A very special Researcher Grand Prix
Annika Djolai and Elena Suárez Cronauer will be representing the Mainz research hub at the FORTHEM Researcher Grand Prix event in Agder in Norway. This international science slam will be premiering on 6 November 2024. The two young academics will be competing against early-stage researchers from five other universities of the FORTHEM Alliance, which comprises a total of nine higher education institutions all over Europe. Annika and Elena qualified for participation in Agder at the science slam organized by the Task Force Young Science in Mainz in September 2024.
Rescue plans for the retina
The errors are small but carry severe consequences: In Usher syndrome, genetic mutations cause both hearing and vision loss. Cell biologist Professor Uwe Wolfrum from Mainz University is researching the molecular background of this rare genetic disorder – supported by foundations and, not least, by affected individuals themselves.
Soft matter – materials of the future
From tire rubber and foams to human soft body tissue – we are surrounded by so-called soft matter in today's world. Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) and the Technical University of Darmstadt offer a new international Master's degree program on Soft Matter and Materials, which focuses on this group of substances that have a particularly promising potential
Open science in academic and scientific practice
The third edition of the German Open Science Festival will take place on 17 and 18 September at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU). The festival offers participants the chance to discover and experience the diversity and significance of open science in all its facets.
FORTHEM promotes the internationalization of research
Nine universities from all over Europe are collaborating in the FORTHEM Alliance. Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGUI) is one of them. To extend the scope of joint research in FORTHEM, the alliance has adopted the concepts and results of FIT FORTHEM, a three-year support project funded by the European Commission. These are at the core of the new FORTHEM Mission for Research, Innovation, and Transfer. In our JGU Magazine, Professor Stefan Müller-Stach, JGU Vice President for Research and Early Career Academics, looks into the future of this mission and describes the various opportunities to participate and profit from the alliance – opportunities that Veronika Cummings, Professor of Human Geography at JGU, has already taken advantage of.
"FORTHEM brings Europe to our university"
Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) was one of the founding members of the European University Alliance FORTHEM back in 2019. The EU-sponsored project is now in its second funding phase. And Mainz University is continuing its strong commitment to the alliance, a network that is attractive far beyond the participating universities. JGU's President Professor Georg Krausch, FORTHEM initiator Professor Stephan Jolie, Vice President for Learning and Teaching at JGU, and Professor Eckhard Thines, a member of the FORTHEM Coordination Committee, came together to assess the alliance's achievements to date for our JGU Magazine.
Water-related research of international relevance
Groundwater, a dynamic system involved in multiple interactions, is a global concern. Professor Robert Reinecke of Mainz University, through his digital models of global water resources, is making a significant impact on our understanding of this crucial resource. His contributions to the annual United Nations' State of Global Water Resources report, published by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), are shaping the global discourse on water management.
Uncovering the secrets of gems
Gemstones are fascinating wonders of nature, surrounded by a mystical aura of luxury. Dr. Tobias Häger is working on diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds every day. He is head of the Gem Materials Research group at the Institute of Geosciences at Mainz University, the only university-based team working in gemstone analysis in Germany and one of very few university institutions worldwide that is active in this specialized field.
Sustained by the spirit of Franco-German friendship
Mainz and Dijon – these two cities represent a European success story, especially in terms of the partnership between their universities. German-French double degree programs have been running for over 30 years. And yet coordination remains a constant challenge, as Professor Antje Lobin, head of the Dijon Office at Mainz University, explains. Currently, one of the main focuses is the binational teacher training program.
Supporting Ukrainian academics
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a large number of Ukrainian academics had to leave their home country. Many of them have been welcomed as guests at German universities. We have met four of them who are currently working at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz.