Early in the morning in South Westphalia: Commuters are lined up bumper to bumper, detours wind through villages, and construction sites are a common sight on the roads. What is everyday life for many is, for Siegen-based scientist Dr. Christian Franke, a problem that has developed over time and a warning sign for the future.

For 16 years, the FraMeS mentoring program at the University of Siegen has been supporting female researchers in advancing their academic careers. At the kickoff event for the new cohort, twelve new mentees were welcomed, and ten participants were honored for successfully completing the program.

The second Siegen Children’s Book Prize goes to Berlin-based author Benjamin Tienti. More than 350 children from elementary schools in the Siegen-Wittgenstein district voted his book “Wer schnappt Ronaldo?” as their favorite. They praised the story as “cool and exciting,” thereby making the author the recipient of the joint award presented by the University of Siegen, the Siegen Community Foundation, and the Siegener Zeitung. 

Cutting-edge research “made in NRW”: The “Color meets Flavor” Cluster of Excellence was officially launched in Bonn. Teams from the universities of Bonn, Siegen, and Dortmund, along with FZ Jülich, are collaborating to study the strong and weak interactions of quarks and the origins of the universe.

The fifth anniversary of the flood disaster in the Ahr Valley will be observed in mid-July. At the same time, heavy rainfall events are on the rise in many places as a result of climate change. With “RiskAware,” the University of Siegen is developing a digital tool designed to help cities and municipalities prepare for heavy rainfall and flooding. With the help of artificial intelligence, risks are expected to be identified more quickly and accurately and better assessed in the future.

Amid perfect summer weather, the LEO Meadow below the bistro on the Adolf-Reichwein-Straße campus was officially reopened. With sports, games, conversations, and a relaxed atmosphere, the new campus gathering spot is living up to its purpose: lively, open, and right in the heart of everyday university life.

400 publications, 28 series, and three journals “made in Siegen”: At the ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the Siegen-based university press universi, four experts discussed the press’s achievements, current challenges, and its future.