Is Freedom of Speech at Risk at German Universities?

In debates about canceled lectures or political demonstrations at universities, the term “cancel culture” keeps cropping up. It is associated with the notion that not everything can be said or researched freely, and that research and teaching are supposedly restricted by bans on thought and speech. The ZEIT Stiftung Bucerius investigated whether this is really the case and, in a study, asked more than 9,000 professors, doctoral students, and postdoctoral researchers about their thoughts and experiences on this topic. Uwe Schimank, professor emeritus of Sociology at the University of Bremen, is one of the seven researchers who designed and carried out the study.

The Martian Mindset: Lessons from Mars for Earth

The Martian Mindset: A Scarcity-Driven Engineering Paradigm is one of two recently approved Clusters of Excellence at the University of Bremen. up2date. asked cluster spokesperson Professor Marc Avila what exactly is being investigated.

The Ocean Floor: What Does Earth’s Uncharted Interface Reveal?

The second approved Cluster of Excellence is entitled “The Ocean Floor – Earth’s Uncharted Interface.” The project is a research collaboration between the universities in Oldenburg and Bremen. Cluster spokesperson Professor Heiko Pälike shares insights about the research questions addressed in this project.

Study Buddy: “It’s Good to Know That Someone Is There for You”

If you are studying abroad, you probably have a lot of questions. This is where Study Buddy Program comes in. The program connects international students with local buddies who provide support based on their own experiences. These connections often lead to lasting friendships. Study Buddies Tanya Toofany and Aneeb Hassan talk about their experiences with the program.

“The Sea Is Full of Wonders”

Scientists have only recently discovered that the oceans are home to fungi. And no, they don’t look like mushrooms or toadstools. At least, we don’t think so. However, these highly diverse organisms are largely unexplored. Dr. Marlis Reich, head of the Molecular Ecology research group, spoke with us about why these organisms are so fascinating, what their role in the marine ecosystem is, and how this research is important for her teaching.

Meet Bremen’s Future Physical Education Teachers

The sports degree program was reintroduced in 2024 at the University of Bremen. Lilian, Jan, and Melroy are three of around 60 students. In this interview, they tell us why they chose the teaching profession and how they like it at the University of Bremen.

Mutually Beneficial PhD Degree

A scholarship for up to four years, grants for travel and insurance, as well as help with getting settled in Germany – the Graduate School Scholarship Programme (GSSP) of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers support in many areas. Eight young doctoral students from all over the world are currently working at the University of Bremen as part of this program, which is highly beneficial for German researchers as well.

Have You Heard of … the University Archive?

The ground floor of wing A in GW1 Building houses the memory of the University of Bremen: the university archive. For 25 years, the university archive has been preserving knowledge, documents, and memories – bringing the university’s history to life for researchers and the public.