Science Fair: The Research Day at the University of Erfurt

On 3 July 2019, the University of Erfurt has become the 97th member of the German Research Foundation (DFG). A written application for membership by the University and a successful inspection of the University of Erfurt by the Adhoc Commission of the DFG Senate had been preceded this admission.

Due to its consistently positive response, this inspection was intended to provide a framework for the 2019 Science Fair and allowed the members of the university an insight into the admission process of the DFG. Thus, on 4 July 2019, many of the scientists and academics once again presented their research works in brief presentations to an interested audience in Lecture Room 1 of the Centre for Communication and Information (KIZ).

The 3rd Science Fair was opened by Wolfgang Tiefensee, Thuringia's Minister of Economics, Science and Digital Society, the President of the University of Erfurt, Prof. Dr. Walter Bauer-Wabnegg, and Prof. Dr. Benedikt Kranemann, Vice President for Research and Graduate Service.

Throughout the entire event, all visitors were able to gain an overview of the university's internally funded research groups, research centres, the Max Weber Centre, and the Graduate Centres  as well as an insight into various other third-party funded projects at the University of Erfurt on over 50 displayed posters in the foyer of the KIZ. Once again this year, the the band Philipp-Hermann-Quintett provided the musical backgrond for the day.

In the late afternoon, the Christoph Martin Wieland Graduate Forum's doctoral prize of 5,000 euros, donated by the University Society, was awarded for the first time.

The "Science Fair - Research Day" on 8 June 2017 offered all scientists and scholars of the University of Erfurt the opportunity to present their research initiatives, plans and projects, exchange views on various subjects and to network with each other. To enable researchers as well as students to participate at the Science Fair, the day was declared as a „dies academicus“.

The President of the University opened the event with a speech in the foyer of the Centre for Communication and Information (KIZ) and welcomed everyone to this year’s Science Fair. The opening was accompanied by music of the band Philipp Herman Quintett. Following the opening ceremony, a poster exhibition with over 70 individual and collaborative projects was presented on the two floors of the building.

In two parallel sessions, more than 30 researchers gave insights into their projects in a total of 24 presentations. The presentation of current research projects offered members of various disciplines an opportunity to discuss ideas and to share different opinions and points of view.

In the late afternoon the staff of the Hermann Ebbinghaus Laboratory offered interested persons guided tours through the lab and presented current research projects in a lively manner and guests were invited to try out the experiments by themselves.

With sunny weather and in front of the café "Hörsaal 7" this year‘s "Science Fair - Research Day" ended by giving opportunity to discuss about the impression of this special day, once again musically accompanied by the band Philipp Herman Quintett.