Dear Alumni,
A challenging year now lies behind us and a new one has begun, one in which extensive restrictions will remain in place and continue to affect us all – especially students and doctoral researchers. The pandemic continues to dominate studies, science and teaching, as it does at universities everywhere: daily student life has changed considerably. Courses have had to be moved to virtual spaces; workshops, laboratories, libraries and lecture halls mostly remain empty. The popular alumni meetings have also had to be cancelled due to the current situation.
Despite this, members of our university have continued to achieve great things together in recent months. And they will continue to do so, particularly in teaching and research. They help to shape our present and our future, conceive new ideas and concepts for sustainability and a liveable environment, and strive to facilitate life in solidarity. We have compiled the details of countless projects in this issue of contact.bauhaus.
Thank you for your interest – we wish you an enjoyable time reading and learning more. In the hope that the year 2021 will bring a little more normality for us all again, we wish you and your families all the best and above all good health.
Warm wishes
Silvia Riedel
The Bauhaus-Universität Weimar plans to submit a proposal for the European Union’s call for bids for a »New European Bauhaus«. »Commission President von der Leyen’s initiative has electrified us all«, says University President, Prof. Dr. Winfried Speitkamp. »Not only does it match our disciplinary profile exactly, it also coincides with our expertise in educating students and explicitly calls on us to actively address the relevant current issues. We are ready to take up this challenge and to shape our common future. A New European Bauhaus in Weimar is an apt setting for this«. »more
A lecture by Bauhaus guest professor Prof. Dr. Mirjam Wenzel entitled »Jüdische Gegenwart – Kritik an der deutschen Gedenkkultur« on the Jewish presence in Germany and criticising the German culture of remembrance can now be viewed online. In light of the growing anti-Semitism, Prof. Dr. Wenzel addresses the specific problems of German–Jewish relations after the Shoah, presents the current criticism of the German culture of remembrance and encourages an exchange on how to shape the social coexistence. »more
On Saturday, 6 March 2021, prospective students will have the opportunity to learn more about the various Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes offered at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar during the Open Campus Day DIGITAL. All interested parties will be able to familiarise themselves with the university during a series of online presentations and live events. »more
The coronavirus pandemic has brought financial hardship to many, including countless students and doctoral researchers at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar. To help with this, the Freundeskreis of the University and university management launched a joint appeal for donations in spring 2020. Students from six nations have already received support from the emergency fund. A huge thanks to all donors! That being said, as the pandemic continues, so too do the pleas for help. »more
Following a successful in-person phase in November and December, the university reverted to digital teaching at the start of the year. This online phase will continue until the end of the lecture period, all the way up to the examination phase. The Presidium, heads of faculty, the Crisis Unit and the Koordinationsgruppe Corona are responsible for ensuring that this is organised well and safely. The situation is reassessed on a daily basis in order to adjust or readjust the measures planned to date. »more
The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has approved the research and development phase for the interdisciplinary »Urban-Rural Assembly« (URA) research project. The Professorship for Landscape Architecture and Planning at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar will receive funding totalling € 433,000 between December 2020 and November 2024. »more
Whenever research leads to outstanding application-relevant findings, the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar applies for a patent to protect these outcomes. Ensuring that intellectual property remains with the researchers or university. One example of the successful sale of a patent application is Sonocrete GmbH, a spin-off revolutionising concrete production with ultrasound. »more
The »New Urban Mobility« design project under the Professorship for Urban Design will receive funding totalling around 45,000 euros from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Until 2021, it will work with several international partners to test various formats for digital and face-to-face learning. »more
The »Alte Feuerwache Weimar« neighbourhood project will receive a total of 240,000 euros in funding from the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community. The federal funds will be put towards the academic support of the Professorship for Urban Studies and Social Research at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar as well as the gradual establishment of a self-managed »Zentrums für Beteiligungskultur« (centre for participatory culture) for the whole of Thuringia. »more
A call for papers has now been launched for the sixth International BBB Congress, which the university will host on 16 September 2021 and will take place online for the first time. The topics are influenced by current challenges and intended to provide exciting answers from civil engineers on the subjects of innovation, responsibility, sustainability and resource conservation. The deadline for submitting abstracts is 22 February. »more
The sustainable building material clay forms the focus of a joint research project under the Professorship for Structural Design and Professorship for Solid Construction II: a load-bearing construction method is being developed that uses prefabricated components and optimised insulation properties for the first time. The time and financial requirements for sustainable building with clay are to be significantly reduced, the building material rendered more accessible and the load-bearing behaviour of clay panels enhanced. »more
On 23 April 2021, the Bauhaus Weiterbildungsakademie Weimar e. V. will begin its part-time MBA in Construction Project Management. This programme combines engineering expertise with business and economic components and impart interdisciplinary management and leadership skills. »more
Martina Mellenthin Filardo from the Professorship for Construction Engineering and Management and Judith Krischler from the Professorship for Intelligent Technical Design and a BIM expert at DB Netz AG have worked intensively on the methodology of Building Information Modelling (BIM). The outcome is a reference publication. The two research associates discuss their new book and whether women have a harder time in engineering. »more
For several years now, KNOTEN WEIMAR GmbH has been offering international graduates from the fields of civil engineering and architecture opportunities to gain qualification to prepare for the entry into German companies. The next course is due to start at the end of March and will also accept graduates interested in electrical engineering for the first time in this year. »more
To mark its centenary, the Stifterverband's »Wirkung hoch 100« initiative sought Germany’s top 100 ideas and projects for the education, science and innovation of tomorrow. The »360° Bildung« project of the Bauhaus-Institute for Infrastructure Solutions (b.is) became part of this initiative at the start of November 2020. »more
Funding will be provided for a text-based chatbot currently being developed within the Faculty of Media to support students in their learning. Communication can take place in this technical dialogue system via text input. Allowing recurring problems and questions to be answered automatically in real time without any direct human intervention. »more
The interdisciplinary project »Text-Bild-Gefüge. Digital Humanities und der Diskurs der Moderne« (Text-Image Framework. Digital Humanities and the Discourse of Modernity) is being funded by the Thuringian Ministry for Economic Affairs, Science and Digital Society with a total of almost 400,000 euros. It involves developing a virtual research environment for digital libraries. »more
Apply now! The neudeli start-up hub is calling on all budding entrepreneurs with a promising business idea to apply for a neudeli Fellowship by 11 April 2021. The start-up programme is aimed at university students, employees and alumni who wish to bring innovative products or services onto the market. »more
Studio Mosaik invites you to get involved in a contactless video project. »We worry a lot and ask ourselves, how are things going to turn out? What does the future hold? But we wouldn’t be the Mosaiks if this didn’t prompt a new idea. It is time to talk. VISION 2030! Send us a video with your message for the future!« »more
The federal government’s NEUSTART KULTUR programme aims to revive cultural life during the pandemic and beyond. A sub-programme will support professional empowerment and development, primarily in the field of digitalisation. Professional visual artists residing in Germany are eligible to apply until 28 February 2021. »more
The Deutschlandstipendium is an excellent opportunity to provide targeted support for talented students. Help to support the next generation of scientists. Within the Deutschlandstipendium programme, companies, foundations and private individuals work together with the federal government to foster academic success and commitment. Countless supporters and students also give this lively network a face at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar. Provide someone with a little financial security in the coming academic year: contribute to a Deutschlandstipendium even during these challenging times! »more
IN BRIEF | Media Art / Design alumnus Mario Wilms has produced the mockumentary »Überall ist Krach« (It’s Noisy Everywhere) for WDR. Fancy an hour or so of laughter? | »go4spring« – semester show of the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism | News from neudeli | Eigenheim online exhibition featuring works by countless alumni | Insight: Bauhaus.Module – experimental, transdisciplinary, interactive, creative, global | News from the Bauhaus network | Review of the Bauhaus Centenary – here’s how the university wants to come together again soon.
AWARDS | Leon Billerbeck: honoured for his Bachelor’s thesis »ATAXIA/ATARAXIA« | Designer Eileen Krüger a German Design Graduate 2020 with »Kulturkonfekt« | Short film »Nicht wie Du« shortlisted for the »Max Ophüls Prize« | Bachelor’s these »Heute liegen Kiesel auf den Beeten im Garten« by Philipp Niemeyer shortlisted for the German Photobook Prize 2020/21 | Susann Paduch conferred German Federal Ecodesign Award | Sculptor Sebastian Hertrich wins the »Phoenix 2020« | Ruo-Xuan Wu is a DAAD prize-winner in 2020 | Recognition and prizes for the graduate exhibition of the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism
You are receiving this newsletter because you registered with the alumni network of the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar. If you no longer wish to receive contact.bauhaus or would like to change your contact details, please email alumni[at]uni-weimar.de. See here for our privacy policy.
Bauhaus-Universität Weimar | Twitter | Facebook | Vimeo | Instagram