TU Braunschweig launches 2024 with sustainability, awards and cultural highlights
Technische Universität Braunschweig has announced a series of new initiatives and events for early 2024. From academic awards and sustainability projects to public ceremonies and cultural performances, the university is kicking off the year with a mix of education, research, and commemoration. Several deadlines and public engagements are also approaching, offering opportunities for students, staff, and the wider community.
A public ceremony will take place on January 27 at 10 a.m. in front of the university's Main Building. The event will honour the victims of Nazism, marking a moment of reflection for attendees.
Later that month, on January 17 at 12 p.m., Radio Okerwelle's Okerpiraten show will launch a six-part podcast series on recycling. The programme aims to engage listeners, particularly younger audiences, while bridging the gap until the next Children's University begins.
In research news, Frank Anang has developed a microscopic power plant capable of supplying energy to implanted medical sensors. Alongside this innovation, he plans to share his metrology expertise with Ghana's National Metrology Institute, strengthening international collaboration.
The university has also introduced a new e-learning course, TUrning Green—Sustainability Basics, available via StudIP. The 60-minute module provides an accessible introduction to sustainability, open to all students.
Meanwhile, the Braunschweig Center for Gender Studies is offering funding for teaching assignments, guest lectures, and student assistantships in gender-related topics. Applications close on February 28, though some arrangements allow submissions until March 31.
The Bertha Benz Prize 2026 for Women in Engineering, worth €15,000, is now accepting nominations. The award recognises female engineers whose doctoral research delivers societal impact, with a submission deadline of March 1.
In academic appointments, Prof. Ann-Marie Ingrid Nienaber has joined TU Braunschweig as a professor of Business Ethics, Sustainability, and Societal Change. Her role will focus on integrating ethical and sustainable practices into business education.
The university is also celebrating literary achievement. Prof. Jan Röhnert of the Institute of German Studies received the Wilhelm-Lehmann Literature Prize for his nature writing. The €7,500 award highlights his contributions to essayistic prose.
To close the semester, the Underneath the Ice event series will feature performances by the TU Big Band, TU Choir, University Orchestra, and music students. Over the next two weeks, audiences can expect swing, mobility anthems, symphonic works, and winter songs.
Beyond Braunschweig, the University of Würzburg's Thinking Sustainably—Acting Mathematically project is embedding real-world sustainability challenges into maths classes. The initiative aims to prepare students for future problem-solving in environmental and social contexts.
The coming weeks at TU Braunschweig will see a blend of reflection, innovation, and cultural engagement. Public events, new courses, and funding opportunities provide multiple ways for the community to participate. Deadlines for awards and applications are fast approaching, with key dates falling between late January and early March.
