Press releases
Jul
8
2025
12:52
Researchers at 看片软件 Frankfurt Debunk Persistent Misinformation and Call for Protective Measures to Safeguard Native Species
Cute but Controversial: Position Paper Dispels Myths about Invasive Raccoons
Raccoons are often seen as cute and harmless wildlife 鈥� but that is a misconception. With an estimated population of 1.6 to 2 million in Germany, these invasive predators pose a serious threat to native species. Scientists from 看片软件 Frankfurt have addressed widespread misinformation in a position paper and are calling for effective protective measures. The message is clear: species protection must not be sacrificed to our fondness for 鈥渁dorable" animals.
FRANKFURT. 鈥淩accoons are native animals," 鈥淭hey reproduce faster when hunted," 鈥淓verything about raccoons has already been said" 鈥� these are just a few of the persistent myths circulating about raccoons in Germany. They have become deeply entrenched in public discourse and pose a serious challenge to nature conservation in Germany. Contrary to the widespread belief that these charming creatures are harmless newcomers, the North American raccoon is an invasive predator and a serious threat to many native animals 鈥� from birds and amphibians to bats.
There has been significant national coverage on the appearance, spread, impact, and management of raccoons. Unfortunately, this information is not always based on sound science. That's what researchers from 看片软件 and the Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre are seeking to change. 鈥淭he public perception of raccoons as charismatic wildlife fails to reflect the regional ecological damage caused by this invasive species in Germany and Europe," says Prof. Dr. Sven Klimpel, head of the collaborative research project ZOWIAC (Zoonotic and Wildlife Ecological Impacts of Invasive Carnivores). Together with his colleagues, the parasitologist has reviewed popular assumptions about raccoons and subjected them to a critical fact-check. The result: a position paper that identifies nine widespread myths and provides clear evidence to refute them.
Alarming Numbers Speak for Themselves
With an estimated 1.6 to 2 million raccoons in Germany, the species has become one of the most common wild carnivores in Central Europe. 鈥淪ince 2005, the number of raccoons hunted annually has quadrupled 鈥� now over 200,000 鈥� and still the population continues to grow," explains Dr. Norbert Peter, ZOWIAC project leader. Particularly dramatic: in cities like Kassel, there are now more than100 raccoons per 100 hectares 鈥� roughly one raccoon per soccer field 鈥� representing one of the highest predator densities in Europe.
The consequences for native species are regionally devastating. Studies show that raccoons specifically target breeding sites of amphibians, reptiles, and ground-nesting birds; they often enter into a kind of 鈥渉unting frenzy", killing entire clutches 鈥� far more than they can consume. 鈥淲e are documenting a dramatic decline in sensitive species in areas with high raccoon densities," says Peter.
Myths with Fatal Consequences
Particularly problematic are widespread misconceptions: One common claim is that hunting raccoons causes them to reproduce more 鈥� a misinterpretation of a 35-year-old U.S. study. Another false belief is that raccoons live in a 鈥渕atriarchy" that hunting would disrupt. 鈥淭hese myths have real-world consequences," warns Dr. Dorian D枚rge, ZOWIAC's scientific coordinator. 鈥淭hey prevent necessary protective measures and thereby endanger already threatened native species."
Other seemingly humane alternatives, such as neutering, are not viable: with two million animals, the task is practically impossible and legally problematic, since EU regulations explicitly prohibit the release of invasive species after capture. Another issue is emotional: raccoons are perceived as especially sympathetic animals. Research shows that this positive emotional bias strongly influences public opinion 鈥� and can hinder or block necessary control measures.
Clear Policy Recommendations
The scientists call for a decisive shift in thinking: federal funding for coordinated management plans across German states, intensive hunting in protected areas with endangered species, and 鈥� above all 鈥� fact-based education rather than emotional storytelling. 鈥淲e must implement the legal requirements for species protection consistently and not let them be overridden by sympathy for charismatic animals," urges Klimpel, addressing both policymakers and the public.
The full position paper is available on ZOWIAC's website: (in German).
It is aimed at public authorities, conservation organizations, the media, and all citizens interested in fact-based information on one of Germany's most pressing conservation issues.
Picture download:
Caption: Raccoons, often perceived as 鈥渃ute", pose a real threat to native species. Photo: Paul Dierkes
Further Information:
Prof. Dr. Sven Klimpel, Dr. Dorian D枚rge, Dr. Norbert Peter
Institut f眉r 脰kologie, Evolution und Diversit盲t
Goethe-Universit盲t Frankfurt
Senckenberg Biodiversit盲t und Klima Forschungszentrum
Tel. 069 798-42237
069 798-42069
069 798-42212
klimpel@bio.uni-frankfurt.de
doerge@bio.uni-frankfurt.de
peter@bio.uni-frankfurt.de
Editor: Dr. Phyllis Mania, Science Editor, PR & Communications Office, Theodor-W.-Adorno-Platz 1, 60323 Frankfurt, Tel: +49 (0) 69 798-13001, mania@physik.uni-frankfurt.de
Jul
2
2025
09:33
First project on provenance research at the main library of 看片软件 Frankfurt reveals further demand in this area 鈥� Successor project examines rare prints 鈥� Extensive stock from Baer鈥檚 antiquarian bookstore in Frankfurt identified
Research project at University Library uncovers more Nazi plunder than expected
Since the autumn of 2020, researchers have been combing through University Library's collections in the search for books that were unlawfully confiscated from their owners during the Nazi era. In the course of the first project, which was supported by the German Lost Art Foundation and has now ended, it became apparent that the volume of looted property in the collections is larger than expected. Provenance research must continue, not least so that the rightful owners can be identified and their possessions returned to them. At a joint press conference today, 看片软件 Frankfurt and the City of Frankfurt presented the results so far and the next steps.
FRANKFURT. In the spring of 2025, University Library Johann Christian Senckenberg in Frankfurt completed its first provenance research project and has now finalized the corresponding research report. The objective was to identify books in the library's collections that were confiscated from their owners during Nazi persecution. This project was initiated by University Library and constitutes the beginning of systematic provenance research in the library's stocks that is designed to continue over many years. A further goal is to find solutions for restitution or reparation. This is foreseen in the Washington Conference Principles on Nazi-Confiscated Art of 1998, a legally non-binding but morally and ethically international consensus aimed at identifying looted art, locating its rightful owners or their heirs and achieving a 鈥渏ust and fair solution".
Schleiff: 鈥淭he university is facing up to its history"
鈥淭he university is facing up to its history. The scientific analysis of the library's stocks is an important part of this task. From a moral standpoint, the injustice committed during the Nazi era is not time-barred. Here, we are fully committed to the Washington Principles. That is why University Library launched the first large-scale provenance research project five years ago: We wanted to know which books from expropriated property are accommodated in our library and to make amends for the injustice done in relation to the unlawful acquisition of these works. That this task will now become so much more extensive than expected poses major challenges for us," says Professor Enrico Schleiff, President of 看片软件 Frankfurt.
The project was mostly funded by the German Lost Art Foundation in Magdeburg and received additional support from the City of Frankfurt, which owns many of the books that belonged to the previous City and University Library. This was formed after World War II through the amalgamation of several libraries, including City Library. In a contract signed in 1999, the City of Frankfurt and the State of Hesse agreed that part of the stocks would remain the property of the City. Roughly estimated, this constitutes a third of the books published before 1945.
City Councilor for Culture and Science: 鈥淭he sheer number of looted books is alarming"
Dr. Ina Hartwig, City Councilor for Culture and Science: 鈥淔or a long time, the contaminated term 'Aryanization' made people think of realty, shops or businesses that were snatched from their Jewish owners. The extensive research conducted at University Library here in Frankfurt shows, however, that this interpretation is too narrow. The sheer number of looted books in the joint collections of the university and the city is alarming and their systematic analysis long overdue. The project now completed represents a first step and is the outcome of the constructive and fruitful cooperation between 看片软件 Frankfurt, University Library and the City of Frankfurt, which we want to further expand in the future."
Daniela Poth, Director of University Library Johann Christian Senckenberg: 鈥淲ith Daniel Dudde and Darleen Pappelau, we have been able to assign two very competent specialists to this task. With great interest, perseverance and care, they have taken on the detective work of tracing and documenting the books' journeys and determining their rightful owners. They have presented a magnificently systematic assessment, for which we thank them most sincerely, and we hope that they will continue provenance research at University Library with the same dedication in the future too. We also thank, of course, the Executive Board for its support at all levels."
Dr. Uwe Hartmann, Head of the Department for Cultural Property Losses in Europe in the 20th Century at the German Lost Art Foundation: 鈥淲e are delighted that with University Library Johann Christian Senckenberg another important cultural institution in Frankfurt has acknowledged its historical and moral responsibility to review its own stock in order to ascertain how books and other objects were acquired during the Nazi era. The aim here is to find out whether these were once confiscated or extorted from their rightful owners. The results of the first research project funded by the German Lost Art Foundation corroborate the extent to which University Library also benefited from the looted property of Jewish and other citizens persecuted by the Nazi regime. We wish the provenance research team every success for the second project too!"
The project was originally planned to take two years. However, it was extended by the same length of time due to the unexpectedly high amount of research required. Namely, it emerged during the course of the project that the percentage of Nazi plunder in the collections under inspection was significantly higher than first assumed. When drafting the project, the researchers based their calculations on the empirical data of comparable projects. The situation in Frankfurt, however, was quite different: As a city with a large Jewish population, Frankfurt experienced persecution and expropriation under the Nazi regime on a greater scale 鈥� from which libraries and other cultural institutions, as the recipients of expropriated cultural assets, also 鈥減rofited". That is why the percentage of Nazi plunder in Frankfurt's University Library is correspondingly higher than elsewhere.
Added to this is the fact that Frankfurt was a central hub of the Allies' restitution efforts after the end of the war: The collection point for stolen and orphaned book collections was established first of all on the premises of Frankfurt's former City and University Library and later moved as the Offenbach Archival Depot to the neighboring city. Millions of books were amassed there and, as far as possible, returned to their rightful owners worldwide. If this was not possible, the books remained temporarily in Offenbach and were then, from 1947 onwards, gradually handed over to the University of Frankfurt.
Of 75,000 books, ten percent were probably confiscated illegally
Some of the stocks that arrived at University Library during the Nazi era and in the post-war period were systematically analyzed for the first time within the first provenance research project. The project team attempted to trace their origins on the basis of stamps, bookplates and notes in the over 75,000 books that were examined in the first project phase. In the process, they discovered around 7,500 books that can be attributed to 350 different former owners and were probably confiscated illegally. Because of this high percentage, which surprised even experts, it was only possible to complete some of the individual cases.
In these first four years, many books have already been restituted, that is, returned to their rightful owners or their heirs. The restitution process varied greatly from case to case in terms of scale, duration and the solution found. In 35 cases involving a total of 90 books, it was possible to find a just and fair solution in line with the Washington Principles 鈥� including restitutions, regifts and buybacks. Books from Frankfurt's University Library were returned to private individuals in Germany and aboard as well as to a large number of organizations, among them political parties, trade unions, Jewish communities and Masonic lodges.
A particularly important case is the books from the antiquarian bookstore of Joseph Baer & Co., a Frankfurt institution of global renown that was liquidated by the Nazi state in 1934. The libraries in Frankfurt took over extensive stocks back then at a price that was far too low. Up until 1945, there were several academic libraries in Frankfurt which, as the predecessor institutions of today's University Library, together performed the role of a university library. Thanks to extensive research, it was possible within the project to investigate and systematically document this injustice for the first time. In the first project alone, the researchers working at the library identified over 5,000 books from Baer's bookstore that must be viewed as Nazi plunder. The aim now is to contact the store's heirs and arrive at a just and fair solution with them. The project team has started to search for these heirs and will continue to do so alongside its ongoing research on this case. Further important finds of Baer provenance can be expected in the successor project that started recently.
With the start of this second provenance research project, work will initially continue for a further two years. The German Lost Art Foundation has granted extensive funds for this project too. The focus is now shifting to new types of stock: Particularly in the spotlight this time are old, rare and valuable prints from the 16th to the 20th century found in special collections assembled since the 1940s. It is already considered certain that even this second project will be unable to conclude the search for Nazi plunder: University Library is preparing itself for a lengthy task.
About University Library Johann Christian Senckenberg
With its extensive stocks and collections, University Library Johann Christian Senckenberg is one of the most important academic libraries in Germany. It functions as a university library with numerous regional tasks, an academic library for the City of Frankfurt and the Rhine-Main region and a specialist library as part of the nationwide supply of literature and information.
Download photographs, captions and charts:
Further Information
Dr. Mathias Jehn
Head of the Curation, Specialist Information & Educational Resources Department, University Library
Freimannplatz 1
60325 Frankfurt
Tel. +49(0) 69 798-39007
Email m.jehn@ub.uni-frankfurt.de
Editor: Dr. Anke Sauter, Science Communication, PR & Communications Office, Theodor-W.-Adorno-Platz 1, 60323 Frankfurt, Tel. +49 (0)69 798-13066, sauter@pvw.uni-frankfurt.de
Jun
26
2025
11:54
Roundtable with Forensic Architecture and The Art of Counter-Investigation.聽Special Edition event in the series 鈥淎utopsies: Conversations between Collections and Research鈥�
AUTOPSIES: Modes of Counter-Investigation
FRANKFURT. How do we critically engage archives of colonial, historical, political, and racial violence? What modes of counter investigation might be employed? Researchers from Forensic Architecture (London), the project 鈥淭he Art of Counter-Investigation鈥� (Institute for Social Research, Frankfurt), and the fields of media and film studies will discuss the challenges of archival investigation in the contexts of colonial and political violence. Questions include forensic methods of investigation and counter investigation, aesthetic practices of engaging archives, issues of restitution and reparation, acts of erasure, silencing, and epistemic violence.
The event expands upon the midday Autopsies-conversation between Hans Peter Hahn (Ethnology) and A茂sha Othmann (看片软件 Library) on Frankfurt University Library鈥檚 Koloniales Bildarchiv.
Audience members are asked to screen in advance Forensic Architecture鈥檚 project video, freely available here:
The public event takes place on
Wednesday July 2, 2025, 6:15 - 7:45 pm,
Lecture Hall Center, Room HZ 9,
Campus Westend, 看片软件 Frankfurt.
Admission is free.
Roundtable Participants:
Agata Nguyen Chuong (she/her) is an advanced researcher at Forensic Architecture and project lead of FA鈥檚 research into the Ovaherero and Nama genocide.
Laliv Melamed is professor of digital film culture at 看片软件, Frankfurt. She received her PhD from New York University and specializes in documentary and non-fiction film and media. She is the author of Sovereign Intimacy: Private Media and the Traces of Colonial Violence (University of California Press, 2023).
Felix Trautmann is a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute for Social Research and currently works in the research project 鈥淭he Art of the Counter-Investigation鈥� (IfS Frankfurt and HfG Offenbach) on artistic investigations of right-wing violence in contemporary Germany.
Franziska Wildt is a research associate at the Institute for Social Research in Frankfurt. She co-directs the Working Group 鈥淎esthetics and Media Cultures鈥�.
The series 鈥淎utopsies鈥� (etymologically: 鈥渢o see with one鈥檚 own eyes鈥�) examines sources and objects from Frankfurt University Library鈥檚 special collections, primarily through critical first-hand observation. Collection curators engage with humanities scholars in a series of conversations that highlight intersecting research questions between scholars in the humanities and the curators of Frankfurt Library鈥檚 collections. Frankfurt University Library houses a large holding of historical materials and unique pieces. These include medieval to modern manuscripts, archival materials and estates, as well as non-textual materials such as image collections.
Further information about this and other FZHG series is available here:
Information:
Dr. Nathan Taylor
Frankfurt Humanities Research Centre
n.taylor@em.uni-frankfurt.de
Tel: +49 (0)69 798 32113
Editor: Dr. Dirk Frank, Press Officer/ Deputy Press Spokesperson, PR & Communications Office, Theodor-W.-Adorno-Platz 1, 60323 Frankfurt am Main, Tel.: +49 (0)69/798-13753, frank@pvw.uni-frankfurt.de
Jun
23
2025
11:57
看片软件 and Frankfurter Sparkasse Foundation鈥檚 1822 University Prize for Excellence in Teaching goes to a medical doctor, a Romance studies scholar, a theologian, and a biochemist
Innovative Teaching in Times of AI
Pediatrician Dr. Boris Wittekindt, Romance studies scholar Romana Radlwimmer, Protestant theologian Dr. Johannes Friedrich Diehl, and biochemist Prof. Alexander Heckel have all received this year's prestigious 1822 University Prize for Excellence in Teaching, awarded jointly by 看片软件 Frankfurt and the Frankfurter Sparkasse Foundation for the 24th time.
FRANKFURT. 鈥淲hat does good teaching mean in a world where texts can be generated within seconds and term papers written by models?" That question, posed by Prof. Viera Pirker, 看片软件's Vice President Studies and Teaching, struck a chord with many in the fully packed Renate von Metzler Hall auditorium on Westend Campus. Yet even in times of ChatGPT and co., teaching at 看片软件 remains 鈥渁 shared process of seeking knowledge, judgment, and responsibility," Pirker said, adding that it takes people who discard familiar patterns and instead reimagine teaching. The recipients of the 1822 Prize showcase exceptional commitment: 鈥淭hey see their role not just in imparting knowledge, but 鈥� more importantly 鈥� in enabling a learning process that promotes self-guided learning, critical reflection, and participation."
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Ingo Wiedemeier, CEO of Frankfurter Sparkasse, said: 鈥淚t is out of a deep sense of conviction that we have supported the 1822 University Prize through our foundation for more than two decades. Excellent teaching fosters new generations of passionate researchers. This benefits both university research and the entire Rhine-Main economic region."
The award ceremony traditionally features a lecture on current topics in teaching. This year's talk by business informatics professor Doris We脽els was titled: 鈥淔rom Co-Creation to Co-Teaching: Generative AI as a Driver of Future-Oriented University Teaching." In it, she outlined the evolution toward agent-based co-teaching models between humans and machines. ChatGPT and similar tools challenge traditional higher education, We脽els said, adding that universities are now tasked with shaping this profound transformation. We脽els is a professor at Kiel University of Applied Sciences and co-founder of Virtuelles Kompetenzzentrum K眉nstliche Intelligenz und wissenschaftliches Arbeiten (VK\:KIWA, Virtual Competence Center for Artificial Intelligence and Academic Work).
1st Prize was awarded to pediatrician Dr. Boris Wittekindt for his exceptionally broad and sustainable commitment to teaching. For years, he has shaped pediatric education with 鈥渄idactic excellence, organizational responsibility, and a high level of practical relevance." As senior physician in neonatology, he teaches in all phases of the medical curriculum, integrating theoretical foundations, patient-centered communication, and clinical casework in an exemplary manner. With interactive lectures, patient-oriented formats, peer-teaching offerings, realistic exam simulations, digital materials, and his own podcast, he provides diverse, practice-oriented learning pathways. Beyond teaching, he is involved in curriculum development, course evaluation, and interdisciplinary cooperation. Students describe him as approachable, structured, and motivating, and as someone who connects students and medical staff, including through his role as a musician in the university's campus orchestra.
2nd Prize went to Prof. Romana Radlwimmer, professor of Romance Literary Studies (Hispanism and Lusitanism), for her teaching at the intersection of literary studies, cultural practice, and intercultural exchange. Her nomination letter highlighted how her teaching opens the seminar room to social issues. She invites internationally recognized authors and translators for readings, lectures, and workshops, giving students direct insights into creative processes, literary professions, and cultural contexts beyond the curriculum. She also initiates excursions into Frankfurt's literary and cultural scene 鈥� spanning bookstores, museums, and literary events 鈥� thereby turning the city itself into a learning space. Her teaching is methodologically diverse and participatory, emphasizing skills such as writing, feedback culture, and time management. She fosters student initiative, including through a low-barrier platform for student publishing.
The 3rd Prize was jointly awarded to Dr. Johannes Friedrich Diehl (Protestant Theology) and Prof. Alexander Heckel (Chemical Biology).
Dr. Johannes Friedrich Diehl was recognized for his many years of outstanding teaching in Protestant Theology. Students praise his combination of subject expertise and didactic innovation, especially in teaching Hebrew. He has developed his own digital platform offering materials such as audio recordings, vocabulary trainers, and mock exams. His courses are well-structured, varied in method, and tailored to students' learning needs. He uses course evaluations to improve his teaching and is perceived as committed and approachable. Beyond teaching, he also serves as Chair of the Hebraisten-Verband (Hebraists' Association), contributing to structural improvements in language instruction at universities.
Prof. Alexander Heckel received the award for his innovative, student-centered teaching in Organic Chemistry. His courses feature clear didactics, high clarity, and attention to varied prior knowledge 鈥� especially in the interdisciplinary Bioinformatics program. He makes complex topics accessible even to non-specialists, without sacrificing depth. Using digital tools such as virtual reality and hybrid learning environments, he makes abstract content tangible and facilitates diverse learning access. Students say his motivating lecture style, connection to research and practice 鈥� e.g. by drawing on his experience as a paramedic 鈥�, his ongoing commitment, strong teaching skills, and enthusiasm for innovation make him a standout teacher in the natural sciences.
The 1822 University Prize for Excellence in Teaching was first awarded in 2001. The first and third prizes are supported by Frankfurter Sparkasse Foundation with a total of 鈧�20,000. The second prize, worth 鈧�10,000, is funded by 看片软件 Frankfurt. The prize is awarded annually. Students nominate the candidates, and a commission consisting of students, academic staff, professors, and representatives of Sparkasse Foundation makes the final decision.
The event was moderated by students Luca Malena Berger and Thessa K枚nig and accompanied by a musical program by Bernhard Hollinger, combining improvisational music and experimental electronic sound art.
Further Nominees:
Dr. Daria Bayer 鈥� Faculty of Law
Dr. Veronika Brandis 鈥� Faculty of Linguistics, Cultural Studies and Art
Prof. Dr. Christoph Corneli脽en 鈥� Faculty of Philosophy and History
Prof. Dr. Axel Fanego Palat - Faculty of Linguistics, Cultural Studies and Art
Prof. Dr. Stefan Frank 鈥� Faculty of Medicine
Prof. Kerstin Gottschalk - Faculty of Linguistics, Cultural Studies and Art
Prof. Dr. med. Oliver Habler - Faculty of Medicine
Anne Marlene Hastenplug 鈥� Faculty of Modern Languages
Dr. Silvia Heid - Faculty of Medicine
Hannah Sabrina H眉bner - Faculty of Philosophy and History
Lilian H眉mmler 鈥� Faculty of Social Sciences
Dr. Manuela Kalbermatten - Faculty of Modern Languages
Prof. Dr. Dr. Judith Kasper/ Prof. Dr. Caroline Sauter - Faculty of Modern Languages
Prof. Dr. Sven Klimpel 鈥� Faculty of Biological Sciences
Dr. Daniel Kostyra 鈥� Faculty of Economics and Business
Prof. Dr. Antje Krause-Wahl - Faculty of Linguistics, Cultural Studies and Art
Dr. Jana Liewald 鈥� Faculty of Biochemistry, Chemistry and Pharmacy
St茅phanie Niepceron - Faculty of Modern Languages
Dr. Stefan Rettenmayr 鈥� Faculty of Computer Science and Mathematics
Dr. Ingo Johannes Benjamin Sauer - Faculty of Economics and Business
Prof. Dr. med. Dr. phil. nat. Achim Schmidtko - Faculty of Biochemistry, Chemistry and Pharmacy
Dr. Isabell Schmitz - Faculty of Biological Sciences
Prof. Dr. Heiko Schulz 鈥� Faculty of Protestant Theology
Prof. Dr. Michael Sommer 鈥� Faculty of Catholic Theology
Prof. Dr. Annette Warner - Faculty of Philosophy and History
Cosima Weisenburger 鈥� Faculty of Psychology and Sports Sciences
Dr. Sandro Wiesmann - Faculty of Psychology and Sports Sciences
Dr. Ulrike Zoch - Faculty of Linguistics, Cultural Studies and Art
Further Information
Julia Pirzer
Advisor for University Prizes
Tel.: +49(0)173 265 8 058
Images for download:
Caption:
At the award ceremony for the 1822 Prize for Excellence in Teaching: (from left) Dr. Ingo Wiedemeier, CEO of Frankfurter Sparkasse; award recipients pediatrician Dr. Boris Wittekindt, biochemist Prof. Alexander Heckel, professor of Romance Linguistics Romana Radlwimmer, Hebrew lecturer Dr. Johannes Friedrich Diehl; and 看片软件 Vice President for Teaching and Study Prof. Viera Pirker. (Photo: Moritz Reich)
Editor: Dr. Anke Sauter, Science Communication, PR & Communications Office, Theodor-W.-Adorno-Platz 1, 60323 Frankfurt, Tel. +49 (0)69 798-13066, sauter@pvw.uni-frankfurt.de
Jun
18
2025
16:06
German Research Foundation funds new doctoral program in the humanities and extends support for life sciences imaging group
New Research Training Group on the Aesthetics of Democracy
Democracy is not just a form of government but also a way of living together 鈥� this is the basic assumption behind 看片软件 Frankfurt's new Research Training Group 鈥淎esthetics of Democracy," which was just approved by the German Research Foundation (DFG). The Foundation also extended its funding of the 鈥淚nterfacing Image Analysis and Molecular Life Sciences" Research Training Group, which can now continue its work for another 4.5 years.
FRANKFURT. 鈥淚n the humanities, democracy research has led a rather marginal existence to date. We want to change that," says Professor Johannes V枚lz, professor of American Studies at 看片软件 and spokesperson of the new Research Training Group 鈥淎esthetics of Democracy." While the practices, rituals, and norms of lived democracy have been researched by the social sciences, its sensory dimension has not. V枚lz argues that knowledge of the aesthetic-emotional conditions of democratic coexistence is crucial, all the more so as democracies worldwide are increasingly coming under pressure. To him, democracy is centrally concerned with collective negotiations of how to live together. 鈥淒emocracy is a life form. Its form consists of the negotiation of that very form," the Research Training Group's proposal states. While the aesthetics of fascism have been thoroughly studied, research on the aesthetics of democracy is scarce, V枚lz points out.
The new Research Training Group sets out to change that by considering questions like: What 鈥� beyond institutions and processes 鈥� actually constitutes democracy? How does it manifest in sensory experiences? 鈥淎s long as we lack knowledge of what exactly defines democratic coexistence, it will be difficult for us to defend democracy," says V枚lz. The humanities perspective promises new and unusual insights. For instance, the group's members assume that democratic forms of communal life can also be found in cultural phenomena of authoritarian states 鈥� such as in China's popular culture, where, in the early 2000s, state television casting shows were interpreted and celebrated as democratic practices.
International hub for research on aesthetic and cultural dimensions of democracy
The DFG has pledged nearly 鈧�6 million for the first five-year funding period, during which two cohorts of 12 doctoral researchers each will work on related topics. Inaddition to American Studies scholar V枚lz, who holds 看片软件's professorship of American Studies with a focus on 鈥淒emocracy and Aesthetics", the Research Group's spokesperson team also includes philosopher Sophie Loidolt from TU Darmstadt, as well as ten additional researchers from a broad range of humanities disciplines, including American Studies, Art History, Comparative Literature, Film and Media Studies, German Studies, Modern History, Philosophy, Scandinavian Studies, and Sinology. The Research Training Group evolved from the network 鈥淒emocratic Vistas: Reflections on the Atlantic World" at 看片软件's Forschungskolleg Humanwissenschaften 鈥� Institute for Advanced Studies, with which all participating scholars are affiliated. Eighteen international partner institutions across five continents will cooperate with the group, among them Cornell University (Itahca, NY, USA), 脡cole des hautes 脠tudes en sciences sociales (Paris, France), and the University of the Western Cape (Cape Town, South Africa). Moreover, by collaborating with local cultural and political institutions, the doctoral researchers will anchor their projects in civil society. The call for applications will begin in late summer of this year, with the program set to launch in April 2026.
Research Training Group on imaging in the life sciences extended
看片软件's interdisciplinary Research Training Group 鈥淚nterfacing Image Analysis and Molecular Life Sciences" (iMOL) also received a positive DFG funding decision: established in 2020 to train young researchers at the interface of life sciences and computer science, the group will continue its research for another 4.5 years.
The Research Training Group 鈥� which also includes the Max Planck Institute of Biophysics 鈥� was set up against the backdrop of the rapid development of image processing and analysis methods, including neural networks, as well as the advancement of new microscopy techniques. Thanks to these developments, it is now possible to generate images with impressive information density and a continuously growing range of applications.
鈥淥ur Research Training Group focuses on the analysis of microscopy images. We use neural networks to extract and interpret information from highly complex biological datasets obtained through light and electron microscopy," explains Professor Achilleas Frangakis, the Group's spokesperson and principal investigator of 看片软件 Frankfurt's newly approved Cluster of Excellence SCALE. Computer scientists are rarely acquainted with life sciences, while biologists are often unfamiliar with the necessary data processing skills. The iMOL scientific program builds on the computer scientists' talent and expertise to drive innovative technology development to address hypothesis-driven applications in the life sciences.
Three periodically interlinked research areas
The research program is divided into three key areas: the first focuses on the technological enhancement of microscopy, including the development of specialized neural networks to accelerate data acquisition and improve signal-to-noise ratios. The second area concentrates on applications in the life sciences 鈥� such as tissue samples 鈥� to generate high-quality image data. The third develops new algorithms for image processing and interpretation, unlocking access to previously inaccessible information.
The interdisciplinary approach is key to success: data analysis feeds back into microscope design and the generation of new hypotheses 鈥� creating a closed-loop system. 鈥淭he life sciences provide the most complex and challenging data, and we are developing outstanding algorithms for their analysis and interpretation," emphasizes Frangakis. The interdisciplinary skills acquired by the doctoral researchers are in high demand both in academia and in industry.
Further Information
Prof. Dr. Johannes V枚lz
Institute of English and American Studies
看片软件 Frankfurt
Tel. +49 (0)69 798-32364
E-Mail voelz@em.uni-frankfurt.de
Prof. Dr. Achilleas Frangakis
Director Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences
Institute of Biophysics
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Tel. +49 (0)69 798-46462
E-Mail achilleas.frangakis@biophysik.uni-frankfurt.de
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