The programme covers three core areas:

• Management skills/business strategies
• Career planning and entering the job market
• Interdisciplinary skills relevant in professional contexts

The next round of the programme will begin on Friday, 6 November 2026. In addition to two groups taught in German, there will be one working group taught in English. The individual programme components of each working group are coordinated and systematically build on one another. Doctoral candidates and postdocs at ����ԭ�� in the first two years of the postdoctoral phase are eligible to apply. Places are limited to 36 participants. 

Application deadline: Saturday, 15 August 2026. The registration fee is 120 euros and can be paid in two instalments. 

Additional information on the programme, the content and the application process can be found on the website of the Graduate Academy at .

If you have any questions or if you require assistance, please contact Dr. Tanja Michler-Cieluch at the Graduate Academy (tel. 0511 762 3920, email ).

Through this exchange, ����ԭ�� is building on existing linkages: a partnership with Mykolaiv in the area of public law, and especially European law, is already in place. The current discussions have laid the foundation for expanding this cooperation and initiating new joint projects in research, teaching and transfer.

The background to the visit was an invitation from the state of Lower Saxony and the Hannover Chamber of Industry and Commerce. This invitation focused on research and development as part of the solidarity partnership between Lower Saxony and the district of Mykolaiv, Ukraine. In addition to ����ԭ��, the Ukrainian delegation also visited other universities in Lower Saxony. Meetings with representatives from Lower Saxony’s state government, including Falko Mohrs, the minister of culture and science, were also part of the programme.

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, cafés, 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’s 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 ����ԭ��, and they will conduct the ERC project at ����ԭ��. Kukla previously held a Humboldt Research Award at ����ԭ��. 

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 ����ԭ��. A full overview of ongoing Starting, Consolidator and Advanced Grants is available here: /en/forschung/profil/herausragende-projekte/erc

Note to editors:

For further information, please contact Mechtild Freiin v. Münchhausen, spokesperson for ����ԭ�� and head of Communications and Marketing (tel. 0511 762-5342, email: kommunikation@uni-hannover.de).

Highlights of the programme include:

• the 'Networks in Action' series, in which participants learn how to build transdisciplinary networks and engage relevant stakeholders;
• Keynote speech by Prof. Jutta Papenbrock (Institute of Botany, ����ԭ��): "Sustain Cost Action: Building an Interdisciplinary Network and Engaging Interest Groups and Stakeholders";
• contributions from international guests exploring how civil society organisations actively support STEM and sustainability topics – lectures include 'Technology Has No Gender' and 'Male Allies', presented by Petra Kotuliaková (CEO of the Slovak NGO AjTyvIT) and Sarah Krische (Equal Opportunities Office);
• a workshop by the Equal Opportunities Office on 'The Attractiveness of STEM for Marginalised Groups' (Sarah Peters), complemented by insights into networks such as FemMatrix (Prof. Cornelia Lee-Thedieck, Institute of Cell Biology and Biophysics) and the Sustain COST Action.

Developed in close collaboration with colleagues from ����ԭ�� and partners from the EULiST network, the programme covers a wide range of topics, including transdisciplinary networks, entrepreneurial insights from start-ups and NGOs and specific questions regarding equal opportunities in STEM subjects.

The festival hosted by Ricarda Mletzko (Organisational and Human Resources Development) will be conducted in English.

The event will be photographed. If you do not wish to be photographed, please inform a member of the EULiST team on site or send an email to: eulist@zuv.uni-hannover.de

Please register by 15 June 2026 via this website: www.uni-hannover.de/en/eulist-festival-registration

“The University of Excellence designation would make our university highly attractive for students and researchers. Many companies would also be drawn to ����ԭ�� – and that would strengthen the region overall,” said ����ԭ�� president Prof. Dr. Volker Epping. He emphasised: “I thank everyone at the university and beyond it who has contributed to the work on the application, supported the on-site review or simply crossed their fingers for us. We are pleased about this positive feedback, which shows us that we are competing not just on behalf of the university, but also for the city, the region and the state of Lower Saxony!”

What is the concept behind ����ԭ��’s application?

����ԭ��’s application is titled “Excellence. Impact. Change! United in the spirit of Leibniz“. Its vision is to combine scientific excellence and societal relevance. The focal point of the concept is the Leibniz Future Unit, with its six Future Labs. The intention is to create a new strategic structure in which research, transfer and teaching are more closely aligned with shared, future-oriented topics. At the same time, the Leibniz Future Unit represents a structural evolution of the university: moving away from largely isolated disciplinary approaches towards 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 next?

Following the written proposal, which ����ԭ�� submitted on time in November 2025, the on-site review was the next decisive step on the path to becoming a University of Excellence. The experts will now 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.

What is the Excellence Strategy?

The Excellence Strategy is a funding programme financed by the German federal and state governments. It aims to support cutting-edge research at German universities. This is intended to strengthen Germany’s position as a scientific centre and increase its international competitiveness. 

The Excellence Strategy consists of two funding lines:

The Clusters of Excellence, which receive funding for projects in internationally competitive research fields. ����ԭ�� is represented here with three clusters. And the Universities of Excellence funding line, which serves to strengthen individual universities or university consortia over the long-term – on the basis of successful Clusters of Excellence. In order to apply for University of Excellence status, a university must be a participant in at least two Clusters of Excellence.

Additional information about ����ԭ��’s University of Excellence application: www.uni-hannover.de/en/forschung/exzellenzstrategie.

Note to editors:

For further information, please contact Mechtild Freiin v. Münchhausen, head of Communications and Marketing and spokesperson for ����ԭ�� (tel. +49 511 762-5342, email: kommunikation@uni-hannover.de).

New Leadership at All Levels

• Several personnel decisions gave the GA particular significance: The Governing Board elected Prof. Dr. Måns Svensson, President of the University of Jönköping, as its new Chairperson; Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jens Schneider, Rector of TU Wien, will serve alongside him as Deputy Chair for the 2026–2028 term.
• In the Management Board, Prof. Dr. Maria Benedetta Mattei from the  (UNIVAQ) and Dr. Olivier Epinette (IMT) will jointly take on the Co-Chair role.
• The Student Board has also been reconstituted: Adam Gašparovič (Slovak University of Technology Bratislava), Beatrice Ion (LUT University), and Cristiana Maria Muresanu (Universidad Rey Juan Carlos) will lead it together going forward.

A further highlight was the signing of a cooperation agreement with the University of Stuttgart. As a new partner, Stuttgart strengthens the alliance's joint research and innovation ecosystem.

Substantive Programme

The working programme covered a broad range of topics, including a review of the EU project and an assessment of key objectives. Discussions on trust and organizational culture were also on the agenda, alongside the strategic direction for the years ahead. New initiatives were presented, and member universities shared concrete results from their collaborative work — an impressive demonstration of what the alliance achieves in practice.

What set this year's GA apart was the deliberate involvement of all levels of the university community. Students, staff, and leadership worked in parallel working groups — each from their own perspective, but with a shared goal. This format reflects how EULiST sees itself: as an alliance in which all parts of the university community have a voice.

Alongside the intensive working programme, there was also space for personal connections. Glimpses into Finnish culture and shared evenings in a relaxed atmosphere helped turn collegial collaboration into genuine cohesion — an important factor for a well-functioning alliance.

About EULiST

EULiST (European University Linking Society and Technology) is a European university alliance bringing together universities from several EU countries in the areas of teaching, research, and innovation. The annual General Assembly is the central format for governance, exchange, and the further development of the alliance.

Further information is available in the official .

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 – its impact.

The exhibit showcases six representative projects at ����ԭ�� that are contributing to solving societal, economic, ecological and political problems. At the “knowledge table”, 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 ����ԭ��. 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. Münchhausen, spokesperson for ����ԭ�� and head of Communications and Marketing (tel. 0511 762-5342, email: kommunikation@uni-hannover.de).

Why is ����ԭ�� 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 ����ԭ��’s concept all about?

����ԭ�� is applying with a proposal titled “Excellence. Impact. Change! United in the Spirit of Leibniz”. 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 ����ԭ�� 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’s research and infrastructure. In addition to attending presentations from the various disciplines and departments, the reviewers will speak with various status groups at ����ԭ��. 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 ����ԭ��’s University of Excellence application: www.uni-hannover.de/exu

Prof. Dr. Alexander Schmehmann, president of the Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences, was also elected as a new member of the LHK board and as the deputy chairperson. He succeeds Dr. Marc Hudy, who has stepped down for health-related reasons. 

Prof. Dr. Sascha Spoun, president of Leuphana University Lüneburg, led the process of finding a new LHK chairperson and expressed his relief following the vote: “This year’s search was especially challenging. Given our colleague Susanne Menzel-Riedl’s excellent leadership, the bar was very high. I am certain that with our highly capable and experienced colleague Volker Epping as chair, the Lower Saxony LHK will continue to successfully navigate the big challenges and tasks ahead.”

Volker Epping thanked the LHK members for the trust placed in him. In these turbulent times involving wide-ranging challenges at the national, European and global levels, he said, a clear outlook and the capacity to act are particularly important for higher education institutions: “We will continue to face significant challenges, which we can only overcome together.”

Twenty universities and universities of applied sciences work together within the Lower Saxony LHK to advocate for their joint interests.

Note to editors:

For further information, please contact Mechtild Freiin v. Münchhausen, spokesperson for ����ԭ�� and head of Communications and Marketing (tel. 0511 762-5342, email: kommunikation@uni-hannover.de).

Within BaKlimON, researchers from ����ԭ�� (����ԭ��), 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 ����ԭ�� coordinates BaKlimON. Prof. Dr. Dirk Schlüter 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. “Surprisingly, 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,” adds Professor Schlüter.

Impact on soil, plants, animals and humans

“We focus on two key climatic factors – temperature stress and water stress – 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,” adds Professor Goethe.

The alliance comprises 13 projects – five at ����ԭ��, five at Hannover Medical School and three at TiHo. 
At ����ԭ��, 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 – 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 ����ԭ�� (tel. 0511 762 5241, email: tschowri@ifmb.uni-hannover.de)

Prof. Dr. Dirk Schlüter, 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)