BRINGING THE PAST TO LIGHTNuclear physics and cuneiform studies working hand in hand
Doris Prechel, Professor of Ancient Near Eastern Philology at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU), and Professor Frank Maas of the Helmholtz Institute Mainz (HIM) have teamed up to throw light on the past. With the help of state-of-the-art analytical devices developed for use in physics, they are busy deciphering thousand-year-old cuneiform tablets. The two researchers now presented the initial results of their cooperation in an exhibition.
EU PROJECT REIRESNew religious research network
Twelve renowned European institutions are participating in the EU project "Research Infrastructure on Religious Studies" (ReIReS). Its aim is to promote and network the exchange of religious knowledge and research. Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) is part of the cooperation. Talmud expert Leor Jacobi from Israel will use his ReIReS scholarship to investigate the Yom Kippur ritual of the medieval Jewish community in Mainz.
SCHOPENHAUER RESEARCH CENTERA philosopher not suitable for a university curriculum?
For a long time, it was the only academic institution at a German university dedicated to the study of Arthur Schopenhauer and today it is still the best place to go for anyone wanting to know more about the philosopher. The Schopenhauer Research Center was founded in 2001 by Professor Matthias Koßler at the Philosophy Department of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU).
CROSS BORDERSStudent project supports refugees
In 2014, students of the Faculty of Translation Studies, Linguistics, and Cultural Studies at JGU's Germersheim campus founded the Cross Borders project. The idea was to use language courses and a variety of recreational activities to help refugees find their way in Germany. Over the years to come there were a number of changes, but the core idea remained: Cross Borders sees itself as a student project that is not only for refugees but also aims to involve them.
BOOK STUDIESArtificial intelligence as reviewer, text to speech reader – and author?
At the beginning of the year, Professor Christoph Bläsi hosted the 14th Mainz Colloquium on te topic of Artificial Intelligence in the Book World – Machines as editors, Machines as Readers? at the Gutenberg Institute for World Literature and Written Media of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU). We talked with Professor Bläsi and learned what is currently feasible in the field of Book Studies and where it might be heading in the future.
HUMAN GEOGRAPHY"Research always involves a major biographical aspect"
Veronika Cummings was appointed Professor of Human Geography at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) in 2017. Her current research focuses on social, cultural, and political aspects of migration. In these fields she can also draw from the experiences and insights she collected during her time in Singapore and the Sultanate of Oman – and on her return to Germany.
FORENSIC PHYSICSWhen fatal stabbing becomes a scientific experiment
In 2017, Stefan Axmann came to the Institute of Forensic Medicine at the Mainz University Medical Center to establish a forensic physics department. It attracted a lot of attention from the media at the time, which was keen to report on the new facility, the first of its kind in Germany. The physicist himself likes to talk about his enthusiasm for his work and explains how he ended up in Mainz.
GUTENBERG ALUMNIA long winter in Antarctica
Physicist Dr. Benjamin Eberhardt from Mainz is living and conducting research at the South Pole for an entire year. Together with his colleague Dr. Kathrin Mallot, he is overseeing the IceCube Neutrino Observatory. The observatory is operated by an international consortium in which Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) is a major participant.
AFRICAN LINGUISTICSPilot project on linguistic integration and strategies of language acquisition
The Department of Anthropology and African Studies of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) and the Institute of African Studies of Goethe University Frankfurt initiated the joint pilot project "Africans in the Rhine-Main region" in early 2019. It is dedicated to the currently much-debated sociopolitical issue of linguistic integration. The Rhine-Main Universities (RMU) Initiative Funding for Research finances this partnership undertaking.
NUCLEAR PHYSICSNew professor in accelerator physics
In September 2018, Professor Atoosa Meseck was appointed Professor of Accelerator Physics – Collective Effects and Nonlinear Beam Dynamics at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU). The professorship was instituted in cooperation with the Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie (HZB), where Meseck is researching into novel concepts for particle accelerators. One particular class of components, known as undulators, feature prominently in her work.