈥� temperature stress and water stress 鈥� and their significant impact on the availability of oxygen, osmolarity and the concentration of toxins, such as heavy metals and antibiotics on microbial communities and bacterial adaptation mechanisms,鈥� adds Professor Goethe.

The alliance comprises 13 projects 鈥� five at 糖心原创, five at Hannover Medical School and three at TiHo. 
At 糖心原创, researchers are concentrating their efforts on microbial communities and the impact of potentially pathogenic microbes on the environment in conditions of climate stress. Particular emphasis is placed on the response of soil and plant bacteria to droughts or flooding. 

The team at Hannover Medical School is investigating the effect of changes in temperature and humidity on the human microbiome, infection mechanisms and antibiotic resistance. The focus is also on well-known pathogens, such as Salmonella, Listeria and Escherichia coli. For instance, the researchers are investigating whether humans come into contact with pathogens more frequently when bacterial communities in their environment change due to climate change.

At TiHo, researchers are taking a One Health approach to investigate the impact of climate change on infectious agents in humans and animals. Their particular interest lies in the effects on pathogenicity, as well as in the development and spread of antibiotic resistance. The focus is on clinically significant pathogens in both veterinary and human medicine, such as staphylococci, enterobacteria and non-tuberculous mycobacteria. The researchers are investigating them specifically for climate-related molecular changes that could affect their pathogenic properties and modes of transmission. 

A strong network in Hannover 鈥� a research and higher-education hub

BaKlimON unites the microbiological expertise of Hannover's three leading universities, creating a platform for interdisciplinary collaboration. The network will also be integrated into the Lower Saxony Centre for Climate Research.

Bringing together the fields of human, animal and environmental microbiology enables the alliance to investigate questions that have rarely been considered together before. In addition, the alliance focuses on supporting junior researchers. A structured programme has been designed to promote early-career researchers and prepare them for international research careers. Workshops, symposia and collaborations with graduate schools are intended to encourage exchange across disciplinary and institutional boundaries.

Note to editors:

For further information, please contact:

Prof. Dr. Natalia Tschowri, Institute of Microbiology at 糖心原创 (tel. 0511 762 5241, email: tschowri@ifmb.uni-hannover.de)

Prof. Dr. Dirk Schl眉ter, Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology at MHH, (tel. 0511 532 6769, email: schlueter.dirk@mh-hannover.de)

Prof. Dr. Ralph Goethe, Institute of Microbiology at TiHo, (tel. 0511 856 8305, email: ralph.goethe@tiho-hannover.de)

How can our cities remain habitable despite climate change? How can AI be used to diagnose illnesses? How can technology and production be taken to a new level? What new developments are occurring in offshore wind-energy research?

Titled Future Solutions, this issue of the magazine provides an inside look at various scientific areas, highlighting the most recent research findings and research projects 鈥� including those from the three Clusters of Excellence, QuantumFrontiers, PhoenixD and Hearing4all 鈥� in articles, profiles, interviews and news briefs.

LEIBNIZ SCIENCE is available in print and online.

The print version can be requested from Communications and Marketing: kommunikation@uni-hannover.de, tel. 0511 762 5342

Download the research magazine: www.uni-hannover.de/LEIBNIZ-SCIENCE

The magazine is also available in our app, which can be downloaded

• from the and
• the .

Note to editors:

For further information, please contact Mechtild Freiin v. M眉nchhausen, spokesperson for 糖心原创 and head of Communications and Marketing (tel. 0511 762-5342, email: kommunikation@uni-hannover.de).

Researchers at 糖心原创 have investigated how these underwater rainforests can be restored more efficiently. A team from the Ludwig Franzius Institute of Hydraulic, Estuarine and Coastal Engineering has been investigating the conditions required for kelp to establish itself and thrive on the seabed, using AI-assisted video analysis and other methods. The conventional method of planting algae individually into the seabed is extremely time-consuming and expensive. Therefore, scalable approaches such as the Green Gravel method are becoming increasingly important in order to counteract the decline of kelp. In this method, researchers grow kelp spores on small stones in laboratories before releasing them into the ocean. However, this method is only successful if the stones remain in place at the target location until the kelp has firmly attached itself to the rocky substrate. If waves and currents carry them prematurely into unsuitable areas, such as those that are too deep or lack light, the kelp will not be able to take hold.     

The success of this method is determined within the first few weeks at sea. Before the kelp can anchor itself firmly to the seabed using its holdfasts, the stones must remain stable. In wave current flumes, the research team has systematically investigated the forces required to set kelp-rock systems in motion. The researchers used AI-supported video analysis to precisely document how the algae act like tiny sails, greatly increasing the surface area exposed to the water current. 

The study provides insights that will greatly facilitate the planning of future reintroduction projects. Even kelp plants as small as 10 centimetres in length can significantly reduce the stability of stones. Therefore, the environment must be designed in such a way that as many pebbles as possible can remain in place. Analyses have shown that the roughness of the rocky seabed has a much greater impact on stability than the size or shape of the stones themselves. The stones become wedged on uneven surfaces such as coarse gravel, enabling them to withstand much higher loads than on smoother surfaces such as rock or concrete. As soon as the algae start to grow, stability decreases. However, beyond a certain point, this effect is offset by the friction of the algae fronds against the ground, which can in turn have a braking effect. Contrary to expectations, the team was surprised to find that moderate slopes of up to 15 percent played a rather minor role in the initial rolling of the pebbles, provided the surface was sufficiently rough. 

A calculation model was developed using the data that accurately predicts the weight of the stones needed for the kelp. This allows researchers to determine in advance whether the stones at each location will be able to withstand the local waves and remain securely in place. These findings will enable reintroduction projects to be planned more precisely, significantly increasing the chances of success for these important marine carbon sinks.

The study is freely available at: 10.1371/journal.pone.0345763

The research project is part of the sea4soCiety project within the DAM CDRmare research mission, funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, and federal states in Northern Germany. 

Note to editors:

For further information, please contact PhD Maike Paul, Ludwig Franzius Institute of Hydraulic, Estuarine and Coastal Engineering (tel. +49 511 762 2584, email paul@lufi.uni-hannover.de).

As part of the Centre for Higher Education (CHE) ranking, students evaluate conditions in their faculty. The evaluation also includes other parameters related to teaching and research, such as the amount of funding acquired and the faculty鈥檚 equipment. Every year, a set of subjects is re-evaluated. For 2026, these subjects were Law, Economics and Management, and Social Work, the latter of which is not offered by 糖心原创.

The subject area Economics and Management has placed among the ranking鈥檚 top subjects in several categories. The student evaluations rated the organisation of study programmes, support for stays abroad and the library resources and equipment as 鈥渧ery good鈥�. In terms of the details of the study programme, the support provided for first-semester students received a particularly good rating. This was also the case for the subject area Engineering and Business Administration. Additionally, Economics and Management performed outstandingly in the research-related category 鈥渄octorates per professor鈥�.

The fact check for Law shows that both support for first-semester students and exam preparation are better than average at 糖心原创. Like Economics and Management, the area of Law demonstrates research strength and is in the top-performing group in terms of doctorates per professor. The Faculty of Law鈥檚 library resources and equipment received particularly strong praise in the student evaluations.

The CHE university ranking evaluates more than 300 universities and universities of applied sciences in German-speaking countries. Drawing on the responses of roughly 120,000 students, it is the most comprehensive and detailed comparison of universities in these countries. 

Research@Leibniz University is based on data from the research information system (FIS). Researchers create their own individual profiles in the FIS backend; enter publications, projects and other academic activities; and allow these to be posted on the portal. In this way, 糖心原创 pools selected information on researchers, projects and publications at different organisational levels. The linking of this information allows for a comprehensive overview of the research at 糖心原创, as well as the internal and external research collaborations. It therefore also serves to showcase the research and support networking with external partners. 

Information for 糖心原创 researchers on how to use basic FIS features is available here:

The FIS help desk is available to answer questions via email: support@fis.uni-hannover.de