After two years of a predominantly online teaching format, many students want in-person exchanges, space for discussion and interaction. That is why the motto of StuFo 2022 is “Wir wollen (wieder) reden! [We want to talk (again)!].” The students themselves are responsible for the design of the program. Their conference presentations are intended to inspire enthusiasm for student research, arouse curiosity about their own subject, and encourage exchange. Accompanying workshops and a discussion event followed by a reception will round off the program.

Prof. Dr. Niels Pinkwart, the vice president for academic affairs at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and spokesperson for the steering committee for the cross-cutting theme Teaching and Learning of the Berlin University Alliance, is delighted that the excellence alliance will be able to utilize the conference to draw attention to the topic: “Student research needs more visibility. The conference offers students the opportunity to practice navigating complex scientific topics and communicating them in a comprehensible manner early in their scientific careers.”

With brief lectures, posters, or artistic-creative contributions, students can present their research findings or offer workshops on research-relevant topics. Students from all universities and disciplines are invited to attend. Successful applicants for conference contributions from within Germany will receive a travel grant, and those from the strategic partners of the Berlin University Alliance – the University of Oxford, the University of Melbourne, and the National University of Singapore – may be eligible for a travel scholarship.

The Berlin University Alliance

The Berlin University Alliance is a consortium consisting of the three major Berlin universities – Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin – and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, established to jointly shape research and education in Berlin. The four partners joined forces to further develop Berlin as a research hub with international drawing power. Together the partners explore major societal challenges, increase public outreach, promote the training of junior researchers, address issues of quality and standards in research, and share resources in the areas of research infrastructure, teaching, diversity, equal opportunities, and internationalization. The Berlin University Alliance is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the State of Berlin within the framework of the Excellence Strategy of the German federal and state governments.

Joint press release issued by Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin, and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin