"We’ve got answers"
The University of Bayreuth, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, is offering locals the opportunity to talk directly to scholars, students and employees of the University of Bayreuth with a new series of events. This will take place on the first Thursday and third Tuesday of every month. "We provide answers" – in the "Neuseum" at Sternplatz starting in April. Admission is free of charge, and registration is not required. Below are the events planned for April – July 2025.
"Fresh ideas for Bayreuth"
Starting in April, the University of Bayreuth invites locals to a new series of talks ("We provide answers") on the first Thursday and every third Tuesday of the month in the pop-up innovation lab "Neuseum" (formerly the Markgrafen bookshop) at Sternplatz. To kick things off on Thursday. 3 April, 6 p.m., students and founders will present "Fresh and innovative ideas for Bayreuth". Participants in the 5 Euro Business Competition and representatives of Bayreuth's active start-up scene will be on hand to answer questions from Bayreuth residents and the media, who are all invited to attend. Because that is precisely the aim of this series: for citizens of Bayreuth to talk to students and scholars and find out what innovative topics are being discussed and worked on at the university. No registration or tickets are required. With this series of talks, which will also focus on outstanding cutting-edge and popular research, the University of Bayreuth is demonstrating its willingness to further develop the topic of science communication in its 50th year of existence.
When: Thursday, 3 April 2025, 6-8 p.m.
Where: "Neuseum" on Sternplatz (former Markgrafen bookshop)
What: Local residents can talk to members of the University of Bayreuth at "We provide answers".
Special features: No admission fees, no registration, just drop by and ask questions
"The RIZ" – an innovative project for the future
The city, the district and the University of Bayreuth are taking a bold approach to innovation: a Regional Start-up and Innovation Centre (RIZ) is planned on the university campus, which the chambers of commerce also support in the long term. The hope associated with this project is that it will be possible to keep innovative minds in Bayreuth and retain them in the region. What does the RIZ bring to the city, what does the economy expect from it? What expectations, what concepts are there on the part of the university? What do the founders themselves actually want? This will be the topic of the second event in the open discussion series "We provide answers", which will be held in the "Neuseum" on Sternplatz in Bayreuth (formerly the Markgrafen bookshop) on Tuesday, 15 April (6- 8 p.m.). Dr. Petra Beermann, Head of the E+I Office, Director of Transfer & Innovation at the University and Bernhard Sippel, Deputy Head of Bayreuth Economic Development, will be attending to answer questions from the public. No registration is required for the events organized by the university in its 50th year of existence; admission is free.
When: Tuesday, 15 April 2025, 6-8 p.m.
Where: "Neuseum" on Sternplatz (former Markgrafen bookshop)
What: Local residents can talk to members of the University of Bayreuth at "We provide answers".
Special features: No admission fees, no registration, just drop by and ask questions
The challenge of artificial intelligence
At the University of Bayreuth, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, the topic of artificial intelligence is being researched from various angles. The result is a network of experts that can also be useful to the regional economy, the judiciary and local authorities. On Tuesday, 20 May, between 6 and 8 p.m., Professor Dr. Niklas Kühl, Chair of Information Systems and Human-Centric Artificial Intelligence, and Professor Christian Rückert, Chair of Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure and IT Criminal Law, two AI experts from the University of Bayreuth, will answer questions about this exciting field of research. What dangers lurk? What opportunities are there? Guests of the university discussion series "We provide answers" at the "Neuseum" on Sternplatz (former Markgrafen bookshop) will find out this and much more in a direct discussion with our scholars. No registration is required, admission is free.
When: Tuesday, 20 May, 6-8 p.m.
Where: "Neuseum" on Sternplatz (former Markgrafen bookshop)
What: Local residents can talk to members of the University of Bayreuth at "We provide answers".
Special features: No admission fees, no registration, just drop by and ask questions
"Africa in the centre of Bayreuth"
Event on "African research in Bayreuth", 5 June 2025
The establishment of an interdisciplinary focus on Africa was already part of the University of Bayreuth's founding mission in the 1970s. In 1981, the Iwalewahaus was founded as a centre for the presentation, collection and research of modern African art. In 2019, the University of Bayreuth achieved its latest major milestone with the founding of the Cluster of Excellence "Africa Multiple" research network. Since then, it has been working with African academic partner institutions to reshape African research. The historian Dr. Ibrahima Sene and the Romance philologist Prof. Dr. Ute Fendler, deputy spokesperson of the Africa Multiple Cluster of Excellence, will shed light on the eventful history and the development of the content and objectives of African research in Bayreuth over the past five decades.
When: Thursday, June 5, 6-8 p.m.
Where: "Neuseum" on Sternplatz (former Markgrafen bookshop)
What: Local residents can talk to members of the University of Bayreuth at "We provide answers".
Special features: No admission fees, no registration, just drop by and ask questions
High-tech research made in Bayreuth
Prof. Dr. Christian Laforsch is spokesperson for the Collaborative Research Center (CRC) Microplastics at the University of Bayreuth. The CRC, which was established in 2019, investigates the risks to the environment and health posed by the increasing pollution caused by microplastics and which solutions are being researched and advanced. Current research projects provide an understanding of the formation, transport and effects on the environment and organisms.Laforsch, the first professor at the University of Bayreuth to be named "Professor of the Year" by the "Unicum" foundation in 2023, will answer questions from the audience about his research area at the "Neuseum" on Sternplatz (former Markgrafen bookstore) on Tuesday, 17 June (6 - 8 p.m.). The University of Bayreuth's "We provide answers" series aims to promote dialogue between scientists and local residents . It's easy to take part – you don't need a ticket or registration, just curiosity.
When: Tuesday, 17 June, 6-8 p.m.
Where: "Neuseum" on Sternplatz (former Markgrafen bookshop)
What: Local residents can take part in "We provide answers" with members of the University of Bayreuth.
Special features: No admission fees, no registration, just drop by and ask questions
Meet the President
What has been achieved over the past 50 years and what challenges will the University of Bayreuth face in the future? The President of the University of Bayreuth, Prof. Dr. Stefan Leible, will be answering questions from residents of Bayreuth on Thursday, 3 July between 6 and 8 pm as part of the discussion series "We provide answers". Leible, who is also chairperson of the Association Universität Bayern e.V., which promotes cooperation between universities, can also provide information on the further development of the University of Bayreuth in this context.
When: Thursday, 3 July, 6-8 p.m.
Where: "Neuseum" on Sternplatz (former Markgrafen bookshop)
What: Local residents can talk to members of the University of Bayreuth at "We provide answers".
Special features: No admission fees, no registration, just drop by and ask questions
Commitment to the urban community
The University of Bayreuth, with its scholars, staff and students, has long been an important factor for the city's society. University scientists, for example, contribute their expertise to the Climate Council, which advises the City Council on (climate) issues relating to the creation of new building areas. forum1.5, a research project of the Department of Urban and Regional Development at the University of Bayreuth, which aims to bring together as many people as possible from Bayreuth and Upper Franconia to discuss the topic of a climate-friendly future, has also been making important contributions to the region for years.With the micrometeorologist Professor Christoph Thomas (Head of the Micrometeorology Group at the University of Bayreuth and member of the Climate Advisory Board) and Professor Manfred Miosga (Professor of Urban and Regional Development at the University of Bayreuth, Project Manager forum1.5), two scientists will be on site at the "Neuseum" on Tuesday, 15 July (6-8 p.m.), who will be able to report on some very practical experiences in university/city cooperation.
When: Tuesday, 15 July, 6-8 p.m.
Where: "Neuseum" on Sternplatz (former Markgrafen bookshop)
What: Local residents can talk to members of the University of Bayreuth at "We provide answers".
Special features: No admission fees, no registration, just drop by and ask questions