Over the next three years, the DFG will provide around 300,000 euros in funding for a project that will make it possible to manufacture computer chips that can simultaneously store and process data. The research project is headed by Professor Rolf Drechsler of the Computer Architecture Working Group (AGRA).

Processors are increasingly being used in devices ranging from notebooks to mobile phones, dictation machines and satellites. According to Drechsler, there is a lot of electronics in cars today. "A car in the luxury class contains more than 250 microprocessors with millions of lines of programming code. The problem is that the manufacture of computer processors is now reaching the physical limit. "Processors were first developed in the 1970s. At the time, Intel co-founder Gordon Moore predicted that twice as much would fit on a chip every 18 months. Meanwhile we are at ten nanometers and cannot build smaller at reasonable cost. We are at a turning point here," explains Professor Drechsler. The computer architecture has to move in a new direction.

Simultaneous storage and processing
One solution could be so-called Logic-In Memory Computing, says Drechsler. "What's new is that computers can simultaneously store and process data in their memory. This process is usually separate. The boundary between memory and calculation unit is thus removed. "This is to be seen as a revolution in the field of architecture, as it removes the separation that has been in place for decades."

The DFG project "HDL-based Synthesis and Verification for Programmable Logic-In Memory Architecture" deals specifically with the question of how such circuits can be rebuilt. "We're not building the chip, we're building the production line. To this end, Professor Drechsler and his team carry out computer simulations: "In the 1970s, the blueprint for the chips was still drawn on the board. Today's processors, on the other hand, consist of more than 10 billion components, as the computer scientist describes, that is 10 million 1000-piece puzzles. In order to construct the novel chips, scientists have to extend existing programming languages with new commands.

Powerful and energy-saving devices
In addition, the researchers have the claim to be able to carry out verification at the same time as production. "We don't just want to believe that the chip works, we want to prove it with formal methods. In this way, we can guarantee the correct and reliable functioning of the entire system." The aim of the new computer architecture is to develop high-performance devices that consume little energy. Thanks to their more compact design, they could also be used in a wide variety of places on the Internet of Things and designed to be more secure. This is very important nowadays, especially in view of hacker attacks.

Further information:

http://www.informatik.uni-bremen.de/agra/ger/bereich.php

www.uni-bremen.de

Questions answered:

Prof. Dr. Rolf Drechsler
Computer Architecture Working Group
Department 3

Phone: +49 421 218 - 63932
E-Mail: drechsler[at]uni-bremen[dot]de

Computer Science Professor Michael Beetz has received an honorary doctorate from the Swedish University of Örebro for his outstanding achievements in the fields of artificial intelligence, machine learning and robotics.

Michael Beetz has made an international name for himself with his research in the field of artificial intelligence and robotics. At the University of Örebro (Sweden), Rector Johan Schnürer has now awarded him an honorary doctorate for his internationally outstanding scientific achievements as well as for his many years of cooperation with the Swedish University. In the past, Beetz acted as second assessor for several doctorates and gave lectures at the Winter School of AASS Cognitive Robotic Systems Labs.

Internationalization and democratization of robotics

Beetz is head of the Institute for Artificial Intelligence (IAI) at the University of Bremen. The IAI conducts research on automated control methods for robots. They should learn to implement abstract instructions independently and thus become everyday helpers. Another important field of activity of Beetz is the Collaborative Research Centre 1320 EASE (Everyday Activity Science an Engineering), of which he is the speaker. There he and his research team are working on improving the technical prerequisites for cooperation in the field of robotics and lowering the hurdles for robot programming. Therefore, the IAI group provides most of its research results as open source software, mainly in the Robot Operating System (ROS) library. In this way, a stronger democratization of robotics and artificial intelligence is deliberately to be achieved so that the development of these future fields is not solely shaped by commercial interests. In cooperation with other international universities, including Örebro, the University of Bremen has been building the foundations for intensive cooperation in the field of robotics for several years.

Further information:

ai.uni-bremen.de/team/michael_beetz
ease-crc.org
www.uni-bremen.de

Questions to:

Prof. Michael Beetz PhD
Fachbereich Mathematik und Informatik
Universität Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-64001
Email: beetzcs.uni-bremen.de

Link to the original press release of the University of Bremen

Workshops are free

The reason: Young girls and women often cannot imagine computer science as an occupational field. That's what smile wants to change. In workshops such as "My intelligent home", "My robot friend cleans up" and "OK Alexa", schoolgirls should gain insights into the field of computer science and develop a good understanding of the topic. Previous knowledge is not required. Participation in the workshops is free of charge.

Exhibition in the Botanika

How a houseplant becomes "smart" was researched by ten pupils of the 7th grade in a smile workshop. The plants equipped with sensors and microcontrollers can be seen in the Botanika foyer until 8 February.
Smile is a North German BMBF joint project with research laboratories at the University of Bremen and other laboratories in Hamburg and Oldenburg. The project is funded for the period from 01.04.2017 to 31.03.2020. The aim of the project is to make the offer more consistent.
 

Workshops (Choice):

My Intelligent Home

• Grades 7 and 8
• Thu 31 January and Fri 1 February 2019

The workshop "My Intelligent Home" for seventh and eighth graders examines how a home can intelligently support its users, why this is important in an ageing society, and how these technologies work. The students themselves learn how to program and control such systems. Previous knowledge is not required.

Meine Roboterfreundin räumt auf

• grades 7, 8 and 9
• from February 2019, weekly Friday afternoon from 15.00 pm

Never clean up again? Not quite, but the participants of this workshop can think about how a robot could do it for them. They learn their first programming steps and "control" their own robot.
This workshop also takes place during the Easter holidays for older schoolgirls:

• Class levels 10 and higher (10,11,12,13, Q1,Q2):
• Monday, 15 April to Thursday, 18 April 2019

OK Alexa

• Grades 9, 10 and 11
• Tue, 9 April to Fri, 12 April 2019

Voice controls like Siri, Alexa etc. surround us today in our everyday life in many places. But how does this actually work? The participants learn this in the OK Alexa workshop and design and program their own system.

Further information:

www.smile-smart-it.de
www.uni-bremen.de

Questions to:

Sabine Veit
Managing Director AG Artificial Intelligence Department 3
Universität Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-64005
Email:

Author:

Peter Maaß studied mathematics in Karlsruhe, Cambridge and Heidelberg. After graduating, he moved to the Technical University of Berlin, where he also received his doctorate in 1988. After about a year of research at Tufts University in Boston, Peter Maaß joined Saarland University in 1991. There he habilitated in 1993 under Professor Alfred K. Louis.

Shortly afterwards he was offered a C4 professorship in numerical mathematics at the University of Potsdam. In 1999, he accepted an appointment at the University of Bremen and has since headed the Center for Technomathematics. Peter Maaß is regarded as one of the most respected and renowned mathematicians in Germany. His main areas of research are the solution of inverse problems, mathematical data analysis and imaging techniques.

Peter Maaß's close relationship with the University of Saarland has been maintained since the early 1990s. Currently Peter Maaß is working together with the two professors Alfred K. Louis and Thomas Schuster from Saarbrücken as well as with the mathematician Anne Wald. Among other things, he is conducting research within the framework of a German-Chinese cooperation together with Prof. Louis in the DFG-funded project "Bimodal Reconstruction and Magnetic Particle Imaging" and together with Prof. Schuster and Dr. Wald in the BMBF-funded project "Model-based Parameter Identification in Magnetic Particle Imaging".

The honorary doctorate will be awarded next Friday, June 29, 2018, in Saar-brücken. The laudation will be held by Professor Martin Burger (Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster).

Peter Maaß is the fifth mathematician to be honoured by Saarland University since its 70th anniversary. This award was previously presented to Gerhard Frey (2014), Heinz W. Engl (2012), Frank Natterer (2002) and Gottfried Köthe (1981).

Recent developments in computer science show how they can also be manipulated for ethically dubious purposes, and often place computer science directly in the crosshairs of public criticism. In fact, questions about autonomous vehicles and privacy of personal data in social media are often the focus of public discussion.

At the first meeting of the ACM "Future of Computing Academy" (FCA), an association of young computer scientists from all over the world, in June 2017, many participants agreed that it was time for computer science to do more.

As a result, the FCA has highlighted the issue in a blog post entitled "It's Time to Do Something: Mitigating the Negative Impacts of Computing Through a Change to the Peer Review Process". Johannes Schöning, Professor of Human-Machine Interaction at our department, is a founding member of FCA and co-author of the article.

https://acm-fca.org/2018/03/29/negativeimpacts/

During the discussion, which lasted several months, the idea arose that considerable progress could be made by using the peer review process to "bridge the gap between the real impact of computer research and the positivity with which we see our work in the computer community. The magnitude of this error is truly enormous: it is analogous to the medical community that only writes about the benefits of a particular treatment and completely ignores the side effects, no matter how serious they are," said Schöning.

The article was also discussed in the online presence of the journal Nature:

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-05791-w?error=cookies_not_supported&code=6329b78b-73f5-4a13-b7b3-13e0806d1dcb

The next step will be a 360-degree camera that Benjamin Tannert attaches to his wheelchair. With the camera shots he wants to capture obstacles similar to Google Street View. He then plans to develop an automatic algorithm that can evaluate the images and recognize barriers. The information will then flow into navigation systems that show wheelchair users the safest and most convenient route.

http://www.rtlnord.de/nachrichten/bremer-informatiker-entwickelt-navi-fuer-rollstuhlfahrer.html

October 1-5, Prof. Emily J King co-organized and participated in an Oberwolfach mini-workshop on "Algebraic, Geometric, and Combinatorial Methods in Frame Theory." The central goal of the mini-workshop was to attack open problems that seem amenable to an interdisciplinary approach combining certain subfields of frame theory, real algebraic geometry, symplectic geometry, and combinatorics.

Frames are collections of vectors in a Hilbert space which have reconstruction properties similar to orthonormal bases and applications in areas such as signal and image processing, quantum information theory, quantization, compressed sensing, and phase retrieval. Further desirable properties of frames for robustness in these applications coincide with structures that have appeared independently in other areas of mathematics, such as special matroids, Gel'Fand-Zetlin polytopes, and combinatorial designs.

There were 17 participants from 6 countries and 4 continents, representing a diverse mathematical background.  The mini-workshop was a success and laid the groundwork for a number of papers.

-----

The Oberwolfach Mini-Workshop "Algebraic, Geometric, and Combinatorial Methods in Frame Theory", co-organized by Prof. Emily J. King, took place from October 1 to 5. The central aim of the mini-workshop was to tackle open problems which seem to be accessible to an interdisciplinary approach from certain parts of frame theory, real algebraic geometry, symplectic geometry and combinatorics.

Frames are collections of vectors in a Hilbert space whose reconstruction properties resemble an orthonormal base and which have applications in areas such as signal and image processing, quantum information theory, quantization, compressed sensing and phase retrieval. Other desirable properties of frames for robustness in these applications correspond to structures that occur independently in other areas of mathematics, such as special matroids, Gel'Fand-Zetlin polytopes, and combinatorial designs.

The workshop was attended by 17 people from 6 countries and 4 continents with different mathematical backgrounds.  The mini-workshop was a success and laid the foundation for a number of publications.

This English-language summer school consisted of three lecture series:

Resonances in Geometric Scattering Theory by David Borthwick(Emory University),
Resonances and Schrödinger Operators by Tanya Christiansen (University of Missouri) and
Random Schrödinger Operators by David Hasler (Friedrich Schiller University Jena).
Other speakers included Paul Wabnitz (PhD student at AG Analysis, University of Bremen) and Konstantin Schäfer (PhD student at AG Dynamische Systeme und Geometrie, University of Bremen).

The conference was attended by about 30 people, mainly PhD students. 

The main topics of this conference were topological dynamics and dynamics in homogeneous spaces. 18 speakers presented their latest research results in these areas.  Among the speakers were

Cornelissen, Gunther (Universiteit Utrecht)
DeMarco, Laura (Northwestern University)
Deninger, Christopher (Universität Münster)
Einsiedler, Manfred (ETH Zürich)
Eskin, Alex (University of Chicago)
Feng, De-Jun (The Chinese University of Hong Kong)
Ghosh, Anish (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research)
Gorodnik, Alexander (University of Bristol)
Juschenko, Kate (Northwestern University)
Kontorovich, Alex (Rutgers University)
Marmi, Stefano (Scuola Normale Superiore)
McMullen, Curtis (Harvard University)
Misiurewicz, Michal (Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis)

Mukamel, Ronen (Rice University)
Mohammadi, Amir (The University of California, San Diego)
Nekrashevych, Volodymyr (Texas A&M University)
Schleicher, Dierk (Jacobs University Bremen)
Snoha, Ľubomír (Matej Bel University).

This conference belongs to the series of "Dynamics & Numbers" events at the MPI. Since Sergii Kolyada, the long-time co-organizer of this series, had died unexpectedly a few months earlier, an event in his memory took place on the first day.

About 80 researchers from all over the world took part in the conference. It was funded by the MPI.

Link to the conference website: https://www.mpim-bonn.mpg.de/node/7800

Dieses Jahr wurden mit Unterstützung des Bremer Sonderforschungsbereichs EASE (Sprecher Prof. Michael Beetz) Daten zur Verfügung gestellt, auf deren Basis Alltagsaktivitäten erkannt werden sollten. Dazu wurden diverse Biosignale von zahlreichen Versuchspersonen aufgezeichnet, die 22 verschiedene Alltagsaktivitäten ausführten und dabei eine mit 19 Sensoren bestückte Kniebandage trugen. An der Challenge nahmen insgesamt 115 Studierende teil, die in 61 Teams gemeinsam ihre Lösungen entwickelten. Mit raffinierten Lösungsansätze erreichten die Teams hervorragende Ergebnisse. Den Gewinnern gelang es sogar, alle Aktivitäten fehlerfrei zu erkennen.

In der feierlichen Preisverleihung am 8. Mai 2019 wurden die Gewinner der BBDC 2019 von der Leiterin des CSL, Prof. Tanja Schultz, bekanntgegeben und prämiert. Die fünf bestplazierten Teams erhielten neben einer Urkunde und dem BBDC T-Shirt ein Preisgeld von insgesamt 1500€, das vom BBDC-Sponsor „neuland büro für informatik bremen GmbH“ gestiftet wurde. Den ersten Platz sicherten sich Enno Röhrig, Bernd Poppinga und Jianyu Guan unter dem Teamnamen „SoDeepNotLearning“, gefolgt vom Team „InsiderTraining“ Marlon Flügge, Tilman Ihrig und Merlin Burri, dem Team „Trisol“ mit Mahyar Pedram, Maryam Faghihabdolahi und Mohammad Mohammadzadeh Babr, dem Team „TuringTested“ mit Nilabhra Roy Chowdhury und dem Team „Artificial Activities“ mit Eike Externest und Sebastian Kühl. Den fachlichen Höhepunkt gestaltete Prof. Dr. Jörg Lücke von der Universität Oldenburg mit seinem Keynote-Vortrag zum Thema „Probabilistic Big Learning for Elementary and Complex Data Models“.

Die Organisatoren vom CSL gratulieren allen Preisträgern (sitzend, Bild rechts) und bedanken sich sehr herzlich für die Unterstützung der Sponsoren (hintere Reihe), des Sonderforschungsbereiches EASE, des Fachbereiches Mathematik und Informatik, (stehend rechts, Dekan Prof. Dr. Rolf Drechsler), dem Keynote-Sprecher (stehend in der Mitte), sowie für die rege Teilnahme der Studierenden, die die BBDC zu einer lebhaften und interessanten Veranstaltung machen (Foto © Lisa-Marie Vortmann, CSL).

Im nächsten Jahr feiert die BBDC ihre fünfte Auflage. Am CSL tüfteln wir bereits an der nächsten Challenge und freuen uns auf März 2020!  

Stay tuned mit dem BBDC Newsletter (https://bbdc.csl.uni-bremen.de/).

Within the framework of the VaMEx-VTB ("Valles Marineris Explorer - Virtual TestBed") project, Professor Zachmann's working group has recreated the "Mariner Valleys" on the basis of NASA scans. "The region was chosen because it is believed to contain raw materials that would be useful for future manned missions and human settlements on the planet," says Professor Zachmann. In addition, there is the possibility of finding evidence of extraterrestrial life, because the conditions for the development of microorganisms could have been good, at least in the past - when Mars was climatically less hostile to life.

Because the terrain in the canyons is very diverse, the exploration also requires robots with different strengths - some can climb, others can fly or transport payloads. In addition, a network of small, radio-based "beacons" must be set up so that the robots can determine their position at any time.

High demands on the software

The TZI software makes it possible to simulate the complex interaction between the robots, taking into account all the planet's special features - such as gravity, soil conditions and extreme temperatures. "To do this, enormous amounts of data first had to be processed to create a realistic, three-dimensional representation of the landscape," says Zachmann. Another challenge was to connect the various robot software systems so that information could be exchanged.

The system has already proven itself in the first tests. The researchers have noticed that robots on Mars need different algorithms than those on Earth in order to determine their position. One reason for this is the very monotonous colours of the terrain, which make it difficult to identify landscape features. It is precisely in such findings that the greatest benefit of the simulation lies: errors can be corrected before the robots one day begin their eight-month journey to Mars. The chance that everything will then work as planned on site increases considerably.

Nationwide cooperation

The VaMEx-VTB project was supported by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) with funds from the Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy (BMWi). The following were involved as contractors of the University of Bremen: the Robotics Innovation Center of the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI GmbH, Bremen), University of the Federal Armed Forces (Munich), TU Munich, TU Braunschweig, DLR Oberpfaffenhofen and the University of Würzburg.

Axel Kölling


Further information:

https://cgvr.informatik.uni-bremen.de/research/vamex-vtb/
www.uni-bremen.de/tzi/
www.uni-bremen.de


Questions to:

Axel Kölling
Public Relations
Technologie-Zentrum Informatik und Informationstechnik (TZI)
Universität Bremen
Tel.: 0171-5305119
E-mail: axel.koelling@uni-bremen

Universität Bremen
University communication and marketing
Tel.: +49 421 218-60150
E-mail: presse@uni-bremen.de

Development of Robotic Learning Systems for Universities

The interface between robotics and artificial intelligence - also known as cognitive robotics - will play an important role in the management of societal challenges in the future. Intelligent robotic systems can, for example, take on central functions in the health sector and support physically impaired people in their own home. One requirement for this is not only the further scientific development of such technologies but also the training of specialists and early-career researchers. The University of Bremen is expanding its outstanding position in this area: The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has granted the university around 2 million euros in funding for the development of a comprehensive learning system.

The project entitled “Integrierte Lernumgebung für kognitive Robotik” (IntEL4CoRo) follows the approach of skills-oriented teaching. This means that students are enabled to apply their knowledge and develop it autonomously. The researchers from the University of Bremen that are being led by Professor Michael Beetz and Dr. Yildiray Ogurol want to achieve this by integrating practical elements into their learning environment. For example, students are to work intensely with control systems for robots and physics-based simulations. This is to help in illustrating the concepts taught in class. At the same time, the students test their acquired knowledge by further developing the learning system themselves. Research teams from the Institute for Artificial Intelligence (IAI) and the Center for Multimedia in Higher Education (ZMML) have been combined for this purpose. They are being supported by the Center for Networks (ZfN) at the university, as well as the Cognitive Systems Lab (CSL), the Virtual Academy of Sustainability (VAN), the Public Health degree course and the Centre for Media, Communication and Information Research (ZeMKI).

The learning system is being created for the realization of final theses, team-based software development projects, and robot competitions. All the work that is realized with the system is to be able to be transferred to real robots. The system itself will be an open-source project so that all interested parties can work on it or develop their own versions.

“Bundled Know-How in AI Research”

“I am very pleased about this funding for our university,” says the President, Professor Bernd Scholz-Reiter. “The university is one of the global leaders in AI research.” Only recently, did the Collaborative Research Center EASE - Everyday Activity Science and Engineering receive a further four years of funding from the German Research Foundation (DFG). “We have bundled know-how here so that we can foster the digitalization in higher education with the help of artificial intelligence.”

The Senator for Science and Ports, Dr. Claudia Schilling: “Thanks to the acceleration of the technological transformation and digitalization, which was also triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, the training of AI experts has become particularly urgent. At the same time, the implementation of AI-based technology can improve the quality, performance abilities, and efficacy of university education. The consideration of ethical aspects is an important prerequisite for the acceptance and successful usage of AI in higher education and is significant to us in Bremen. That is why I am extremely pleased that both the acquisition of skills, as well as the use of AI in university teaching are being looked at more closely in terms of ethical, legal, and social significance within the aforementioned projects. By doing this, the outstanding research strength of Bremen in AI-based and cognition-inspired robotics is being optimally expanded on and the AI ecosystem is growing its foundations.”

About the Government and State Initiative “Künstliche Intelligenz in der Hochschulbildung”

With the funding initiative, which has access to 133 million euros and covers 81 universities in Germany, the government and states are trying to effectively roll out the key technology that is AI across the breadth of the higher education system, stated the Joint Science Conference (GWK).  In total, 40 individual university projects and 14 network projects involving several universities are being supported.  On the one hand, the focus is on the measures that contribute to the qualification of future academics. In this way, universities are supported in the development of degree courses or individual modules in the field of artificial intelligence. On the other hand, universities are being supported in the creation of AI-based learning and exam environments. The chosen projects will most probably be funded from December 2021 for up to four years. The maximum funding amount for individual projects is two million euros and five million euros for network projects.

Further Information:

Read the GWK’s press release: www.gwk-bonn.de/presseaktuelles/pressemitteilungen

https://ai.uni-bremen.de/

https://www.uni-bremen.de/universitaet/organisation/chief-digital-officer-cdo

Contact:

Prof. Dr. Andreas Breiter
Chief Digital Officer
University of Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-56570
Email:    

Prof. Dr. Michael Beetz
Institute for Artificial Intelligence
University of Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-64000
Email:   

“Good PhD Supervision Is Peer Support”

In her speech, the Senator for Science Dr. Claudia Schilling stated: “Outstanding PhD supervision is actually always rather ‘doctoral accompaniment’. I prefer the latter term as it does not imply there being any dependency and does not point to such a hierarchically structured relationship – a hierarchically structured relationship that actually does not fit with the image of a doctoral candidate as an autonomously working researcher. Great PhD accompaniment should be understood as being support among colleagues and not as a relationship like between a boss and an employee.”

Autonomy and “Team Sport”

In his laudatory speech for the prizewinner from the humanities and social sciences, Professor Heiko Pleines, his former doctoral student Dr. Jan Matti Dollbaum emphasized: “The doctoral supervision from Heiko Pleines gives something to PhD students than can be described as ‘supported autonomy.’ It has its reasons that the colloquium is an important part of Heiko Pleines’ supervision concept, as it is a team sport and thus a symbol for his supervision style in general: Working on finding answers and solutions together in a friendly yet also highly concentrated atmosphere. An atmosphere that can generally be found within his team at the Research Centre for East European Studies.”
Heiko Pleines is a professor of comparative political science and vice director of the Research Centre for East European Studies at the University of Bremen.

Free Space and Opportunities to Talk

The first prize in natural sciences and engineering went to Rolf Drechsler. He is a professor of computer architecture at the University of Bremen and the director of the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI).

His former PhD student Dr. Kenneth Schmitz thanked him for the peer support in his laudatory speech. “The focus was always placed on further development through free space to work independently and evolve, as well as providing motivation for teaching classes and networking scientifically.” This required a great deal of our own initiative. “In turn, Rolf Drechsler was also there to talk - especially when you had doubts - in order to find new perspectives concerning the issues at hand or to find new core focuses.”

The Alumni Network of the University of Bremen donated the prize money of 2,000 euros per person. The money is for a specific purpose and is only available for facilitating the success of PhD students. Committee member Dr.-Ing. Reinhard Ahlers stressed the importance of the prize: “Accompanying people on this path, inspiring them to write excellent scientific papers, and paving their way for the future - whether this be in industry or at the university, and thus also caring for the future - those are aspects of outstanding PhD supervision.”
The response of the PhD students to the call to nominate supervisors was high at the University of Bremen. 59 nominations of supervisors from all faculties were entered.
Five Second-Place Winners Honored

Alongside the two first-place winners, five further supervisors shared the second spot as special recognition: Professor Andreas Breiter, Professor Andreas Grünewald, Dr. Margrit E. Kaufmann, Professor Fabio La Mantia, and Professor Ben Marzeion.

About the Prize

The prize for outstanding doctoral supervision from the University of Bremen is awarded to scientists, one from the humanities and social sciences and one from natural sciences and engineering, every two years. The jury is comprised of the advisory board of the Bremen Early career Researcher Development Center (BYRD) and one member of the prize sponsor, the Alumni Network of the University of Bremen. The nominees must receive at least two nominations in order to be featured as a winner. Young scientists who completed their PhD at the University of Bremen no longer than four years ago can enter nominations.

Further Information:

On the BYRD website, you can watch videos of both winners explaining what outstanding PhD supervision is for them:
www.uni-bremen.de/betreuungspreis2021(in German only)
www.uni-bremen.de/en/

Contact:

Dr. Marie Sander
BYRD
Bremen Early Career Researcher Development
University of Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-60327
Email: 

© Philipp Batelka/ Universität Bremen

The University of Bremen has honored outstanding PhD supervision. The computer Scientist Rolf Drechsler and the political scholar Heiko Pleines with the Vice President Research, Jutta Günther.

Other Challenges Posed by Virtual Competition

The first two competitions – the “Passing Challenge” and “Obstacle Avoidance Challenge” – targeted the football skills of the robots and were carried out with team NAOs on home pitches. In the Passing Challenge, two robots had the task of passing a ball between them as often as possible within five minutes whilst avoiding obstacles. With 27 passes between the Bremen NAOs, B-Human was the clear front-runner. The aim of the Obstacle Avoidance Challenge was to dribble the ball past obstacles into the goal as quickly as possible. B-Human also fulfilled its role as favorite to win and won the competition as the quickest team.

The far more interesting and challenging competitions from a scientific perspective were still to come: the “Autonomous Calibration Challenge” and the “1 vs. 1 Challenge.” For these challenges, software was transferred into the labs of other teams via the internet so that it could be run on other NAOs and be put to the test on other pitches. In the “Autonomous Calibration Challenge,” the aim was to find the position of two balls on the pitch as quickly as possible and run to three predetermined positions as precisely as possible. In an initial “calibration phase,” the software made automatic amendments to the previously unknown robots. Bremen’s software carried out this complex challenge in three different labs - in Dortmund, Amsterdam, and Hamburg - and was able to get the best point score each time. The other teams were in some cases a little quicker but B-Human was successful in nearly all cases at determining the most precise position.

Final against Leipzig University of Applied Sciences

The “1 vs. 1 Challenge” was the only one that actually included playing against one another. As this also meant playing on unknown pitches and with unknown robots, the results and skills gathered in the “Autonomous Calibration Challenge” were of great value. In general, B-Human did well in the tournament and was able to get into the final. The NAO team HTWK from Leipzig University of Applied Sciences waited for the Bremen team in the final, where the latter experienced a 12:13 defeat after a very close and exciting game. Both teams were similarly quick and determined, however, B-Human missed their opponent’s goal several times which resulted in them being unable to make a comeback and score more goals.

However, the successful team was still able to win its eighth RoboCup title thanks to the great scores in all four competitions. During the virtual tournament, the Bremen team was able to gain new and valuable experience, which will surely be very useful during future competitions. At the subsequent scientific conference, the RoboCup Symposium, B-Human presented three scientific papers on current topics, such as deep learning and humanoid running. All three papers were written with significant contributions from University of Bremen students.

About B-Human

At the moment, B-Human is made up of 11 students from the University of Bremen as well as the supervising researchers - Dr. Thomas Röfer and Arne Hasselbring from the DFKI research area Cyber-Physical Systems, which is led by Professor Rolf Drechsler, and Dr. Tim Laue from the University of Bremen. The company CONTACT Software, the leading provider of product process solutions and digital transformation solutions, has been the B-Human sponsor since 2017.

Further Information:

• Official RoboCup 2021 website: https://2021.robocup.org/
• B-Human website: https://www.b-human.de  
• RoboCup SPL YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmJWzHyCuBs8zaQcJfw077g   
• B-Human on Twitter: https://twitter.com/pennybhuman  
• B-Human on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/teambhuman
• B-Human on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bhumnbhumn

Contact:

Dr. Tim Laue
Faculty of Mathematics / Computer Science
University of Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-64209
Email:     

Dr. Thomas Röfer
German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI)
Cyber-Physical Systems
Phone: +49 421 218-64200
Email: 

DFKI press contact:
German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI)
Corporate Communication Bremen
Phone: 49421 178 45-4180
Email: 

First Financing Rounds for Solar and Wind Power Facilities Coming to an End

At the end of 2020, the legally guaranteed remuneration in accordance with the German “EE” law ended for the first solar power systems, as this applies for 20 years per system. The funding will also cease for the first wind power facilities. A further operation of the old solar and wind power facilities after expiration of the legal remuneration obligations is, however, desirable. No only so that the produced energy can be used. For the operators of such plants, it can often be worthwhile to move to private consumption.

Projects Will Fit over 100 Building with Easily Manageable Sensors

The “SmartFarm2” project from the Center for Industrial Mathematics (ZeTeM) at the University of Bremen is taking this as a starting point. It wants to show users how they can potentially optimize their own consumption. “We want to build a test field with over one hundred so-called real demonstrations,” says the project leader, Professor Christof Büskens from ZeTeM at the university. Examples of buildings are dairy farms, pig farms, greenhouses, and schools. “We want to fit these buildings with simple-to-control sensor technology,” states the scientist, “in order to record the high-definition, time-dependent consumer and producer data that has not been available to date.” Based on said data, the economic potential of own consumption optimization can be discovered with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) methods and mathematical optimization algorithms.  Subsequently, a highly automated energy management system will be developed.  

Participation Possible

Interested parties near to Osterholz and in the Allgäu region can take part in the project - especially the owners of small and middle-sized farming businesses or communal facilities. Information can be found at https://smartfarm2.de/  (in German only).

Funding of over 1.4 Million Euros

“SmartFarm2” is being financed with over 1.4 million euros from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy over the course of three years. Other project partners alongside the University of Bremen are Steinbeis Innovation Center Optimization, Control and Adjustment Control, who are coordinating the project, as well as KMU nD-enerserve from Hanover and Q3 ENERGIE from Kaufbeuren.

Further Information:

• https://smartfarm2.de (in German only)
• http://www.math.uni-bremen.de/zetem/cms/detail.php?id=22844&language=en
• http://www.math.uni-bremen.de/zetem/cms/detail.php?id=4381&language=en
• https://enerserve.eu/en/home.html
• https://www.q3-energie.de/?lang=en
   

Contact:

Prof. Dr. Christof Büskens
Center for Industrial Mathematics (ZeTeM)
Faculty of Mathematics / Computer Science
University of Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-63861
Email: 

It is therefore our aim to give interested school students an insight into the broad, diverse and promising professional field of mathematicians. Mathematics is more than numbers and arithmetic!

This year, too, we are continuing the “Future Field Mathematics” series and presenting further areas of application of mathematics from industry and research. Due to the current situation, we will not meet in person in the university lecture hall and will hold the event digitally as last year. We are thus offering many pupils the opportunity to gain exciting insights into mathematics. The contributions this year come from the field of quantum computing, research on music perception and mathematical support for steelmaking.

In addition to three lectures with moderated discussion and questions, at the end of the event there will be the opportunity to talk to the speakers in small groups.
Participation is in groups - e.g. B. in a course group out of the classroom - or as an individual from home. The teachers will have the opportunity to try out the technology beforehand. More information and registration can be found here.

The Mathematics Symposium is a cooperation between the Senator for Children and Education, the LIS and the Mathematics Department of the University of Bremen.

For more information, please click here: https://www.gor-ev.de/auszeichnungen-der-gor/preis-fuer-dissertationen-der-gor

A “wolf-proof” fence that meets the ecological and economic demands of agriculture, livestock owners, and society does not yet exist. The existing fences are designed as permanent fixtures, a fact that often prevents them from being used in conservation areas or means a high additional amount of work on the part of the livestock owners due to the special design of the fence. In addition, electric fences are not as effective during periods of drought or frost. They also cannot be additionally reinforced with stakes or undermining protection. However, this is needed in regions with special conditions such as dikes, conservation areas, and shallow soils. A wolf fence “arms race” would also lead to a landscape fragmentation: Wildlife would be restricted in their movement – and with it their food sources and genetic diversity.

Alternative ways of herd protection are associated with considerable effort and other serious disadvantages. Livestock guardian dog are expensive to buy and own, and conflicts easily occur near human settlements or with other dogs. Also, employing shepherds around the clock is not feasible – each flock would require at least three people. 

Psychological Barriers Complement Physical Ones

But a solution is now being researched. As part of the mAInZaun project (modular, autonomous and intelligent herd protection and predator repelling fence) of the universities of Bremen and Gießen and the RoFlexs company, the project partners will use sensors and AI methods to develop a “smart” fence that recognizes the approach of a wolf and carries out defense measures. 
Detection of dangers, be it wolves or manipulation of the fence by storm or third parties, is recognized immediately and communicated to the farmer. An optional integration of external control centers in the event of pasture outbreaks, e.g. police, road maintenance services, or railway supervisors in the alert chain are planned. The sensors and actuators with their own power supply can be used independently of an existing fence. The use without a classic fence can also open up new areas of application in impassable regions. 

Cost-Effective, Smart, and Energy-Efficient

“The system is based on existing technologies, but there are still some challenges to overcome in order for it to become operational,” explains Professor Anna Förster from the University of Bremen’s Center for Computing Technologies (TZI). “The sensor technology and the defense measures are to be cost-effective, smart and, above all, energy-efficient, because the mAInZaun fence must operate without external energy supplies. 
At the same time, these solutions must work with great accuracy. For example, our goal is for the AI to learn not only to distinguish wolves from other species, but also to distinguish individual wolves from each other. That way, the wolf-defense solutions can be individualized so that individual animals don’t become used to certain defense methods.” 

This is important because wolves are very intelligent and adaptable. “One of the biggest challenges of this project is to develop the defense measures in such a way that they remain effective over both the short and long term,” emphasizes behavioral scientist Uta König von Borstel, professor at Justus Liebig University Giessen. “At the same time, of course, no grazing animals, humans, or dogs must be harmed. We are confident: Our approach of identifying and scaring away the wolves individually allows us to accommodate all these requirements.”

Fence Manufacturer Ensures Feasibility

Once these challenges have been successfully overcome, the research results can be put into practice. RoFlexs GmbH (Salzwedel) contributes its metalworking and electrical engineering expertise. “One of our tasks is to develop solid and weather-resistant housing for the sensors and actuators,” reports managing director Torsten Menzel. “At the same time, another task is to develop a flexible and self-sufficient power supply solution for the modules and to constantly optimize it over the project period.” As RoFlexs has been producing and marketing mobile fences for15 years, these existing channels could be used for distribution worldwide.

The three-year project is scheduled to be completed by mid-2024. It is funded by the German Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) with 1.1 million euros.

Upcoming Event: 

On Tuesday, September 14, 2021, the mAInZaun project invites anyone interested to attend a workshop from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the park “Alternativer Bärenpark Worbis” (Duderstädter Allee 49, 37339 Leinefelde-Worbis). After the project presentation, there will be a discussion on the requirements for herd protection from different perspectives. The event will be held in German. 

Information and Registration: 

Axel Kölling

Further Information:

www.intelligenter-herdenschutz.de
www.uni-bremen.de/en/

Contact:

David Wewetzer
University of Bremen
Center for Computing Technologies (TZI)
Phone: +49 421 218-64093
Email:

Afterwards there is still the possibility of an exchange or direct conversation between the audience and the scientists.

Admission is free! More information: https://www.sciencegoespublic.de/

The 34th workshop on Test Methods and Reliability of Circuits and Systems
is the most significant German forum to discuss trends, results and current problems in the area of test, diagnosis and reliability of digital, analog, mixed-signal and high-frequency circuits and systems. The exchange of ideas is an essential intention of this workshop. The scope includes contributions discussing industrial practice as well as research.

We strongly welcome practice-related technical reports and results as well as contributions presenting theoretical work from the following areas

• Adaptive systems (e.g. self-repair, self-healing, self-awareness)
• Automatic test equipment, test automation, test programs and test modeling
• Defect and failure modeling
• Diagnosis of failure causes
• Fault tolerance, resilience, robust and radiation-resistant systems
• Functional safety
• Hardware-oriented test and hardware-oriented safety
• Statistical and machine learning techniques for test and reliability
• System test and reliability
• Test and simulation of mixed-signal, RF and analog circuits
• Test generation, fault simulation, self-test and online-test
• Design-For-Test, DFT methodology
• Test costs and test quality
• Test standards such as IEEE 1149.x, IEEE 1687.x, IEEE P1838

The workshop takes place in the ATLANTIC Hotel Sail City in Bremerhaven, Germany, and is organized by the University of Bremen and Hamburg University of Technology. Interested contributors should summarize their work on at most two pages, which can be submitted via the workshop‘s website. The contribution should describe the purpose, novelty and practical applications of the work. Accepted papers can be published in the informal workshop handout if requested.
For this purpose, the contribution may be extended to four pages.

For more information please click here: TUZ 2022 | Bremerhaven (uni-bremen.de)

The construction noise during the pandemic already made people sit up and take notice that they are actively working on level 6. Now the renovation work has come to an end. The entire level 6 of the MZH has been renovated in the past few months. Last Monday, November 1st, 2021, we inaugurated it as part of a small opening ceremony.

The invited guests included Prof. Dr. Ute Bormann and Prof. Dr. Rainer Malaka, who, among other things, will move into the level together with their work groups. The guests also included Mrs. Chancellor Frauke Meyer, her personal adviser Mrs. Conny Ladenthin, Mr. Christian Kluth, project manager and architect, Mr. Orlok, building officer, Prof. Dr. Rolf Drechsler as well as Andree Hagedorn and other building management employees.

In his opening speech, Rolf Drechsler emphasized the importance of the building and thanked Chancellor Meyer for the implementation and support. Furthermore, Rainer Malaka expressed his thanks for the good cooperation with Christian Kluth and the building management. He emphasized the particularly smooth implementation of his own ideas and wishes, through which the high technical standards and demands of the laboratories could be realized. The working group is already very much looking forward to the move and the use of the new rooms and laboratories, emphasized Malaka. The event ended after Kluth took a tour of the newly renovated rooms.

All's well that ends well, one could say. However, before the renovation, after the renovation, a break is temporarily unthinkable. - The renovation of level 5 will start in two weeks. The inauguration is expected in 2022.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Marcella Becker
Science communication
Public Relations FB 3
marcella.becker@uni-bremen.de
0421 21863515

Before the storytelling begins, a photo shoot is on the schedule. After all, a portrait that really captures the subject is part of every campus story. The photo is to be taken in the lecture hall of MZH Building on campus - that’s where Frieder Nake feels particularly at home. The lecture hall is directly opposite his office and apparently, there’s no need for him to even put on shoes. He simply crosses the hall in his comfy mules. Right? “No, these are my normal shoes. I basically wear sandals all year round, as long as it is possible,” corrects Nake. A black shirt, hiking trousers with practical side pockets, and thick wool socks round off the look - the tanned 82-year-old needs nothing more for a day at the university.

“My teaching style was always quite relaxed,” smirks the computer scientist, who accepted a professorship in graphic data processing and interactive systems at the University of Bremen in 1972. You can spend a long time searching for specialist literature or PowerPoint slides with equations in his classes. “I prefer to talk to my students. In that way I pass on the specialist knowledge in a casual way and always in reference to a relevant issue,” explains Nake.

Sitting in a Circle with Students

With this approach, he has aligned his teaching with one of the founding ideas of the University of Bremen. A great deal was meant to change on the Weser River at the beginning of the 1970s. One aspect of said change was that research and teaching were to be relevant to society. For Nake, this means that he sat together with five students in a circle during his first seminar, and in the frame of so-called project studies, he spoke with them about the opportunities and borders posed by computers and used the example of employment. A civil servant from the Federal Labor Office in Nuremberg even came to the University of Bremen to find out more about the ideas of the students and their professor. “Everything that happened at the university back then had a direct connection to reality. I liked that,” says the computer scientist.

What he also enjoyed was the so-called one-third parity at the University of Bremen in the 1970s. Professors, administrative staff, and students held the same rights in all matters. “The one-third parity was sensational. I had never experienced anything like it in Germany,” enthuses Nake.

Professorship as Political Assignment

That so much was intended to be different at Uni Bremen was the reason that the native of Stuttgart returned to Germany from Canada at all in 1972. “I had emigrated several years previously because I found the German higher education system to be too rigid,” says the scientist. “Becoming a professor at this radically different university was a political assignment for me,” explains Nake.

But how? “Since the age of 16, I have always felt like I belong to the far left,” clarifies Nake. He was a member of communist associations and even had to go through disciplinary proceedings in the 70s in the frame of the so-called Radicals Decree. He stands by his political beliefs, despite the fact that a great deal has now changed at the University of Bremen. Marxism and a continual call for dialectical thinking influence his teaching. “We should always remember to think about contradictions and opposites. I taught my children that and I recommend it to each of my students. There is not one person who took part in any of my classes who does not know the name Hegel.”

Teaching as Storytelling

Nake laughs when asked if he is sure that he teaches computer science. “Viewing the bigger picture is part of the job. Teaching must be storytelling, it should position itself based on specialist knowledge,” he states.

A current example: This winter semester, he is offering a seminar entitled “Algorithmic Thinking.” 70 students are taking part and he knew how he would start the class weeks beforehand: by going in, sitting down, and saying nothing. For a whole ten minutes. If someone whispered or moved in their chair,  he ignored it. After ten minutes, he stood up and asked: What did you think just then? “That is how students find out what it means to be reduced to our thinking,” explains the university lecturer. The university as a happening. That’s how he likes it best.

90-Hour Weeks Are Normal

And when he’s not at the university? “Work is my life. I work a 90-hour week and finish in the evening just as the “heute journal” TV show is starting,” he says.  He does, however, give himself one moment of peace each day: The computer scientist loves eating a slice of bread with cheese in the small kitchen of his Borgfeld house and looking out to the big trees in his garden.

What many people at the university do not know is that Frieder Nake is a famous computer artist. Thus, he creates art digitally using a computer. In the middle of the 1960s, he was one of only three artists worldwide who worked on this type of art and became internationally known in an extremely short space of time. He still regularly exhibits his works and interactive installations. The next exhibition will be in the Bremen Gerhard Marcks House in February. “I create projections on large displays that continually change without repetition. The computer calculates, processes, and then shows the art. They are dynamic images that appear when we look,” explains Nake.

He is, of course, officially a pensioner at 82 years of age. Yet, as a professor, he is allowed to teach for life. In his nearly 50 years of work, he has supervised a total of 453 students on their path to graduation - he knows the number exactly. However, a thought is starting to take up space at the back of his mind: “The summer semester 2022 may actually be my last,” he announces with an unusually tentative voice. It is clearly difficult for him to think about it. Even if he may not be going to the university on a daily basis soon, he surely won’t suffer from boredom: “Then I’ll do artistic programing - and I’ll do it until the end!”

Contact:

Professor Frieder Nake
Faculty 04: Mathematics / Computer Science

University of Bremen
Email: nake@uni-bremen.de
Phone:+49 421 218-64485

“We are very pleased about this fantastic evaluation,” says Vice President Academic, Professor Thomas Hoffmeister. “It is very important to the University of Bremen that the students are well informed and supported, even in these difficult times.” The commitment of teachers and staff is extremely high. “That is reflected in the CHE Ranking.”

Top Spot in Category “Transfer between Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree”

The master’s degree course in computer science was given top marks by students in the category “Transfer between Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree.” Around 96 percent of the students also praised the opportunity to determine one’s own specialization. Over 90 percent of the students evaluated the access to lectures, as well as the coordination of various class parts as being good, or even very good. Teaching staff’s ability to accept criticism and the willingness to improve classes was also assessed positively by 90 percent of the students.

Praise for University Executive Board’s Information Management

In the special assessment part of studying during the corona pandemic, 85 percent of the computer science students praised the university’s information management and over 95 percent certified good / really good technical framework conditions. The category “Reliability and Frequency of Digital Feedback from Teaching Staff” must also be emphasized with 91 percent of students providing positive feedback.

In mathematics, the University of Bremen received top marks for research funding per researcher and PhD completions per professor. The master’s degree in physics won over students with regard to access to classes (90 percent), the class sizes (86 percent), and the provision of information concerning organizational aspects of the degree (80 percent).

The special category “Corona” once more made the University Executive Board’s successful information management clear among students (80 percent). Additionally, the diversity of digital teaching content in degree courses (71 percent) and the technical framework conditions (73 percent) were assessed as being good and very good.

About the CHE Ranking

The CHE ranking examines more than 300 universities and universities of applied sciences throughout Germany.  It collates information on a total of 30 subjects  and each subject is reevaluated every three years.  Many prospective and current students take careful note of the CHE ranking.  The subject fields of biochemistry, biology / bio sciences, chemistry, geography, geosciences, computer science, mathematics, medicine, nursing science, pharmacy, physics, political studies, sport / sport science, and dentistry were assessed this year.  The weekly newspaper DIE ZEIT published the entire ranking results in the ZEIT study guide for 2020/21 and on the ZEIT CAMPUS ONLINE website.

Further Information:

Learn more about the evaluated three master's programs at the University of Bremen:

Computer science: www.uni-bremen.de/en/studies/orientation-application/study-programs/dbs/study/26?cHash=fd4ee5e1b64a3e2c90d2bc185e2a89c

Mathematics: www.uni-bremen.de/en/studies/orientation-application/study-programs/dbs/study/29?cHash=464fb971dce0b7af9a07066adeee8ea7
Physics: www.uni-bremen.de/en/fb1/studies/bachelors-and-masters-degree-programs/physics-msc

www.che.de/che-ranking-2021-der-masterstudiengaenge-fuer-informatik-mathematik-und-physik  (in German only)
https://ranking.zeit.de/che/en/
 

Contact:

Christoph Wieselhuber
Administrative Unit for Teaching and Studies
University of Bremen
Email: c

Meike Mossig
Deputy Head of University Communication and Marketing
University of Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-60168
Email: 

“Participative Teaching”: Working Together on Software Design

Dr. Juliane Jarke and Irina Zakharova from the Faculty of Mathematics / Computer Science won over the jury with their concept for joint teaching and learning. In the “Participative Teaching” category, they were honored for the module “Participative Methods of Software Design.” The class was carried out digitally with team-teaching in the summer semester 2021. Students had full writing and access rights to the utilized platform. Additionally, each small group had their own board for preparation, organization, and communication. Previous class participants’ experiences were incorporated. The jury was impressed that dealing with specialist literature played a role in the final grade, as this is often something that does not receive enough consideration in computer sciences. The lecturers also met up directly with groups outside of video conferences in order to talk through their work. The students spoke their praise for the fact that the class was designed well in terms of content and didactics.

Practical Orientation: Development of Start-Up Ideas as Special Teaching Form

Dr. Jan Harima from the Faculty of Business Studies & Economics was nominated for the students’ prize by his students for the class “Project IEM2 Start-Up Management.” In this class, small teams made up of students developed their own business ideas and got them to a point where they were nearly market ready with the help of research-based learning cycles. The students were impressed that they had contact to potential customers. Moreover, they were able to implement qualitative and quantitative research methods and carried out methodologically proven experiments.

The jury was won over by the circumstance that Harima was able to develop an extraordinary class with his project and thus enable a special form of teaching. He was successful in combining a practically oriented task with students’ personal points of interest, piquing great commitment, and at the same time allowing for the task to be completed in interdisciplinary teams. A successful class: Practically oriented work that piques the personal interest of students and motivates them to contribute within interdisciplinary teams.

“Outstandingly High Dedication in Teaching”

The professor of psychology Nina Heinrichs from the Faculty of Human and Health Sciences also received a prize from her students. She was honored for the class: “General Process Theory: Processes, Methods, and Techniques of Psychotherapeutic Treatment.” The lecture addressed the most significant clinical psychological intervention processes with examples of categorized psychotherapeutic methods and techniques.
The students praised the class content as being high quality, structured, prepared in a scientifically contemporary manner, as well as having a high relation to practical work. The appreciative interaction with students and her outstandingly high dedication in teaching, motivation, and support were emphasized. Her critically reflected class promotes and teaches the ability to be aware of multiple perspectives and reflect on oneself. This praise won over the jury.

A total of 125 suggestions were submitted. A committee made up of teaching staff, university staff, and students perused the submissions and put forward the winners.

About the Berninghausen Prize

Every year, the University of Bremen and the “unifreunde” friends of the University of Bremen and Jacobs University award the Berninghausen Prize. The prize, which was established by the family Berninghausen in 1991, honors special achievements in university teaching. Endowed with 6,000 euros, the prize can be awarded in several categories. All members of the university can nominate members of the teaching faculty for the prize, whereby in the category “student prize”, only the students are allowed to do so.

Further Information:

Berninghausen Prize: https://www.uni-bremen.de/en/preis-fuer-gute-lehre
www.uni-bremen.de/en/

Contact:

Christina Selzer
Administrative Unit of University Communication and Marketing
University of Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-60158
Email:

Learn on site how scientific collaboration between different disciplines contributes to a deeper understanding of the function of the brain. Take part in the scientific exchange of ideas at the participating institutes and talk personally to the researchers who are interested in the brain and "umzu"!

We look forward to your participation!

In the MINT cluster entitled “meerMINT-Freizeitangebote für Jugendliche in Bremen und umzu” (“meerMINT” in short), children and young people can experience and investigate science, technology, engineering, and math – so-called STEM subjects (“MINT” in German) – together with supervisors. The activities include puzzling, programing, researching, experimenting, and crafting. The workshops also take place close to home. The sessions focus on current issues and matters from the day-to-day lives of the children and youths.

meerMINT Docks at Four Locations in Bremen State.

There are activities on offer for differing age groups at four locations in Bremen State – the so-called meerMINT Docks. All activities are free of charge and no previous knowledge is required. The meerMINT Docks with the different activity offers and specializations can be found in Bremerhaven, (PHÄNOMENTA Bremerhaven), Bremen Nord (Jacobs University), Gröpelingen, and Vahr (M2C - Digital Impact Labs).

Shaping the Future Together with Children and Youths

Additionally, more in-depth offers and meerMINT clubs are being created together with the children’s help and ideas.

Further Information:

Information and registration: www.meermint.de  (only available in German)

Contact:

Dr. Hanne Ballhausen
meerMINT Cluster Management
Faculty of Mathematics / Computer Science
University of Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-57106
Email:

Fragen beantwortet:

Dr. Hanne Ballhausen
Clustermanagement meerMINT
Fachbereich Mathematik/Informatik
Universität Bremen
Tel: +49 (0)421 218-57106
E-Mail:

Digital medicine has immense potential, both professionally and economically, as well as socially. Not least in the combination of artificial intelligence (AI) and health research, the opportunity arises for Bremen to further expand the already internationally visible focus at Fraunhofer MEVIS, which is endowed with extensive third-party funding, and to closely integrate it with the university to strengthen the regional excellence.

In the upcoming summer semester of 2022, Horst Hahn will offer the “Healthcare IT” lecture series for MSc computer science students, in which the requirements and challenges for IT systems of the various medical disciplines will be discussed with various experts, including interfaces, specific solution approaches, and AI.

In addition, the student computer science project “DeepAnatomy”, supervised by Dr. Hans Meine and Felix Thielke, runs continuously (each full academic year, alternating BSc and MSc, currently BSc project), which develops deep learning methods for current problems in medical imaging at an internationally competitive level.

Horst Hahn is also a speaker for the AI focus area within the U Bremen Research Alliance, member of the high-profile area “Minds, Media, Machines” at the University of Bremen, member of several cross-departmental research initiatives, and a mentor for students.

Further Information:

www.uni-bremen.de/va-studienorientierung (in German only)

www.uni-bremen.de/zsb

Contact:

Betina da Rocha
Central Student Advisory Service
University of Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-61152 (61160)
Email:

The international students from the Computer Science and Digital Media degree programs programmed 3D models and then converted them into physical models using modern production machines such as 3D printers and laser cutters. One focus was on so-called parametric design, which enables the development of complex shapes and is used not only in architecture but also in aircraft construction. Among other things, it facilitates a more efficient construction method, but also a more interesting design of buildings. In this respect, it shows a closeness to nature’s construction methods (bionics) and to the Japanese art of origami.

The exhibition is a cooperation of the Digital Media in Education working group at the University of Bremen with FabLab Bremen e.V., a high-tech workshop open to all interested parties.

Invitation to the Vernissage  

Dr. Bernard Robben’s students and the FabLab invite the public and media representatives to the vernissage. They will present some of the models and will also be available for questions.

Friday, March 25, 2022, 7 p.m.
FabLab Bremen
An der Weide 50a (former post office 5 at the train station)
Entrance "Kern 1", 1st floor

Opening Hours March 26 to June 24, 2022:

Mondays – 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Thursdays – 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
or by appointment

Further Information:

fablab-bremen.org
www.uni-bremen.de/en/

Contact:

Dr. Bernard Robben
University of Bremen
Phone: +49 170 8074848
Email:

Jürgen Amthor
FabLab Bremen e.V.
Phone: +49 421 40 89 36 24
Email: 

© Axel Kölling

Lisa Hesselbarth and Thomas Höring with their model of a City Campus at FabLab Bremen.

Mock Lectures, Seminars, and a Picnic at the University Lake

In the afternoon, there are lectures and guided tours where you can get a taste of what it is like to study. The biology department, for example, will introduce students to biodiversity research on the University of Bremen campus, while the Research Centre for East European Studies will present its valuable library collection from the Cold War era during its tour. The Communication and Media Studies program will offer insights into a media practice seminar that focuses on public relations as a career field. In the Law program, a sample lecture will address the constitutionality of a general corona vaccination requirement. Physics will present optical technologies for the 21st century. Weather permitting, Spanish and French students invite you to a picnic by the university's lake and will be available to answer questions about their studies.

Central Student Advisory Service Information Stand in GW2 Building

The central contact point is the information stand of the Central Student Advisory Service located in the stairwell of GW2 Building. There, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., visitors will receive information on the range of courses offered and guidance on how to get to the events. At numerous other information stands, students and competent contact persons will be available to answer study-related questions. The HERE AHEAD Academy will also be represented at the International Office information stand. HERE AHEAD advises prospective international students with and without a refugee background who would like to study in Bremen.

Further Information:

• You can find the program here: https://www.uni-bremen.de/isi
• From the beginning of June, the program for the online information week from June 13 to 17, 2022, will be published under the same link: https://www.uni-bremen.de/isi . Information on further orientation offers and events for prospective students can be found here: https://www.uni-bremen.de/en/studies/orientation-application/program-orientation
• #YOUKNOWWHY: https://www.duweisstwarum.de/?lang=en
• Information on the foundations: https://www.uni-bremen.de/isi/informationstag-fuer-studieninteressierte-isi/isi/events/126

Contact:

Betina da Rocha
Central Student Advisory Service
University of Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-61152
Email:

Lecturers

• Sonia Chernova Georgia Institute of Technology
• John Laird University of Michigan
• Carlos Hernandez Corbato Technical University Delft
• David Vernon Carnegie Mellon University Africa
• Michael Beetz University of Bremen

The EASE Fall School 2022 Application is open! APPLY NOW!

More information can be found here: https://ease-crc.org/ease-fall-school-2022/#apply2022

“I am very pleased about the DFG’s approval,” says Professor Tanja Schultz, the spokesperson for Lifespan AI and a professor at the University of Bremen’s Faculty of Mathematics/Computer Science. “In Lifespan AI, we aim to develop AI methods and tools that model, predict, and explain the development of diseases over the course of someone’s life.” Co-spokesperson Professor Marvin N. Wright from the Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS adds: “We will do this by drawing on high-dimensional life span data compiled from longitudinal epidemiological studies. The data is supplemented by biological, social, and lifestyle information.”

Professor Jutta Günther, Vice President for Research and designated President, is also pleased about the establishment of the high-ranking research group at the University of Bremen and the comprehensive third-party funding that it brings. “In this endeavor, cutting-edge technologies are developed and used to generate scientific knowledge for the benefit of humanity, exemplifying the university’s commitment to answering questions about the future of our society,” Günther says. Professor Iris Pigeot, who is the BIPS Director, adds: “The research group is an excellent example of how fruitful collaboration is between the university and non-university research institutions, in this case with the Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS.”

Lifespan AI: Here’s What It’s All about

In Lifespan AI, sensitive data is used in compliance with ethical and privacy conditions to drive machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) models. The aim is to gain causal insights to uncover the causes of complex diseases and optimize prevention strategies.

The work program consists of six projects grouped into three themes that pursue the Lifespan AI vision from different perspectives: data and methods (D), models and interpretation (M), and inference and causality (C). D1 will advance DL strategies to explore and process long-term temporal change based on the integration of high-dimensional data from multiple sources; D2 will combine neural networks and mixed-effects models to predict individual health trajectories over the course of someone’s life; M1 will develop “normalizing flow” methods to derive joint distributions and conditional densities for health data; M2 will create a cognitive digital twin from everyday human activities to predict change across age groups; C1 will develop time-adaptive, explainable AI methods for recurrent neural networks and event times; and C2 will derive a framework for “causal discovery” in longitudinal studies, combining different data sets and accounting for nonlinearities.

Long-Standing Research Cooperation Forms the Basis

The research group is based on the long-standing institutional research cooperation between the University of Bremen and BIPS. It is supported by ten applicants from these two institutions, who together cover the central disciplines: Professor Michael Beetz (AI & Robotics, University of Bremen), Dr. Claudia Börnhorst (Epidemiology, BIPS), Professor Werner Brannath (Statistics & Biometry, University of Bremen), Professor Vanessa Didelez (Causal Inference, BIPS), Professor Horst Hahn (Medical Imaging & AI, University of Bremen), Professor Peter Maaß (Mathematical Analysis of ML, University Bremen), Professor Iris Pigeot (Statistics & Epidemiology, Director of BIPS), Dr. Felix Putze (Adaptive Interaction Systems, University of Bremen), Professor Tanja Schultz (Cognitive Systems & ML, University of Bremen), and Professor Marvin N. Wright (Statistical Learning, BIPS). The research group is also supported by the new cooperative professorship in “Machine Learning in Statistics” at the interface between AI and epidemiology, which serves as a bridge professorship and is filled by Professor Marvin N. Wright.

In addition, the Lifespan AI research group has arranged for Professor Haizhou Li to be a Mercator Fellow. Li has already been closely cooperating with the University of Bremen for years as a professor at the National University of Singapore (NUS), the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), and as U Bremen Excellence Chair. International collaborators Dr. Rudi GJ Westendorp from the University of Copenhagen and Dr. Michael Wand from the Swiss AI Lab IDSIA are also involved.

The total funding amount will predominantly be used to finance nine PhD student positions and the establishment of an IT infrastructure that will be used jointly by the University of Bremen and BIPS to support the computationally intensive DL models.

Contact:

Professor Tanja Schultz
Faculty of Mathematics/Computer Science
University of Bremen
Tel.: +49 421 218-64270
Email:

Latest Generation of Robots Navigates Independently

The latest generation of Ubica robots is capable of autonomously navigating through a retail store while recognizing the inventory of products on the shelves. Based on this scan, a so-called digital twin of the store is generated, i.e., a virtual version that provides a wealth of important information on the operation of the store – from replenishment requirements and the best product placement to the ideal packing of pallets in the central warehouse in order to make shelf replenishment in the store as efficient and trouble-free as possible for customers. 

“Ubica technologies can become a disruptive innovation in the field of intelligent robotics,” emphasizes Professor Michael Beetz, head of the Institute for Artificial Intelligence (IAI) at the University of Bremen. With the IAI and the Collaborative Research Center EASE, which is also headed by Professor Beetz, the university is one of the world’s leading research institutes at the interface of artificial intelligence and robotics. “The euRobotics Award is a wonderful affirmation that the transfer of our research results to industry is successful and also attracts international attention,” says Beetz. 

Digital Twins: Generating a Virtual Environment

Ubica’s autonomous scanning robots use state-of-the-art artificial intelligence and machine learning to generate the virtual environment in the form of digital twins. “What’s especially unique about this is that the robots are able to understand these digital models in detail and link them to background knowledge,” explains Beetz. This capability is made possible by a combination of semantic models and data-driven learning algorithms.

So far, no comparable technologies exist in stationary retail. “Our robots enable a significant improvement in a store’s internal processes,” explains Georg Bartels, Cofounder and Chief Technology Officer of Ubica. “Retailers get a detailed and fully data-integrated view of their stores, which allows for targeted support of in-store merchandise flows.” In addition, the assortment can be better optimized to meet the needs of customers and arranged in the store. The connection of shopping apps is also a conceivable prospect in the future. 

“With the help of machine learning and big data, Ubica offers the opportunity to develop innovative service offerings for customers,” says Jan-David Walter of dm subsidiary dmTECH. “For example, it offers the possibility of individual product recommendations or the connection of delivery services. We want to offer many of the benefits of online stores to brick-and-mortar customers as well.” 

Axel Kölling

Further Information:

www.ubica-robotics.eu
www.uni-bremen.de/en

Contact:

Professor Michael Beetz
Institute for Artificial Intelligence
Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science
University of Bremen
Phone +49 421 218-64000
Email: ai-office@cs.uni-bremen.de

“Bremen’s success proves how much potential there is in the U Bremen Research Alliance’s cross-organizational scientific collaboration. It encourages us to continue further down this path,” says Professor Bernd Scholz-Reiter, Chair of the U Bremen Research Alliance and President of the University of Bremen, on Bremen’s winning of the competition.

The IJCAI was established in 1969 and is the oldest and most significant conference in its field. It will be held in combination with the European Conference on Artificial Intelligence (ECAI) for the third time in 2026.
Following this successful application to host the IJCAI-ECAI 2026, Bremen has demonstrated its suitability as a national and international venue for conferences and academia for computer science in general and artificial intelligence in particular. Professor Tanja Schultz (University of Bremen, spokesperson for artificial intelligence in the U Bremen Research Alliance) and Professor Frank Kirchner (German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence [DFKI – Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Künstliche Intelligenz], University of Bremen, spokesperson for artificial intelligence in the U Bremen Research Alliance) will be the local chairs and together will be responsible for organizing the conference.

Further Information:

www.bremen-research.de/en/

https://gi.de Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V.
https://fb-ki.gi.de Fachbereich Künstliche Intelligenz der Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V.
https://www.ijcai.org International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence
https://www.eurai.org/ecai European Association for Artificial Intelligence
https://www.senatspressestelle.bremen.de/pressemitteilungen/internationale-konferenz-fuer-kuenstliche-intelligenz-findet-2026-in-bremen-statt-400778?asl=bremen02.c.732.de

 “We see Informatica Feminale as a place for experimentation, to bring new impulses to the study of computer science,” says its head, Veronika Oechtering, who helped establish the summer university from the beginning and has continued to develop it over the years with her staff. In addition to specialist topics, this also includes a critical perspective on technology, gender, and diversity aspects, and the reciprocal linking of various elements, such as continuing education and transfer labs.

 “I am very pleased that Informatica Feminale has become so firmly established at the University of Bremen since its creation 25 years ago,” says the new President of the University of Bremen Professor Jutta Günther. “It is an important element of our university’s efforts to promote gender equality in computer science. I would like to thank Ms. Oechtering and her staff very much for their commitment.”

Senator for Science Dr. Claudia Schilling emphasizes: “Since its creation, Informatica Feminale has done much to attract and inspire more women to pursue computer science. The continuing importance of such offerings is demonstrated by the fact that women continue to be significantly underrepresented despite initial progress in this area. In addition to events such as Informatica Feminale, it is not least the diverse mentoring programs at our universities that make a valuable contribution to gender equality. These offerings need to be further supported and dovetailed.”

How did Informatica Feminale come into being?

Veronika Oechtering remembers: “The first idea was in 1992,” she says. “Summer universities were a tradition of the women’s movement in the 1970s and 1980s.” Women computer scientists at the University of Bremen wanted to establish this format in order to change gender relations at university and in this subject. It was supported by the nationwide network of female computer scientists, in particular the specialist group “Women and Computer Science” of the Gesellschaft für Informatik (computer science society). On May 1, 1997, the first summer university took place. Since the year 2000, it has been a permanent teaching offer of the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Bremen and is financed by the women professors program of the federal and state governments and the University of Bremen.

“Still a long way from gender justice”

“In 25 years, an extensive network and an intergenerational community have developed,” says Veronika Oechtering. “The response remains high due to the strong orientation towards professionalism.” For Veronika Oechtering in particular, gender policy measures in computer science have lost none of their topicality and relevance. “With regard to computer science, we are still a long way from achieving gender justice in all fields and all areas,” she says. The professional culture in Germany is still strongly biased toward men. “This is problematic in many ways.” Offers such as a summer university for women are a building block for bringing about gender equality in computer science.

Further Information:

www.informatica-feminale.de
 

Contact:

Veronika Oechtering
Head of the Center of Excellence Women in Science and Technology
University of Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-64463
Mobile: +49 176 112-18807
Email:

© Birgit Wingrat Fotografie

The Informatica Feminale team of the University of Bremen (from left): Isabel Matthias, Veronika Oechtering and Henrike Illig.

Starting today, the program and the ticket purchasing options are available online. An overview of all events can be found here: https://www.uni-bremen.de/en/campus-city/program. Our department 3 will also be represented

We look forward to welcoming you to a colorful program in selected locations in Bremen!

The project “#MOIN! – MOdellregion INdustriemathematik” at the University of Bremen and its partners therefore pursues the vision that everyone can benefit from the universal knowledge of (industrial) mathematics. The aim of the project is to sensitize society and the economy to the great potential of industrial mathematics.
“Our day-to-day life would look very different without mathematics,” explains Christof Büskens. “For example, there would be no work on autonomous driving, we wouldn’t have CAT scans, and we would have to do without digital route planning and optimized energy management. Only through the use of new mathematical methods and thanks to the cooperation of industrial mathematicians can all of these – and many other technical innovations – succeed,” says the industrial mathematician.

“I am very pleased that we are bringing mathematics into society, schools, and business with this major transfer project,” says President of the University of Bremen, Professor Jutta Günther. “The team led by Christof Büskens convinced the BMBF with innovative and experimental transfer approaches. This is a great success for the team, the university, and Bremen.”
“With the Innovationsstrategie Land Bremen 2030 in 2021, we set out to promote key technologies in particular. Industrial mathematics forms an indispensable basis for many technologies, such as 3D printing, robotics, and AI,” says Kristina Vogt, Senator for Economic Affairs, Labor, and European Affairs. “The innovation department of the business department will act as the interface to the clusters and networks and will also use the DIGITAL HUB industry innovation center for this purpose. One of our goals is to get more women and girls excited about mathematics.”

To make society and business more aware of this topic, #MOIN! pursues a holistic transfer approach and focuses on four areas:

1.    Industrial mathematics as a driver of innovation in industry #MATHWARE
2.    Industrial mathematics on the way to entrepreneurship #MATHUP
3.    Industrial mathematics at school #MATHDAYS
4.    Industrial mathematics in the public sector #MATHINSIDE

In the coming years, for example, there will be corresponding projects for the general public, in schools, in business, and industrial companies. Starting in Bremen, Bremerhaven, and the district of Osterholz, the Modellregion Industriemathematik (industrial mathematics model region) will later be expanded to include other districts and cities.

The Partners

The #MOIN! project comprises a large number of partners who will continue to grow in the coming months. At the start of the project, the following are involved:
•    Center for Industrial Mathematics (project management) and working group on Researching Practices in Mathematics Classrooms at the University of Bremen
•    Senator for Economic Affairs, Labor, and European Affairs of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen
•    Bremerhavener Gesellschaft für Investitionsförderung und Stadtentwicklung (BIS)
•    District of Osterholz
•    TOPAS Industriemathematik Innovation gGmbH
•    Fraunhofer MEVIS
•    AVIASPACE e.V.
•    Maritime Cluster Northern Germany
•    Automotive Nordwest e.V.
•    Branchennetzwerk für Windenergie

In addition, there are numerous industrial companies from Bremen and the surrounding area.

Information on the BMBF Scholarship Program “T!Raum”

Within the framework of the BMBF “T!Raum” – TransferRäume für die Zukunft von Regionen” scholarship program, the project #MOIN! will receive almost 6 million euros in funding over the first three years. It may be renewed twice in total. The BMBF scholarship program enables higher education institutions and research institutes to develop innovative transfer instruments. This should enable innovations to reach the region more quickly and thus strengthen structural change.

Further Information:

Watch a short video about the project: https://youtu.be/HmpNGgyJb5o
https://www.innovation-strukturwandel.de/strukturwandel/de/innovation-strukturwandel/t_raum/t_raum_node.html
www.uni-bremen.de/en/

Contact:

Professor Christof Büskens (#MOIN! Project Manager)
Center for Industrial Mathematics (formerly Zentrum für Technomathematik)
Faculty of Mathematics/Computer Science
University of Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-63861
Email:

“Setting up this laboratory, which broadly resembles an everyday setting, is a major step toward increasing our focus on artificial intelligence and AI-based robotics in particular,” says Professor Jutta Günther, the University of Bremen’s President. “The work made possible by the lab’s ‘digital twin’ also brings us into even closer contact with the international research community. The university aside, this will enhance the entire city of Bremen’s reputation as being the place for AI.”

Professor Michael Beetz, one of the world’s leading researchers in the artificial intelligence field, is keen to stress the importance of the true-to-life research laboratory. “We must not adapt the environment to the robots, as is the case in factories or logistics centers. Instead, we have to develop the robots in such a way that they can navigate the human environment and provide effective help there,” says Professor Beetz.

Spotlight on “Digital Twin”

In Professor Beetz’s view, the highlight of the new lab is not what you see on-site at the Institute for Artificial Intelligence, but something you don’t see at first. “We developed an exact digital image of this lab, known as a digital twin. We make this available to the international research community so that scientists in far-flung countries can also work on these topics under the same conditions as we do on-site,” says Professor Beetz. “The challenges in this area are so large that they require the cooperation of the research community to bring about major developments quickly. A single working group can only make progress in sub-areas – and this happens at a slow pace.”

As a result, the laboratory itself and the digital twin are dependent on each other. The Bremen facility and its furnishings are necessary for putting the robots to use in the desired scenarios in a real-life environment and conducting practical experiments. The laboratory apartment also allows the findings recorded by research groups around the world with the digital twin to be tested in a real-life setting in Bremen. “Does what was conceived and developed in India actually work in a real environment?” says Michael Beetz. Bremen could reap further benefits from the laboratory, as the international research community may meet more often to test the latest developments on-site and exchange ideas about them.

“Working Together to Develop and Share Research Knowledge”

The laboratory apartment is equipped in accordance with the latest research standards, providing a solid foundation for research in AI-based robotics at the University of Bremen. Over the years, this has included work involving the Institute for Artificial Intelligence with the Collaborative Research Center EASE (Everyday Activity Science and Engineering), the Center for Computing Technologies, as well as various projects and start-ups. “Providing our high-performance robot control systems developed in Bremen, as well as the research data and results, and offering the possibility to test our robots in our laboratory is a logical continuation of the ‘open data – open science – open research’ approach,” says Professor Beetz. Given the complexity and scope of the research tasks involved in AI-based robotics, computer scientists are keen to work together in developing and sharing their research knowledge in order to achieve swifter progress.

In addition to the new laboratory apartment, the Bremen-based robot researchers led by Professor Beetz have set up further very realistic laboratories, such as a small drugstore. “Robots set the table in the apartment, clear it, or prepare simple meals. At the drugstore, they perform stock checks, show where products are, and put them on the shelves,” says Professor Beetz. “The labs are measured with high precision and implemented as machine-interpretable models that enable experiments to be automatically evaluated and high-quality research data generated. As digital twins, they can be downloaded to your own computer like a computer game. Researchers can then carry out their research “from home” around the world. The underlying idea of open exchange within the entire research community always has a valuable role throughout.

The new laboratory apartment was partly financed by the University of Bremen, while third-party research projects provided most of the funds for the furnishings. The establishment of the facility has created new positions for researchers, which are currently being consolidated by further research projects and partnership agreements with companies.

Further Information:

www.ai.uni-bremen.de
www.ease-crc.org
www.uni-bremen.de/en/tzi/
www.uni-bremen.de/en

Contact:

Professor Michael Beetz
Institute for Artificial Intelligence / Collaborative Research Centre EASE
University of Bremen
Tel.: +49 421 218-64005
Email: beetz@cs.uni-bremen.de

A large-scale study has now examined the effectiveness of the use of machine learning methods in this context, with a focus on the best possible implementation based on the latest research approaches. The Software Engineering working group at the Center for Computing Technologies (TZI) of the University of Bremen as well as the companies neusta software development and neusta mobile solutions have determined the state of the art on behalf of the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI). As part of the project “Machine Learning in the Context of Static Application Security Testing – ML-SAST,” they carried out surveys, expert interviews, and a systematic literature search. They also examined commercially available SAST tools in terms of their ML functionalities and error detection rates.

Highest Potential in “Unsupervised Learning”

They summarized the results in a comprehensive study, in particular identifying the most promising approaches and the need for research in this area. A key finding is that supervised approaches to machine learning are used in most cases, although they have significant disadvantages. “If you want to use supervised learning approaches, you need good data sets for training the tools, and there are currently none,” explains TZI employee Lorenz Hüther. The development of the required data sets is “somewhat unrealistic” at least in the short term and can only be realized in the longer term with considerable effort.

In addition, supervised learning requires a high degree of explainability of the results – both developers and users of the tools need to be able to see whether the decision criteria of the system make sense.

The project team therefore currently sees the greatest potential in unsupervised learning with the help of clustering. The system first detects all similar functions of the program and bundles them in order to compare them. If a discrepancy is discovered at any point, the tool identifies it as a potential error.

Prototype to Be Released by the End of the Year

However, further research and development is needed to increase the potential of these methods for practical application. By the end of the year, the project participants want to develop a prototype that uses the best currently available methods in the field of ML-SAST. The prototype will be implemented as an open-source project so that all interested manufacturers can use it for their product development. The BSI is financing the development of the prototype.

Further Information:

The study “Machine Learning in the Context of Static Application Security Testing – ML-SAST” is available from the BSI at: https://www.bsi.bund.de/DE/Service-Navi/Publikationen/Studien/ML-SAST/ml-sast.html

Contact:

Lorenz Hüther
Center for Computing Technologies (TZI)
University of Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-64476
Email:

New “Digital Public” Working Group

Niehaves is also head of the new “Digital Public” working group. The team is currently researching developments and applications in artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, as well as technology acceptance in public administrations, smart cities, civil society, and the economy.

Professor Niehaves: “How can digital technologies be used in the public sector to support a comprehensive transformation process and to seize the opportunities presented by the transformation? My team and I at the University of Bremen are working on this, from specific smart, technical solutions, to innovative services and business models, through to supporting the strategic transformation processes of entire cities. Interdisciplinary networking and close cooperation with industry and administration in practice are essential here. These are areas in which the University of Bremen is impressively strong and offers us excellent framework conditions.”

Councillor of Finance Hagen: “Professor Niehaves has come to the University of Bremen at exactly the right time”

Councillor of Finance Dr. Martin Hagen, responsible for the digitization of Bremen’s administration: “Bremen’s administration is already digital in many areas and offers numerous services online. Many people already use these services. Bremen has high usage figures compared to the national average and its citizens are the most satisfied with the online services. Nevertheless, we are far from finished when it comes to the digitization of the administration. Professor Björn Niehaves has come to the University of Bremen at exactly the right time. I hope there will be a lot of impetus that will bring Bremen’s administration further forward in terms of digitization and bring real benefits to the people of the state.”

Dr. Johann Bizer, Chief Executive Officer of Dataport, says: “Public administration faces a variety of challenges that it will only overcome with a determined digital transformation. The work of the endowed professorship of Professor Niehaves will help to make future-oriented digital technologies and approaches such as AI and open government even more usable for the administration. As a public IT service provider, we look forward to a close exchange between academia and practice and to using the expertise generated in Bremen for the digital transformation of administration.”

President Günther: “Strengthening administrative informatics is important for the University of Bremen”

Professor Jutta Günther, President of the University of Bremen: “The University of Bremen is known for its excellent work on artificial intelligence and robotics. This endowed professorship now explicitly focuses on the digitization of public administration. Strengthening administrative informatics is important for the University of Bremen in order to continue successful scientific projects, in particular the close research cooperation between the Institute for Information Management Bremen and Bremen’s administration, which is an excellent example of knowledge and technology transfer on an equal footing.”

Further Information:

https://www.uni-bremen.de/digital-public

https://www.uni-bremen.de

Contact:

Anke Semrau
Head of Unit, Rector’s Office/Bureau for Rectorate Affairs
University of Bremen
Room: VWG 2199
Tel.: +49 421 218-60110
Email:

Attracting Excellent Young Talent

As part of the award ceremony at the University of Bremen, the prizewinners from Bremen and Bremerhaven have now been honored. “We are delighted to be honoring promising young talents together with the Dr. Hans Riegel-Stiftung for the sixth time. The range of topics covered is impressive and it is exciting to see which issues are of interest to early-career researchers. We would be delighted to welcome many of them as students soon,” said Professor Maren Petersen, the Vice President for Teaching and Studies at the University of Bremen.

Beginning of Sustainable Support

Professor Ingeborg Henzler, member of the board at the Dr. Hans Riegel-Stiftung, adds: “Finding and fostering talent, supporting them, and networking with them – that is one of the focal points of the Dr. Hans Riegel-Stiftung. We see the promotion of STEM education as an important basis for securing and shaping our ecological and economic future. The Dr. Hans Riegel specialist prizes are a good example of this, and we are delighted to be able to award them again together with the University of Bremen. We will continue to do so in the future.”

The Foundation and Its Specialist Prizes

The foundation of former HARIBO co-owner Dr. Hans Riegel is particularly committed to promoting education – always with the aim of helping young people shape their future. The Dr. Hans Riegel specialist prizes are endowed with 600 euros each for first place, 400 euros for second place, and 200 euros for third place. In addition, the schools of the first-place winners will receive a noncash prize of around 250 euros in recognition of the supervision of the student work by the respective subject teachers. The prizes are awarded in cooperation with 15 German universities. Depending on the university, papers can be submitted in the natural sciences, computer science, and mathematics. Since only outstanding works are awarded, it may result in papers not being awarded in all announced categories and in all three standings.

Details of the individual prizewinners and their work can be found here:
www.uni-bremen.de/hans-riegel-fachpreise

Contact:

Dr. Kerstin Ksionzek
University of Bremen
Administrative Unit 16, UniTransfer
TAB 2.53
Tel.: +49 421 218-60393
Email:

Peter Laffin
Project Manager – Dr. Hans Riegel specialist prizes
Tel.: +49 228 227 447 15
Email:

Alexander Kukla
Head of Public Relations
Dr. Hans Riegel-Stiftung 
+49 228 227 447 25
Email:

The aim of the project MACHT SINN! [Makes sense. Donating to science] is to highlight and acknowledge the remarkable civic commitment of the citizens of Bremen to science and education. At the same time, outstanding projects by scientists at the University of Bremen will be presented, which, with the support of foundations, contribute to overcoming societal challenges and have an impact on urban society. The project gives the people and motivations behind the foundations and research projects a chance to be seen and heard. 

Ten believers of supporting science, research, and education are portrayed in the exhibition and also in the soon-to-be-released book. You can therefore read about them there and also hear them in a series of podcasts: Professor Rolf Drechsler, former Senator Manfred Fluß, Professor Helga Grubitzsch, Sylvia Jürgens, Dr. Rita Kellner-Stoll, Professor Heinz-Otto Peitgen, Axel Schubert, Khaled Swaidan, adjunct lecturer Cordula Weissköppel, and Charline Wolff.

The Exhibition

The exhibition MACHT SINN! will be open as of November 11, 2022, in the Wallsaal of the Bremen public library’s main branch (opening hours: https://stabi-hb.de/termine/macht-sinn). Based on ten topics of focus, it presents ten personalities – researchers, students, and donors – and their funding projects at the University of Bremen, thereby demonstrating the connection between research, support, and donations. MACHT SINN! utilizes multiple forms of media; for example, for deeper insights, QR codes lead to podcasts featuring project presentations and interviews with the ten personalities.

Where You Can Find MACHT SINN!

November to December 2022 Wallsaal of the Bremen public library’s main branch (vernissage on Nov. 10, 2022 at 7 p.m.)
January to March 2023 Stiftungshaus Bremen
April to June 2023 MZH/University of Bremen | July to October 2023 Haus der Wissenschaft [house of research]

Coming Soon: The Book on the Exhibition

The elaborately designed book will soon be published by OPEN SPACE. The reversible book has two parts and contains many cross-references. The first part (A) presents ten portraits that aim to delve into the motivations and experiences of the researchers and benefactors. The second part (B) first briefly introduces the Bremen foundations that currently support the University of Bremen, and then focuses on ten of the projects mentioned in part A that were made possible with the support of foundations.

Parts A and B are prefaced by Dr. Eckart von Hirschhausen – himself a benefactor – and Dr. Christine Backhaus (Stiftungshaus Bremen).

MACHT SINN! Stiften für die Wissenschaft is available for 30 euros in bookshops or directly from the publisher: MACHT SINN! Stiften für die Wissenschaft. First edition (2022). Open Space Edition, Bremen. ISBN 978-3-947225-28-6

Further Information:

www.uni-bremen.de/machtsinn (in German)
www.uni-bremen.de/en/

Contact:

Dr. Christina Jung
Unit 16 Transfer & External Partners
University of Bremen
Phone +49 421 218-60336
Email:

Algorithms should make driving decisions

The aim of the PRORETA research project was to develop algorithms. These algorithms should be able to use sensor data to make correct driving decisions that are comparable to those of humans. At an uncontrolled intersection, for example, interpreting all the objects relevant to the planned direction of travel is challenging. It is a matter of their direction of movement, intention, and priority in traffic. Artificial intelligence (AI) should be able to make safe decisions without human intervention. “The big advantage of AI is that, after a training phase, it is able to draw the right conclusions even in unfamiliar situations,” explains the computer science professor. “One part of the project involved observing human drivers as they reduced and evaluated the complexity of their environment. The adaptive algorithms are now being trained according to similar principles.”

As part of the project, the Cognitive Neuroinformatics working group investigated AI methods for environmental perception: objects and obstacles in the environment should be identified. In addition, new methods of human attention modelling based on camera data were developed. Here, saliency maps are created that identify relevant areas of the image where, for example, other road users or signs appear. New mathematical models were also developed that represent the position, orientation, speed, or size of other road users mathematically correctly and describe complex vehicle geometries.

Tasks are now solved more efficiently, robustly, and safely

In a final step, object tracking was implemented that is able to detect other road users in the monitored area and estimate their state over time. “These methods ensure that the corresponding tasks can be solved more efficiently, robustly, and safely. They therefore make an important contribution to highly automated and autonomous driving,” says Kerstin Schill. “The project is an ideal example of how productive cooperation between university and business research can work. Projects such as PRORETA will strengthen Germany as a business location in both respects.” 

The research contributions of the working group in detail:

• Jaime Maldonado focused on human attention modeling in the context of autonomous driving. In particular, an attention-grabbing pipeline consisting of two components was developed. On the one hand, relevant areas in camera images are determined using saliency maps. On the other hand, the driver’s gaze is projected into the image to expand the relevant area. This makes it possible to differentiate between relevant and nonrelevant regions in the image and process them more efficiently using subsequent algorithms.
   
• Andreas Serov implemented an object tracking system that detects relevant objects in the monitoring area of the vehicle and determines position, speed, orientation, and size in real time. A list of tracked objects is made available to the subsequent modules (prediction, planning, and control) for further processing. Object tracking is based on radar and lidar data. The state of each object is estimated with a probabilistic filter in which the state is processed on a manifold.
   
• Lino Giefer studied the theoretical principles of state estimation and representation in autonomous driving. In particular, he developed new models to describe articulated vehicles – such as buses, trams, and vehicles with trailers – in a mathematically correct way. He also investigated state and measurement uncertainties for localization and object tracking.
   
• Razieh Khamseh-Ashari investigated multimodal object detection based on lidar and camera data using AI methods. The fusion of sensor inputs early on achieves a highly precise localization of objects in the monitored area. 

The project PRORETA was named after the eponymous crew member of Roman warships. The proreta stood guard in the bow of the ship (prora) and warned of shallow waters and other dangers ahead.

Further Information:

www.continental.com/de/presse/pressemitteilungen/20221019-proreta5/ (in German)
www.continental-automotive.com/en-gl/Passenger-Cars/Autonomous-Mobility/Functions/PRORETA
www.cognitive-neuroinformatics.com/de/
www.uni-bremen.de/en

Contact:

Professor Kerstin Schill
Faculty of Mathematics/Computer Science
Cognitive Neuroinformatics working group
Phone: +49 421 218-64240
Email:
 

At the StartUp Lounge on December 7, 2022, the founding teams of TOPAS Industriemathematik Innovation gGmbH, tuuli, SYNERA GmbH, and codeLotsen GmbH will discuss the experiences they had when starting their companies. How have the start-ups grown? What hurdles did they have to overcome? Where, in their view, did vital support come from? How did they use the EXIST grant from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action and other funding programs? What mistakes would they not make a second time? What is important to them about “cohesion”?

In a relaxed and lively atmosphere, the following guests will talk about their experiences in short interviews:
topas – provides universal knowledge for intelligent systems
tuuli – offers an AI-based health coach for (expectant) mothers
synera – empowers engineers to independently drive digital transformation in component development with low code
codeLotsen – facilitates targeted IT consulting and development

BRIDGE as Part of the Digital Hub Industry and 20 Years of the BRIDGE Start-Up Network

The BRIDGE StartUp Lounge will take place in the Digital Hub Industry for the first time. The Digital Hub Industry provides the basis for new approaches to a vibrant start-up culture based on innovation and knowledge transfer. Various actors have joined forces to take part in this project, including the Senator for Economic Affairs, Labor, and European Affairs, the Senator for Science and Ports, Wirtschaftsförderung Bremen (Bremen’s economic development agency), encoway GmbH as a company of the Lenze Group, the University of Bremen, as well as other institutions.

BRIDGE’s university team is also involved in this innovative network of practitioners, academics, talents, and supporters, and will soon move into its offices in the Digital Hub Industry. “With the BRIDGE network, we at the University of Bremen are very pleased to be part of the Digital Hub Industry and to help drive forward innovations from cooperation between academia and industry as well as start-ups,” says Professor Michal Kucera, Vice President for Research and Transfer at the University of Bremen.
At the 16th Bremen StartUp Lounge, the 20th anniversary of the BRIDGE start-up network will also be celebrated. “20 years of networking for start-ups from Bremen’s higher education institutions is an extraordinary thing that no other federal state in Germany has. Prospective founders are supported in various formats on their path to self-employment. More than 300 new companies have been created in this way, enriching the regional innovation system,” says Dr. Martin Heinlein, Managing Director of BRIDGE.
Following the short interviews, there will be the opportunity to talk to the entrepreneurs and other stakeholders and to make new contacts. Professor Michal Kucera, Vice President for Research and Transfer, will give the opening speech.
The StartUp Lounge will take place on December 7 at 6 p.m. in the Digital Hub Industry.

About BRIDGE:

BRIDGE advises about 160 start-up projects per year and offers more than 50 events with over 1,200 participants on the topic of business start-ups. The BRIDGE network records around 20 start-ups a year from Bremen’s universities. In addition, the network has raised over 9.0 million euros in funding from the nationwide EXIST program since 2007. The CAMPUSiDEEN competition with prizes worth more than 20,000 euros rounds off the year’s events. Since 2003, almost 800 entries have been submitted. This makes CAMPUSiDEEN one of the most continuous competitions of its kind. At www.bridge-online.de/bridge/gruendungsgalerie you will find a selection of start-ups that have been founded so far from the higher education institutions.

Further Information:

https://www.bridge-online.de/en/events/16-bremen-startup-lounge-1

https://www.uni-bremen.de/en/cooperation/university-business/knowledge-and-technology-transfer/business-start-up

topas – https://topas.tech/

tuuli – https://tuuli.de/

synera – https://www.synera.io/

codeLotsen – https://codelotsen.de/

Contact:

Meike Goos
University of Bremen
UniTransfer
BRIDGE Start-Up Support
Tel.: +49 421 218-60346
Email: 
 

© Universität Bremen

[Translate to English:]

Afterwards there is still the possibility of an exchange or direct conversation between the audience and the scientists.

Our department is also represented. Here you come to the program.

The ARRIVE project (Acquiring the rescue chain in virtual reality), which Professor Björn Niehaves has been working on since January 2023 at the University of Bremen, picks up on these factors. Together with his team, the head of the Digital Transformation of Public Services (Digital Public) working group is working on how to integrate visual, social, or acoustic stressors into VR scenarios for first aid. In the future, this should make it possible to test first-aid measures under conditions that are as realistic as possible.

Training under Realistic Conditions

“So far, there are hardly any VR scenarios that can be used to train first aid,” explains Björn Niehaves. Moreover, these scenarios have so far not focused on the entire rescue chain, but only on individual aspects such as resuscitating injured persons. External stressors are ignored. As a first step, Björn Niehaves and his team identified stressors such as time pressure and traffic noise, which often occur in accident situations and are very disruptive.

The researchers are currently working on a VR simulation of a real accident site into which these stressors are integrated. “Together with test subjects, we then check to what extent stress is generated in the new scenarios,” explains Niehaves. On this basis, he and his team then develop a VR demonstrator. The project can also serve as a model for other stress scenarios, such as pilot and locomotive driver training.

ARRIVE will receive funding of 70,800 euros as part of the HOLM innovation funding program until the end of October 2023. HOLM (House of Logistics and Mobility) is a project promoter within the framework of the innovation promotion of the Hessian state government, with which it intends to further strengthen the competitiveness of Hesse as a business location.

Further Information:

www.uni-bremen.de/digital-public

Contact:

Professor Björn Niehaves
University of Bremen
Digital Transformation of Public Services (Digital Public) working group
Phone: +49 421 218-59875
E-Mail: 

© Adobe Stock / wellphoto

Completed when acquiring a driver’s license, first-aid courses mainly focus on the practical application of first aid. What is missing is training under real stress conditions.

“I am very pleased for Michael Beetz, his team, and the University of Bremen about this prestigious award,” says University President, Professor Jutta Günther, on the decision of the European Research Council. “It is a further testament to the outstanding scientific importance of the artificial intelligence research at our university. I would like to congratulate Michael Beetz on behalf of the entire University Executive Board,” says President Jutta Günther.

Artificial Intelligence Is Not Yet Truly Intelligent

In recent years, AI applications have achieved a number of spectacular successes – from victories against the world’s best go players to passing a law exam as well as creating amazingly good text and images. There is a problem with this, though: In all these activities, AI still does not understand what it is doing and cannot explain its approach. Another problem is that AI quickly reaches its limits when it comes to concrete action. For example, when an AI-based robot has learned to pour juice out of a bottle and into a glass, it – unlike humans – is unable to transfer the pouring capability to other containers and substances spontaneously. It has to learn almost completely from scratch how to pour pancake batter into a pan or how to extinguish a small fire with a bucket of water.   

"Answering the question of what enables our brain to perform very many different tasks successfully on the basis of vague information and usually on the first attempt is one of the biggest unanswered scientific challenges," emphasizes Professor Michael Beetz. "In this project, we want to explore whether the internal imagination of actions and their observation with the "mind's eye" is an important key to a better understanding of this ability.
Novel technologies used in modern computer games in combination with methods from artificial intelligence and cognitive research now give us the opportunity to investigate this hypothesis in a new and promising way."

Model for Predictive Action

People can often successfully transfer acquired skills to new situations on their first attempt because they have a range of gifts that make it possible to plan and test an action in their head. They can usually do this extremely quickly and subconsciously. We understand why we have not spilled the juice and we have intuitions about the physical properties of the bucket or pancake batter. We can also imagine internally what happens if we were to touch or let go of a bucket in certain places. To enable AI-based robots to do this kind of planning, Professor Beetz is seeking to develop a model (knowledge representation and reasoning framework) that allows them to analyze their actions and context of those actions. This model is also intended to help them find the information they need to complete a task themselves, for example, the best way to pick up a bucket of water.

Personal Profile

Professor Michael Beetz heads the Institute for Artificial Intelligence at the University of Bremen, where he has also coordinated the Collaborative Research Center (CRC) EASE (1320 Everyday Activity Science and Engineering) since 2017. This CRC works on equipping robots with human capabilities for managing everyday tasks. In the context of demographic change, for example, this is urgently needed to enable the physically disabled to live independently in their own homes for longer in the future. Michael Beetz studied computer science at the University of Kaiserslautern before obtaining his doctorate at Yale University in the United States. In 2019, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Örebro in Sweden for his long-standing cooperation and outstanding international research. Michael Beetz is also strongly committed to open research, that is, open access to scientific findings in order to promote cooperation.

The ERC Advanced Grant

The European Research Council (ERC) awards its Advanced Grant to top scientists who have already achieved recognition. For a period of five years, groundbreaking frontier research will be funded with a maximum of 2.5 million euros. The funding from an ERC Advanced Grant is intended to enable research work that comes with increased uncertainty but also particularly great opportunities for society.

Further Information:

www.ai.uni-bremen.de
www.ease-crc.org
www.uni-bremen.de

Contact:

Professor Michael Beetz
Institute for Artificial Intelligence/Collaborative Research Center EASE
University of Bremen
Tel.: +49 421 218-64005
Email:
 

Real-Time Simulation of Mars Exploration

In previous projects, the TZI scientists already virtually recreated some 40 square kilometers of Mars’s surface on the basis of NASA scans in order to establish a test environment for the required technologies. The project partners then deployed digital versions of their robot systems in this virtual twin of the real Mars landscape.

“So far, each swarm member acted largely on its own,” reports project coordinator Dr. René Weller from the Computer Graphics working group at TZI. “Now it’s all about bringing them together in a collaborative way.” Interfaces are intended to enable the different systems to interact in real time – and do so largely autonomously.
The test environment must meet the highest expectations: “The virtual twin must enable us to make realistic statements about whether the swarm will function in exactly the same way on Mars in the future,” emphasizes Professor Zachmann. The test environment must also allow us to identify existing weaknesses, for example if a robot is not yet sufficiently able to detect certain objects. For IT, it is a challenge to simulate all the vehicles quickly enough and, among other things, also to reproduce the camera images and lidar scans in real time.

Navigation without GPS, Galileo, or Paved Routes

While the Computer Graphics working group focuses on further developing the testing environment, the Cognitive Neuroinformatics working group is leading the subproject “Robust Ground Exploration,” a key point of which is the development of a common navigation method – because Earth’s satellite navigation system will be of no use on Mars. Software for that purpose is being developed at the University of Bremen. Moreover, the systems need to be made more robust in order to withstand difficult environmental conditions and deal with unexpected situations.
“One challenge is that – to a certain extent – the environment is unknown in advance,” explains Dr. Joachim Clemens, who is coordinating the subproject. “That’s why the swarm members have to identify obstacles themselves, create a map of their surroundings, and estimate their position on the map. And in doing that, the units cooperate with each other: map and positioning information is exchanged so that all units can benefit from it. The swarm participants then use this information to plan and coordinate their next steps.”

Another aspect of the subproject is the development and integration of a mission control tool. This system needs to enable both the visualization of the current mission status and the communication between the scientists and the VaMEx swarm. The information transmitted to the swarm, for example about scientifically relevant target areas, will be incorporated into the autonomous planning of the system and taken into account during the further course of the mission. The mission control tool is being developed by the High-Performance Visualization working group at the University of Bremen.

The Search for Water and Signs of Life

A major demonstration campaign is planned to extensively test the swarm of robots in a Mars-like testing area in three to four years’ time. The long-term goal of the VaMEx mission is to explore the Valles Marineris canyon system on Mars to find evidence of water resources and biological traces from eras on Mars that were more climatically conducive to hosting life. The Mariner Valleys, named after one of NASA’s first Mars space probes, form the largest canyon network in the solar system, stretching 4,000 kilometers and reaching depths of 10,000 meters in places.

In addition to the University of Bremen, the following partners are also involved in VaMEx-3: ANavS GmbH, the German Aerospace Center (DLR), DFKI Robotics Innovation Center, DSI Aerospace Technologie GmbH, INVENT GmbH, the Technical University of Braunschweig, the Technical University of Munich, the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, the University of the Bundeswehr Munich, and the University of Würzburg.

Contact:

Dr. René Weller
Faculty of Mathematics / Computer Science
University of Bremen
Tel.: +49 421 218-63992
Email:

Further Information:

https://www.uni-bremen.de/en/tzi
http://www.cognitive-neuroinformatics.com/en/
www.uni-bremen.de/en/

What does a typical working day look like for you?

I don’t really have a typical workday. Since trainees are allowed to work in a wide range of working groups right from the start of the apprenticeship, our tasks vary greatly depending on the project. This can cover everything from traditional IT support, consulting on the selection of IT equipment, and doing small to medium-sized jobs for the working groups in the facilities. For me, for example, last year was about setting up and testing various drone systems. This ranged from planning and procurement to the first test flight. As part of the Autonomous Driving project, I accompanied the research assistants to Chemnitz for a week-long test campaign with several vehicles, where I recorded the test drives with a video drone.

What do you like most about your training?

First and foremost I like dealing with my colleagues and my instructors. The atmosphere is very friendly, and, as a trainee, you always have several people you can go to in the event of a problem. Working in the different working groups is varied and exciting. You are not seen as a source of cheap labor, but contribute to important research work. No two days are the same, and it never gets boring.

The apprenticeship in Faculty 3 consists primarily of project work. Swen Rengers assembled eight of these drones, programmed the software for them, and tested everything.
 

Who would you recommend training at the University of Bremen to, and why?

To anyone who enjoys IT but who is also willing to think outside the box. You should be open-minded and interested – like in getting involved in groups and being a team player. Working with people from all over the world means that many meetings are held in English. So you should at least have good basic knowledge. It goes without saying that working in the public sector also has its advantages. For example, you have standard working hours, a collectively agreed apprenticeship salary, and good chances of being taken on.

Training at the University of Bremen

Might Computer Science be something for you too? You can apply at the end of August for an apprenticeship start in August or September 2024. In addition to the specialist IT course, the University of Bremen offers many other training courses – for example, as a chemistry or biology laboratory assistant, carpenter, electronics technician, or specialist for media and information services. You can find more information about training courses and how to apply on the University of Bremen website(in German only).

The exhibition opening will take place at 12 p.m. on April 13, in the foyer of MZH Building at the university. The university’s Director of Finance and Administration and Foundation Chair Frauke Meyer will hold will welcome guests and introduce the event. This will be followed by a conversation with researchers and donors.

The Exhibition Book

As an accompaniment to the exhibition, a book has been published by OPEN SPACE publishing house. Entitled "MACHT SINN! Stiften für die Wissenschaft" (Donating for Science), the first part of the book is a collection of the ten portraits of researchers and donors. The second part presents the Bremen foundations that currently support the University of Bremen and the projects that have been realized with the support of such foundations. The two parts will be introduced with greetings from Dr. Eckart von Hirschhausen - who is also a benefactor - and Dr. Christine Backhaus (Stiftungshaus Bremen).

The following people are portrayed in the book and exhibition: Professor Rolf Drechsler, Senator (ret.) Manfred Fluß, Professor Helga Grubitzsch, Sylvia Jürgens, Dr. Rita Kellner-Stoll, Professor Heinz-Otto Peitgen, Axel Schubert, Khaled Swaidan, Adjunct Lecturer Professor Cordula Weißköppel, and Charline Wolff.

Further exhibition locations are the House of Science in Bremen (September 1 to December 2, 2023) and Kulturhaus Müller Ganderkesee (December 8, 2023, to the end of February 2024).

Further Information:

www.uni-bremen.de/machtsinn (in German only)

Contact:

Dr. Christina Jung
Administrative Unit: 16 Transfer & External Partners
University of Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-60336
Email:

Children's Campus: Hands-on Activities and Workshops

At the Children's Campus, even the youngest guests will get their money's worth. In hands-on activities, they will become researchers in their own right. This time, the element of water will play a central role. Exciting experiments and activities have been prepared – from making soap bubbles to building rockets. In addition, a balloon artist, face painting, and a pagoda with a painting and crafts corner will await the children. A bouncy castle and a goal wall offer the opportunity for the kids to let off steam.

Extensive Stage Program with Top Act Gentleman

The "UNI Festival" on Friday, June 23, 2023, which is hosted by Open Campus together with Bremen NEXT, will start at 6 p.m. The stage program will feature singer Pantha, rapper SAMPAGNE, and headliner MAJAN.
Pantha combines German lyrics with atmospheric beats, organic instruments, and whispered vocals. SAMPAGNE represents the new generation of German rap and brings the new wave sound from Berlin. Mixing trap, drill rap, and influences from UK garage to house music, his music is versatile and unique.
MAJAN made the jump from hot tip to best newcomer of the year within a short time. His sound is a catchy and infectious mixture of rap, dancehall, and piano ballads.

Friday is presented by AOK Bremen/Bremerhaven.

On Saturday, June 24, 2023, the evening program on the big stage begins with a poetry slam at 6 p.m. Afterwards, the university will proudly present iL Civetto. The Berlin-based band has reinvented global pop. Their universal melting pop breaks with Western cultural dominance and draws its energy from the Berlin techno scene. Energy and beats of Berlin's nightlife are transformed into great pop with the instruments of a rock band.
It was possible to secure GENTLEMAN as the headliner. The reggae artist has long since made a name for himself far beyond the German music scene. He has now released his first German-language album "Blaue Stunde." What is astonishing is the striking naturalness, the weightlessness with which he succeeds – and not only when it comes to the linguistic switchover.
On both evenings, well-known DJs will continue to get the audience fired up with hot beats after the performances.

Registration for Guided Tours and Lab Visits

OPEN CAMPUS is free of charge. As the laboratory visits and the guided tours are limited in the number of participants, it is advisable to book the free tickets online by 12 p.m. on Saturday, June 24. There will be an opportunity to buy the remaining tickets on site at the info point via Nordwestticket. Detailed program and tickets: www.uni-bremen.de/en/open-campus

Information for the Media:

Accreditation is required for photography during the music performances: https://www.uni-bremen.de/open-campus/kontakt/akkreditierungs-antrag-open-campus-2023?no_cache=1

Sponsors and Partners:
Sparkasse Bremen, AOK Bremen/Bremerhaven
Sponsors: Anheuser-Busch InBev Deutschland GmbH & Co.KG, BLG LOGISTICS GROUP AG & Co. KG, Bauck GmbH, Wirtschaftsförderung Bremen
Media partners: Bremen vier, Bremen NEXT, Weser Kurier
With the generous support of: University of Bremen Alumni Network, Uni Foundation, Unifreunde, Hotel Landgut Horn, Student Services Organization Bremen, Wolfgang Ritter Foundation Bremen

Further Information:

https://www.uni-bremen.de/en/open-campus
www.uni-bremen.de/en/

Contact:

Rebecca Grotheer
Central Event Management
University of Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-60113
Email:

At the CoAI JRC, one of the things cutting-edge researchers from the fields of artificial intelligence, robotics, human-computer interaction, medical assistance, linguistics, psychology, and philosophy are working on is developing the foundations for robots with completely new capabilities. The AI systems developed here have the cognitive ability to understand how and why they do things. They recognize their own gaps in knowledge themselves. However, the AI systems also have an interactive capability to subsequently acquire new skills when interacting with humans. To this end, the researchers are exploring a new conceptual framework for intelligent action: the concept of what is known as co-construction refers to cognitive and interactive mechanisms that help humans and machines to master tasks together. This unites the expertise on co-constructive AI from no less than three research locations in one hub.

An integral part of the research at the CoAI JRC is what is known as the Virtual Research & Training Building (ViB) – a digital laboratory that will be accessible to the international scientific community in the spirit of open, transparent, and participatory research. Robots, environments, and software can be used here as if the researchers were actually present in the laboratory. This makes research data and results available to a broad public, for university teaching, and for further research.

For the universities of Bremen, Bielefeld, and Paderborn, the cross-location center means increased visibility for their respective and joint research and education activities on artificial intelligence. The university executive boards welcome and support this consolidation of competences. This cooperation is a strategic and sustainable contribution to building the profile of the three cooperation partners. They thank the participating researchers for their commitment.

Prof. Michael Beetz, head of the Institute for Artificial Intelligence (IAI) at the University of Bremen, describes the special nature of the AI research conducted at the CoAI JRC: “The most flexible, powerful, and reliable learning systems are not ChatGPT or any of the other machine learning systems that are currently attracting so much attention. In fact, it is us humans: through interaction with others, we learn from birth how the world around us works and how we can operate successfully in it. Co-constructive AI takes these skills as inspiration to explore AI systems that are not only able to perform tasks but also help others. In order to do this, these co-constructive AI systems need to understand what their human partners want and are capable of in order to specifically augment their skills.” At the Bremen location, the diverse and internationally excellent exploratory research on intelligence and cognition in autonomous agents and agent teams in the high-profile area Minds, Media, Machines forms an excellent starting point for achieving the specified research goals of the CoAI JRC in cooperation with the universities of Bielefeld and Paderborn.

Prof. Philipp Cimiano, head of the Semantic Computing Group and coordinator of the Center for Cognitive Interaction Technology (CITEC) at Bielefeld University, sees enormous potential here: “With the new CoAI JRC center, we are creating an excellent and unique framework for breaking ground in AI research, which is only possible through interdisciplinary collaboration. CoAI will build on previous research at the Cognitive Interaction Technology Center (CITEC) and explore a new AI paradigm. Unlike current language models such as ChatGPT, this paradigm will allow systems to understand the consequences of their suggestions and give an idea of what it means to act in concert with a human. Without this capability, we can’t create AI systems in the long term that can work with us reliably and that we can trust.”

Prof. Katharina Rohlfing, head of the Psycholinguistics research group and the “SprachSpielLabor” at Paderborn University explains: “The joint center allows us to create synergies between the partner universities and to address the underlying mechanisms of co-construction. This way, we achieve the best possible concentration and networking of our existing and future research activities.” In Paderborn, the focus is on research into intelligent socio-technical systems and the role of co-construction in explanatory processes. Researchers at the universities of Paderborn and Bielefeld have also been investigating this concept since 2021 as part of the German Research Foundation’s Collaborative Research Centre/Transregio 318 “Constructing Explainability,” which is dedicated to the topic of “Explainability of Artificial Intelligence (AI)” and whose spokesperson is Rohlfing.

Further Information:

www.coai-jrc.de

Contact:

Prof. Michael Beetz
Institute for Artificial Intelligence (IAI)
University of Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-64001
Email:

DataNord provides researchers of every career level opportunities to improve their abilities in working with data. These services include trainings, hackathons, consultation services, as well as opportunities for networking and professional discussion. Research activities focusing on data literacy education are offered as part of the DataNord “Research Academy.”

The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) will support the establishment of the center with a total funding of 3.5 million euros. Of this, more than two million euros will go to the university as network coordinator.

Competence Center as a Beacon and Model for Other Regions

Professor Michal Kuchera, Vice President for Research and Transfer at the University of Bremen, adds, “DataNord is a groundbreaking initiative that will strengthen data competence in the Bremen region and will promote collaboration between different academic disciplines. This has developed as part of a long and successful tradition of cooperation between the research institutes and universities in Bremen. The project will help us achieve the goal of offering all researchers in the region a broad range of services to further develop their research and skills in working with data.” Professor Iris Pigeot, director of the Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS and one of the spokespeople, emphasizes, “With DataNord we will support a cultural change in the use of research data and also strengthen the basis for the emergence of data-driven knowledge and innovations.”

Within this training, the entire life cycle of research data is considered –  from the collection and management of data to its analysis and the critical questioning and evaluation of hypotheses, data foundations and results – all while considering ethical, legal, and social aspects.

Dr. Lena Steinmann, who coordinated the project proposal at the University of Bremen, emphasizes, “I am convinced that strengthening data literacy plays a decisive role in academic progress, and DataNord will play an important part in helping researchers to better use their data.”

The DataNord network covers a wide range of profile areas, including environmental and marine sciences, social sciences, material sciences and engineering, health sciences, and the liberal arts. This broad approach is representative of the diverse research environment in Bremen and ensures that researchers from several disciplines can profit from the services of the data competence center.

Who is Involved in DataNord

The project is a result of the collaborations in the U Bremen Research Alliance (UBRA) – a collaborative network established in 2016 with the University of Bremen and twelve external research institutes. The leadership of the UBRA lead project “Research Data Management and Data Science,” comprised of Prof. Dr. Frank Oliver Glöckner (MARUM/University of Bremen & AWI), Prof. Dr. Rolf Drechsler, and Prof. Dr. Iris Pigeot (BIPS), also oversee DataNord and initiated this project. Dr. Lena Steinmann and Dr. Tanja Hörner work as a team to coordinate DataNord.

Project partners who also received funding are the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), the Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence Bremen (DFKI), the Institute for Information Management Bremen GmbH (ifib), and the U Bremen Research Alliance e.V. In addition to the other UBRA institutions, the following are also involved: the Bremen University of Applied Sciences, the State and University Library, BIBA – Bremen Institute for Production and Logistics GmbH, as well as the NFDI consortia and infrastructure centers. The University of Bremen is in charge of network coordination.

About DataNord

DataNord prevailed in two funding phases with over 70 submitted applications. The first five-month phase was for conceptual design. For the three-year implementation phase, DataNord will be supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research with a total of more than 3.5 million euros. Of this amount, over two million euros will go to the University of Bremen.

Further Information:

Link to the BMBF Posting: https://www.bmbf.de/bmbf/shareddocs/bekanntmachungen/de/2022/06/2022-06-21-Bekanntmachung-Datenkompetenzzentren.html (available in German only)

Link to further information about the conceptual phase: https://www.bildung-forschung.digital/digitalezukunft/de/wissen/Datenkompetenzen/datenkompetenzzentren_f%C3%BCr_die_wissenschaft_ordner/datenkompetenzzentren_fuer_die_wissenschaft_node.html (available in German only)

https://www.dsc-ub.de/en/

https://www.bremen-research.de/en/activities/research-data-and-data-science

Contact:

Prof. Dr. Rolf Drechsler
Research Group Computer Architecture
Faculty Mathematics / Computer Science
Spokesperson Data Science Center (DSC)
University of Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-63932
Email:

Dr. Lena Steinmann
Coordinator Data Science Center (DSC)
University of Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218 63941
Email:

“Everyday processes are established – not just in technical degree programs – that contribute to conscious or unconscious stereotyping about gender roles. At the University of Bremen, we want to consciously counteract this with Informatica Feminale. Our goal is to promote sustainable development that encourages more women to participate in computer science in education, research, business, and society,” says Rolf Drechsler. Veronika Oechtering adds: “Almost 3,000 female computer science students have attended Bremen’s Informatica Feminale, often multiple times, and some of these are now professors. At the same time, there is a generational change taking place among female computer scientists: Former participants have now motivated their daughters to attend the summer university. In this way, Informatica Feminale can contribute to a steady increase in the national proportion of women in computer science degree programs.”

About the Informatica Feminale

The Informatica Feminale first took place in 1997 and each year between 200 and 250 women attend. The courses offered during the two- to three-week summer university cover a broad range of topics and the 40 to 50 courses provide both foundational knowledge as well as information on specialized topics. At the same time, Informatica Feminale offers time and space for critical reflection and looking at societal and professional developments in an experimental way. The event is geared towards female students, researchers, prospective students, female professionals, and other interested parties. It is possible for female employees to participate with paid education leave. Following the example of Informatica Feminale, Furtwangen University and the University of Freiburg have offered their own summer universities for women in computer science since 2001 and the University of Salzburg since 2003.

About the German Council of University Faculties in Computer Science

The non-profit organization German Council of University Faculties in Computer Science (Fakultätentag Informatik der Universitäten in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland – FTI) has served the interests of over 50 member faculties and departments of universities where computer science is taught and researched since 1973. The German Council of University Faculties in Computer Science supports education and research in computer science by supporting the academic collaboration of its members and coordinating the university education in computer science. This is done by working with committees within and outside of the universities and publishing opinion and position statements on current educational policy issues related to computer science. Members of the board and the academic committee also represent the German Council of University Faculties in Computer Science in several national academic organizations.

Further information:

https://www.informatica-feminale.de/eng/
https://ft-informatik.de/ (available in German only)

Contact:

Prof. Dr. Rolf Drechsler
Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics / Computer Science
University of Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-63932
Email:

Veronika Oechtering
Head of the Center of Excellence Women in Science and Technology
University of Bremen
Phone: +49-421-218-64463
Mobile: 0176-11218807
Email:

Nico Hochgeschwender received his PhD in 2017 at the University of Luxemburg for his research on model-based software development in robotics. Afterwards, he held a position as research group leader at the German Aerospace Center (DLR). In 2019, he was appointed professor at Hochschule Bonn Rhein-Sieg, before moving to the University of Bremen for the winter semester 2023/24.

The reason Michael Beetz is so interested in pouring is not just due to its everyday relevance. “Pouring is also a challenging research topic because it is an underdetermined task,” he explains. This means that a request such as “pour cola into a glass” leaves a lot of room for interpretation and omits important information. What kind of glass should the robot choose, how viscous is cola, and how should pouring be adjusted when a liquid foams? The robot must know the answers to all these questions to avoid mistakes. Considering the many variations of pouring, Michael Beetz is faced with a major task. “My goal is for the robot to be able to pour any liquid out of any vessel, in any context,” he says.

2.5 Million Euros for Foundation Research

Michael Beetz’s work is in the field of foundation research. Since March 2023, he has received support for this from the European Research Council (ERC), which is funding his research with an Advanced Grant. 2.5 million euros are available to the computer scientist and his team over a period of five years. Researchers from the University of Bremen as well as from Bielefeld University and Paderborn University are involved in the research.

Michael Beetz and his team can only partially build on previous approaches and research findings in the field of artificial intelligence. “Systems like ChatGPT perform amazingly, but they lack a fundamental understanding of what they’re doing,” he explains. However, everyday robots should implement actions correctly right away, because mistakes could become dangerous – for example, if a robot spills hot water. He is therefore working on robots that consider different courses of action before selecting one, and that understand how and why they do something.

“It’s critical that robots understand the context of actions”

In order to achieve this goal, Michael Beetz wants to use the ERC funding to develop the “FAME” (Future-oriented cognitive Action Modelling Engine) software system. This software is designed to enable the robot to interpret videos, written instructions, and actions of people and to plan and implement its own actions based on this information. For example, when a robot observes a human pouring cola into a glass, it creates a virtual agent that resembles the person – a digital twin, so to speak. It reproduces and interprets the action with the digital agent, then transfers it to itself and saves the sequence for future tasks.

Before FAME can be implemented, the researchers in Michael Beetz’s team must work on various subtasks, such as the contextualization of information. “It is crucial that robots understand the context of actions and can automatically supplement missing information,” says Michael Beetz. “Imagine a robot watching a human pour off hot water from a pot of noodles. From its perspective, the robot may only be able to guess some movements or not recognize how much water is in the pot.” The information that the robot receives via its sensors is in this case not enough to capture the situation and process it for its own actions. Therefore, the robot should develop different scenarios and determine which of them is most likely.

Robots must be capable of not just putting actions, but also instructions from people into context – as with the initially mentioned request to pour cola into a glass. To make this possible, the researchers in Michael Beetz’s team are working on another major topic: mental simulation. The robot creating a virtual model of a real observed situation is only the first step. Above all, it is important that the robot learns to relate the different individual actions to each other. “It must be able to establish causal relationships, for example between the tilt of the bottle and the flow rate of the liquid,” he outlines. “It can only use this information to plan its own actions later if it makes these connections.”

Achieving Goals with Interdisciplinary Cooperation

The Bremen team researchers are specifically investigating how robots process knowledge and perceive their environment and their actions. However, for the development of FAME, a better understanding of the interaction between robots and humans is crucial. The newly established Joint Research Center on Cooperative and Cognition-enabled AI (CoAI JRC) of the universities in Bremen, Bielefeld, and Paderborn assists with this part. In addition, together with Professor Philipp Cimiano from Bielefeld University, Michael Beetz is researching how existing instructions on the internet can be converted into knowledge bases that can be used by robots.

The work on FAME also allows the researchers to see how successfully the human brain processes information and plans actions. “It is only when trying to reproduce this in robots that you realize just how tremendous the brain’s performance in so many varied and uncertain physical and social situations is,” states Michael Beetz.

The Bremen Institute for Artificial Intelligence is implementing the idea of a virtual building for the Joint Research Center on Cooperative and Cognition-enabled AI (CoAI JRC) with partners from universities in Bremen, Bielefeld, and Paderborn. The CoAI JRC website already provides first glimpses of the new building. “Our joint successes and the complementary nature of our research is visible in this building,” says Dr. Hanna Voudouri, managing director of the high-profile area “Minds Media Machines” at the University of Bremen. Together with Dr. Brendan Balcerak Jackson from Bielefeld University and Dr. Stefanie Dick from Paderborn University, she is coordinating the construction of the building. Cognition-based artificial intelligence is the unifying theme in both the cooperation of the researchers and the ViB. The researchers’ approach is to enable robots to understand, similar to how humans do, why and what they are doing, to assess the consequences of their actions, to recognize their own mistakes, and to correct them independently. In order to achieve this goal, researchers use cooperative learning between humans and robots. The core concept for this is co-construction: robots and humans work together to gradually develop a common understanding of their tasks and their counterparts in order to learn new things.

Building an Open Space for Everyone

“In our planning, it was particularly important that the building be accessible to everyone worldwide,” says Dr. Brendan Balcerak Jackson. This approach is propagated by numerous AI specialist societies and is now being implemented as a cutting-edge service, especially by researchers from cognitive robotics. One source of inspiration for this is the AI Roadmap of the Computing Community Consortium (CCC), an association of leading AI researchers from the USA. They give several reasons why open infrastructures are crucial in AI research. The researchers are convinced that services such as the ViB promote interdisciplinary exchange by engaging people who are not primarily researching AI. Additionally, students benefit from open infrastructures, since they quickly gain insights into current research. And finally, open platforms make research more efficient because research infrastructures are used worldwide and do not have to be set up separately at different locations. All of these aspects play a major role in the ViB.

Freely Accessible Laboratories for Researchers All over the World

The various rooms of the building are being created by researchers from Bremen, Bielefeld, and Paderborn and thus reflect their research topics. The core component of the building is the digital robot labs of the University of Bremen’s Institute for Artificial Intelligence (IAI). In these rooms, researchers worldwide have free access for experiments involving the digital twins of the Bremen household robots, together with the corresponding software. The close cooperation with international researchers across geographic boundaries that this makes possible is of critical importance to Michael Beetz, professor of artificial intelligence in Faculty 3 - Mathematics / Computer Science and head of the IAI. As a trailblazer in the field of open science, he has been making his research data and software freely available for many years. However, his goal is higher than establishing open access: “We are not just providing our infrastructure, but are also interested in contributions from the international research community,” he emphasizes. Specifically, this means that researchers from all over the world have the opportunity to create their own rooms in the virtual building. According to Beetz, especially in AI research groups, there is an enormous interest in making one’s own work openly available to the community and a broader audience.

Focusing on Interdisciplinary Work

The virtual environment should also contribute to the networking of researchers. “Just like in a physical building, there will be the possibility to look into different rooms and thus encounter new topics,” explains Dr. Hanna Voudouri. This is augmented by the fact that the participating researchers come from different disciplines.

Research in the humanities and social sciences also takes place in the virtual building, such as in Paderborn University’s “Sprach-Spiel-Labor” (language development lab), which presents theoretical developments from psycholinguistics. Language learning is not only linked to actions, but also to dialogues. This connection from early childhood education is visualized here in many ways and serves as an inspiration for understanding the co-construction between humans and robots. Researchers from both Bremen and Bielefeld’s universities are also investigating how robots can learn new tasks or skills from humans in the “Co-Constructive Task Learning” project. Here, the researchers use virtual reality technology (VR) to demonstrate actions such as pouring water into a glass to the robots. From these demonstrations, virtual models are then created for the robots, which help them learn to perform the actions themselves. The goal for the future is to use this method in the ViB to teach robots these skills directly. A glimpse into the demonstrations and the memory logs of the robots is already freely available.

Reaching New Target Groups with Education and Competition Floors

The target audience for the building is not just researchers, but also students and interested laypersons. In order to reach as many people as possible, the technical access to the building is deliberately kept simple and most rooms should be accessible via a web browser without additional technical aids. The rooms are arranged by floors based on their target audience. The education floor, for example, is aimed specifically at students. Among other things, the “IntEL4CoRo” project is presented here, which enables students to learn the theoretical foundations of cognitive robotics and at the same time work on research with digital twins of robots. If you want to play games with robots, you have the opportunity to do so on the competition floor, where, for example, robots can play against each other in soccer matches. “In the end, we want to show that AI research is also fun,” says Dr. Stefanie Dick.

The roots of collaboration between Dr. Kamalika Datta and Professor Rolf Drechsler trace back to 2012. They first met during a conference at the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology in Kolkata. They quickly identified synergies in their research fields, particularly in the area of reversible computing. Kamalika Datta recalls, “Our paths crossed at a technical conference. At that time, Rolf had already made numerous publications on this subject. It was a good opportunity to exchange ideas and develop joint proposals.”

The initial step in this direction took place in 2013 as part of the DAAD project, “Synthesis of Reversible Circuits using Probabilistic Methods and Functional Transformation.” Kamalika Datta participated from the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, then Bengal Engineering and Science University (BESU). She visited Bremen twice during the two-year project for a total of two months. The collaboration extended beyond the time Kamalika Datta was physically in Bremen. Despite spatial distance, they continued their research.

After completing her Ph.D. in 2014, Datta became a faculty member at the National Institute of Technology, Meghalaya, and remained in close contact with Rolf Drechsler. Datta emphasizes, “Even without explicit funding, it was essential for us to continue collaborating. Whenever an opportunity for funding arose, we applied.”

Datta and Drechsler’s research focuses on the areas of computational reversibility and quantum computing. The decision to enter this research field early paid off when, in 2016, major companies like IBM, Google, Rigetti Computing, IonQ, and others actively participated in the development of quantum computers. Datta reminisces, “We started working on this topic early and were often asked how it could be practically applicable. In 2016, our research field became a reality, and applications became more tangible than ever before.” Rolf Drechsler adds, “It was either very visionary or just luck. We worked on the fundamentals of this topic, and after 10 years, it became a mainstream topic.”

“We learn so much from different people from different countries and different Institutes. It not only expands our horizon but also helps to gain different perspectives on our research.”Kamalika Datta

Following stays in Singapore and India, Kamalika Datta’s postdoctoral position at the University of Bremen in 2021 marked another milestone in their joint research. By that time, Datta and Drechsler had already published more than 20 joint papers. Datta describes the transition to the University of Bremen as a significant yet easy step, saying, “Through years of research, I was already closely connected to Bremen, familiar with the places and culture. I was acquainted with the international team and looked forward to working on-site. Therefore, it was not a very difficult decision for me.”

Back to the Beginnings

In 2022, Kamalika Datta and Rolf Drechsler applied again for a DAAD project, this time in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT Kharagpur). She explains, “Our project’s focus was on the ‘Logic in Memory.’ Our goal is to develop tools to ensure the correctness of designs for emerging technologies.” Rolf Drechsler adds, “Typically, we build computers in the classical way, as found in all computing platforms including smartphones. There is a memory where data are stored, which interfaces with a processor. Meanwhile, data transfer occurs from memory to the processor and back. This often consumes more than 80% of the energy, essentially for just moving data back and forth in the computer. And that is the bottleneck which in-memory computing has the potential to tackle. In particular, we want to distribute the computation, by allowing the memory not only to store but also to perform computation. This would lead to better information processing on various computing devices.

For this DAAD project, Kamalika Datta embarks on another journey to India at the end of 2023, this time as a member of the Bremen delegation – exactly ten years after her first visit to Bremen. She reflects, “It was interesting to return home and, at the same time, be on business. This trip not only facilitated productive discussions about future projects but also provided a personal reflection on my academic journey over the past ten years.”

Relevance of International Collaboration

The longstanding collaboration across borders and time zones underscores the crucial role of international research in today’s scientific landscape. The challenges of the current era require a diversity of perspectives and skills, says Rolf Drechsler. He emphasizes, “The problems we address are extremely challenging. Therefore, it is of great importance that we all collaborate, bringing in diverse perspectives.”

Datta also highlights the importance of intercultural experiences: “We learn so much from different people from different countries and different Institutes. It not only expands our horizon but also helps to gain different perspectives on our research.” Datta’s role as a mentor and advisor in Professor Drechsler’s research team at the University of Bremen underscores this. Rolf Drechsler emphasizes, “With her expertise and leadership skills, she plays a key role in the group and advises new Master’s and Ph.D. students. That is extremely beneficial for the overall group.”

In a time when global challenges require interdisciplinary solutions, Kamalika Datta’s academic journey shows that collaboration across borders not only enables scientific progress but also enriches personal growth. Furthermore, the new stages of their collaboration promise not only relevant research but also a continued significant contribution to future international cooperation.

His narrations are particularly well suited to a specific location on campus: the lecture hall of MZH building. This is where Nake has spent so many hours of his professional life. Conveniently, the lecture hall is directly opposite his office and apparently, there’s no need for him to even put on shoes. He simply crosses the hall in his comfy mules. Right? “No, these are my normal shoes. I basically wear sandals all year round, as long as it is possible,” corrects Nake. A black shirt, hiking trousers with practical side pockets, and thick wool socks round off the look – the tanned professor needs nothing more for a day at the university.

“My teaching style was always quite relaxed,” smirks the computer scientist, who accepted a professorship in graphic data processing and interactive systems at the University of Bremen in 1972. Searching for specialist literature or PowerPoint slides with equations in his classes is pointless. “I prefer to talk to my students. In that way, I pass on the specialist knowledge in a casual way and always in reference to a relevant issue,” explains Nake.

Sitting in a Circle with Students

With this approach, he has aligned his teaching with one of the founding ideas of the University of Bremen. A great deal was meant to change on the Weser River at the beginning of the 1970s. One aspect of said change was that research and teaching were supposed to be relevant to society. For Nake, this means that he sat together with five students in a circle during his first seminar, and in the frame of so-called project studies, he spoke with them about the opportunities and limits posed by computers using the example of job placement. A civil servant from the Federal Labor Office in Nuremberg even came to the University of Bremen to find out more about the ideas of the students and their professor. “Everything that happened at the university back then had a direct connection to reality. I liked that,” says the computer scientist. What he also enjoyed was the so-called one-third parity at the University of Bremen in the 1970s. Professors, administrative staff, and students held the same rights in all matters. “The one-third parity was sensational. I had never experienced anything like it in Germany,” enthuses Nake.

Professorship as Political Task

That so much was intended to be different at the University of Bremen was the reason that the native of Stuttgart returned to Germany from Canada at all in 1972. “I had emigrated several years previously because I found the German higher education system to be too rigid,” says the scientist. “Becoming a professor at this radically different university was a political task for me,” explains Nake.

In what way? “Since the age of 16, I always felt like I belong to the radical left,” clarifies Nake. He was a member of communist associations and even had to go through disciplinary proceedings in the 70s in the frame of what is known as the Anti-Radical Decree. He stands by his political beliefs, despite the fact that a great deal has now changed at the University of Bremen. Marxism and a continual call for dialectical thinking influence his teaching. “We should always remember to think about the opposite. This is what I taught my children and I recommend it to each of my students. There is not one person who took part in any of my classes who does not know the name Hegel.”

Teaching as Storytelling

Nake laughs when asked if he is sure that he teaches computer science. “Viewing the bigger picture is part of the job. Teaching must be storytelling and should position itself based on specialist knowledge,” he states.

A while ago, he taught a seminar entitled “Algorithmic Thinking.” Seventy students took part and he knew weeks in advance how he would begin the course: by going in, sitting down, and saying nothing. For a whole ten minutes. If someone whispered or moved in their chair – he ignored it. After ten minutes, he stood up and asked: What did you think just then? “That is how students find out what it means to be reduced to our thinking,” explains the university lecturer. The university as a happening. That’s how he likes it best.

90-Hour Weeks Are Normal

And when he’s not at the university? “Work is my life. I work a 90-hour week and finish in the evening just as the “heute journal” TV show is starting,” he says. He does, however, give himself one moment of peace each day: The computer scientist loves eating a slice of bread with cheese in the small kitchen of his Borgfeld house and looking out to the big trees in the garden.

What many people at the university do not know is that Frieder Nake is a famous computer artist. He creates art digitally using a computer. In the middle of the 1960s, he was one of only three artists worldwide who worked on this type of art and he became internationally known in an extremely short space of time. “I create projections on large displays that continually change without repetition. The computer calculates, works, and then shows the art. They are dynamic images that appear when we look,” explains Nake.

He will definitely continue to create computer art. But his time teaching at the university comes to an end on 30 January. Unless he changes his mind again – which would not be out of character. At least that is what other colleagues in his faculty think. His (for now?) last lecture “Move On! - A Perspective of Digital Media” starts as usual at 2 p.m., but this time in the Kunsthalle. After 13 weeks of intensive engagement with algorithmic art, its most important representatives and the context in which their works can be seen, this lecture at the Kunsthalle promises to be the crowning conclusion for this course. In the gallery of prints (Kupferstichkabinett), the approximately 30 master’s students and their lecturer will look at and discuss various works of computer art, which are usually in storage. A suitable farewell event for a computer scientist and artist who has enriched the lives and learning of countless students at the University of Bremen for 103 semesters.

With lectures and workshops, the University of Bremen offers two different event formats: The lectures are aimed at class groups of 3rd to 6th graders. They will take place every morning from March 12 to 14. Teachers can now register their school classes via the Kids' University website: www.uni-bremen.de/kinderuni. Participation is free of charge.

The workshops are aimed directly at children between the ages of 8 and 12. They will take place during Bremen's Easter vacation from March 19 to 21. This is where girls and boys can become young researchers themselves. For example, they can build solar-powered vehicles, explore together whether emotions can be tamed, or tinker creatively with robots. The workshops are held in small groups of up to 20 people. Tickets are available now for one euro each online via the Kids' University website at www.uni-bremen.de/kinderuni or from Nordwest Ticket.

About UniTransfer:

The Kids' University is organized by the University & School Transfer Office from the UniTransfer Administrative Unit at the University of Bremen. The individual lectures and workshops are held by numerous dedicated researchers from the university and the institutes in the University of Bremen Technology Park. The Kids' University is financially supported by Sparkasse Bremen.

The University of Bremen is aware of its responsibility in the community and involves society as a whole with its broad understanding of research-based knowledge and technology transfer. UniTransfer is the University of Bremen's central point of contact between academia, business, and society. The experts support cooperations and projects across the whole spectrum of the university’s subjects. These range from business start-ups, to the commercialization of inventions; the placement of specialists, managers, or science communication formats; the coordination of programs for schools; the management of the university foundation; and university fundraising.

Further Information:

www.uni-bremen.de/kinderuni

Contact:

Dr. Kerstin Ksionzek and Isabell Harder
UniTransfer Administrative Unit, University & School Transfer Office
University of Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-60393 and +49 421 218-57134
Email: ,

Over a period of four years, the researchers will work on two main areas: developing biosignal devices and central computing infrastructure. “There are already devices such as smartphones or smartwatches that record pulse, blood pressure, or movement data,” explains Tanja Schultz. “We want to extend this information to include data such as brainwaves and measure mental activities such as attention and workload.” The devices she and her team are developing should be comfortable to wear and connected to smartphones that store the data locally.

The development of these devices poses two main challenges. First, they generate a very large amount of data. Second, collecting and processing personal biosignal data requires paying special attention to ethical data collection in line with data protection. Therefore, Tanja Schultz and her team’s project is developing storage and computing infrastructure in which data is stored, evaluated, and explained. They are also working on an ethical data collection and data protection concept that analyzes voluntary data contributions using Privacy Preserving Analytics techniques and processes them in accordance with the EU guidelines for trustworthy AI. The required server infrastructure is to be installed at the University of Bremen so that storing and processing the data can take place locally without needing any international cloud services. 

After creating the foundation with biosignal devices and technical infrastructure, Tanja Schultz wants to use additional, project-external funds to develop a portal with that would make the data available to research and development facilities. “The goal is to create an extensive collection of biosignal data in which hundreds of volunteers can record their everyday lives in as much detail as possible over the years,” says Dr. Jana Schill, who will work on the project as a postdoc at the Cognitive Systems Lab (CSL). As a neuroscientist, she is particularly interested in long-term changes in brain activity. Tanja Schultz emphasizes, “The Biosignals Hub represents a unique resource that enables us to individualize AI methods, tailoring them precisely to the individual.” For example, a cooperation of voluntary trial participants and hospitals would be possible. The latter could evaluate the biosignal data of the participants in order to diagnose Parkinson’s or dementia at an early stage.

Contact:

Prof. Dr. Tanja Schultz
Faculty of Mathematics/Computer Science
University of Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-64270
Email:

On this year's International Women's Day, March 8, 2024, we want to celebrate women in mathematics and recognize their contributions and achievements with a special focus on female mathematicians in our department!

As part of a workshop, female mathematicians from FB3 will give talks on their research emphasizing selected aspects of their careers. The aims of the workshop are, on the one hand, to motivate students and to promote and encourage female students in mathematics; on the other hand, to make women in mathematics more visible. We cordially invite you all to listen to these inspiring talks by active female mathematicians.

The talks will take place on March 8, 2024 at MZH 6200 with the following agenda:

9:00-9:30                    Anke Pohl (ger)

9:45-10:15                  Eva M. Feichtner (ger)

10:30-11:00                Maryam Movahedifar (engl)

11:15-11:45                María de los Ángeles Alfonseca Cubero (engl)

12:00-12:30                Laura Breitkopf (ger)

lunch break

13:45-14:15                Aylin Thomaneck (ger)

14:30-15:00                Maike Vollstedt (ger, zoom lecture)

15:15-15:45                Nicole Megow (ger)

The workshop will be accompanied by the exhibition"Women of Mathematics throughout Europe. A gallery of portraits".
In addition to the presentations, there will also be time for informal discussions and networking in a relaxed atmosphere with coffee, tea and cookies. Such an opportunity for exchange can be very valuable and help to build a supportive network and to connect with each other.
Here is a link to the poster of the event with the key dates:https://user.math.uni-bremen.de/esaoring/FrauenInDerMathematikUniBremen.html

We invite all interested persons, regardless of their gender, and we do hope to see many of you on March 8 at MZH 6200!

Best regards,
Eugenia Saorín Gómez (Local organization, ALTA)

Within the competition there is a Student Track and a Professional Track, each of which addresses different target groups.
After revising the BBDC concept last year and officially introducing the different tracks, we will close the BBDC 2024 with a new and very special event. Stay tuned!
In this year’s competition, biosignals recorded at job fairs shall be analyzed to predict emotions and context information.

Individuals or teams with up to 3 people can participate. Participation is free of charge. Students of computer science at the University of Bremen can have the competition credited as the practical part of the BBDC-seminar. The exact conditions of participation can be found on the BBDC website.

The cash prizes for the Student Track are sponsored by the companies “JUST ADD AI“ and “neuland – Büro für Informatik“ as well as by “Die Sparkasse Bremen“. They range from 100 Euro (5th place) to 500 Euro (1st place). In both tracks (Student and Professional), the winning teams will each be rewarded with a trophy, places 1-5 with medals, and all participants of the 30 best teams with attractive non-cash prizes.
 

Further information:

Bremen Big Data Challenge: https://bbdc.csl.uni-bremen.de/en/
Cognitive Systems Lab: https://www.uni-bremen.de/en/csl
human-centered systems lab: https://h-lab.iism.kit.edu/
High-profile area “Minds, Media, Machines“: https://minds-media-machines.de/en/homepage
DICE: https://dice-research.org/
 

Questions will be answered by:

Yale Hartmann
Cognitive Systems Lab
FB 03 University of Bremen
E-Mail: bbdc@uni-bremen.de

There were some remarkable talents at the award ceremony. How wonderful to see that an award for motivation and commitment to mathematics is so well received. The Faculty of Mathematics at the University of Bremen promotes and supports this competition in many ways.

About the Mathematical Olympiad

The Mathematical Olympiad is a competition aimed at particularly good pupils from the 3rd grade onwards and its appeal lies in the fact that it leads to an international comparison (International Mathematical Olympiad IMO), in which around 100 countries now send teams of six. The aim of the competition is to promote mathematical skills and creativity and to give pupils an opportunity to compete with other talented math fans. The best participants qualify for the next round of the competition, eventually reaching the national or even international level.

Faculty 3 – Mathematics / Computer Science

For anyone interested in Mathematics and Computer Science, Faculty 3 is offering as many as 13 events during the current semester on the topic of “Sustainable Methods and Methods for Sustainability in Mathematics and Computer Science.” Among others, the lecture series addresses issues such as virtual reality and computer graphics to achieve sustainability, or energy consumption and biases in machine learning.The events will be held on Mondays from 4 to 6 p.m. and are offered as hybrid sessions: Face-to-face at Cartesium and digitally.
 

Click here for the original article

A total of 54,068 researchers took part in the election and electronically distributed up to six votes each amongst 1,631 candidates. One result of the election is the renewed increase in the proportion of women: The percentage of elected female review board members is 37.9. In the 2019 election, it was 32.1 percent.

The review boards take over the evaluation of grant applications to the DFG, thereby providing technical quality assurance of the evaluation in a three-stage process of review, evaluation, and decision. They compare all the applications available to them in order to identify the most eligible projects within the given financial framework. In this way, they ensure that the applications are assessed according to uniform standards across the DFG programs.

The elected members of the review boards are assigned to a subject area according to the focus of their scientific work. Several scientifically interlinked subject areas form a review board and thus provide the expertise for a comparative assessment.  The work of the review boards begins in the spring of 2024 and lasts four years. 

Simone Kasemann was elected to the review board “Mineralogy, Petrology, and Geochemistry” in the subject area “Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry.” She is Dean of Faculty 5: Geosciences. Within the faculty and at MARUM – Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, the professor heads the Isotope Geochemistry research group.

Gritt Klinkhammer was elected to the review board “Social and Cultural Anthropology, Non-European Cultures, Jewish Studies and Religious Studies” in the subject area “Religious Studies.” She is a professor in Faculty 9: Cultural Studies, where she heads the Empirical Research and Theories of Religion research group in the Institute for the Study of Religion and Related Didactics.

Lutz Mädler was elected to the review board “Process Engineering, Technical Chemistry” in the subject area “Mechanical Process Engineering.” He heads the Particles and Process Engineering group as a professor in Faculty 4: Production Engineering – Mechanical Engineering & Process Engineering. At the Leibniz Institute for Materials-Oriented Technologies – IWT, he is the director of the “Process Engineering” department.

Philip Manow is head of the Comparative Political Economy research group in Faculty 8: Social Sciences and spokesperson for the Research Center on Inequality and Social Policy (Socium). He was elected to the review board “Social Sciences,” in the subject area “Political Science.”

Nicole Megow was elected to the “Computer Science” review board in the subject area “Theoretical Computer Science.” She is a professor in the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science and heads the Combinatorial Optimization and Logisticsresearch group.

Olaf Groh-Samberg is a sociology professor at the Research Center on Inequality and Social Policy (Socium) in Faculty 8: Social Sciences. The expert on the structures, conditions, and consequences of social inequalities in welfare societies was elected to the "Social Sciences” review board in the subject area “Empirical Social Research.”

Matthias Zabel will participate in the review board “Geology and Palaeontology” in the subject area "Geology.” The private lecturer is head of the Sediment Geochemistry research group at MARUM – Center for Marine Environmental Sciences and university lecturer for geoscience courses in Faculty 5: Geosciences.

Further Information:

www.uni-bremen.de/en/

https://www.dfg.de/en/

The council is comprised of researchers from various disciplines, including public health, epidemiology, ethics, medicine, modeling, nursing science, psychology, social sciences, virology, computer science, statistics, and data processing and modeling. The members work on a voluntary and independent basis. The chairperson is Professor Heyo Kroemer, Chairman of the Board of Charité. Co-chairperson is Professor Susanne Moebus from the University Medical Center Essen. "We need a broad-based council of experts to be able to respond to future health crises in the best possible way. One teaching from the pandemic is that we need to make our healthcare system more resilient and robust, also in terms of the consequences of climate change and demographic developments. I would like to thank all members for their willingness to contribute to this future-oriented task," said Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

About Iris Pigeot and Tanja Schultz

Professor Iris Pigeot has been director of what is now the Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS since March 2004 and has headed the Biometry and IT Department there since 2001. After various research and teaching positions, including at ETH Zurich (Switzerland) and LMU Munich, she accepted a professorship in "Statistics with a Focus on Biometry and Methods of Epidemiology" at the University of Bremen in September 2001. Her research interests include digital public health, statistical methods and data protection issues in connection with data sharing, distributed data analysis, record linkage, and the development of research data infrastructures. She was awarded the "Susanne Dahms Medal for Special Merit in Biometrics" by the German Region of the International Biometric Society (IBS-DR) in 2010 and has been president of the International Biometric Society since January 2024.

Tanja Schultz was appointed Professor of Cognitive Systems at the University of Bremen in April 2015. Prior to this, she was a professor at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology from 2007 to 2015, a research scientist from 2000 to 2006, and an adjunct professor at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA in the USA from 2007. She researches and develops cognitive technical systems that adapt to the needs of their users by interpreting biosignals. To this end, she combines machine learning methods and signal processing with innovations in biosensor technology. She received the Alcatel-Lucent Research Award for Technical Communication in 2012 for her overall work and has been named a fellow of the ISCA (2016), EASA (2017), IEEE (2020), and AAIA (2021) for her academic contributions. She is the spokesperson of the Minds, Media, Machines high-profile area at the University of Bremen, a member of the board of directors of the Leibniz Science Campus Digital Public Health, and spokesperson of the Lifespan AI DFG Research Unit

Contact:

Prof. Dr. Iris Pigeot
Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS
Phone: +49 421 218-56942
Email:

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Tanja Schultz
Faculty of Mathematics / Computer Science
University of Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-64270
Email:

© Matej Meza (links) / Jens Lehmkühler (rechts) / Universität Bremen

Federal Chancellery advisors: Professors Iris Pigeot (left) and Tanja Schultz from the University of Bremen have been appointed to the Expert Council on Health and Resilience.

However, many sufferers cannot integrate this therapy into their everyday lives due to the large time investment and organizational effort required, so they instead take medications that can cause significant side effects. The start-up Skinuvita, a University of Bremen spin-off, is about to launch a therapy system that can be used easily and safely at home.

A research cooperation with the Center for Computing Technologies (TZI) at the University of Bremen intends to make light therapy even easier to use and less susceptible to misuse in the future. The Computer Graphics research group headed by Professor Gabriel Zachmann wants to use artificial intelligence (AI) to enable automatic detection of body parts and to ensure that light is dosed optimally.

Until now, phototherapy has required the presence of dermatologists – three to six times a week in 30 sessions during a flare-up. Although the actual treatment only requires between 25 seconds and a maximum of 10 minutes, the patients’ time investment has included travel to and from the doctor’s office as well as waiting time, and was limited by the opening hours of the doctor’s office. For those in rural areas, single parents, and many employees, this is not feasible.

In order to make phototherapy accessible to all those affected, the start-up Skinuvita is currently developing technology to allow safe use at home, free of side effects. The digital therapy system is the first European solution to meet all guideline requirements for physician-accompanied home therapy. Components of the system include a therapy manager software for doctors, a patient app, and a Bluetooth control module for the therapy device.

A decisive change compared to the conventional approach is the digitization of processes that are currently still analog. The digital creation of therapy plans also allows the dermatologist to control the dosage remotely. Thanks to the Bluetooth control module, patients no longer need to input the dosage manually and a sufficient time interval between therapy sessions is ensured. Instead of 30 visits to the doctor’s office, only two are required – one at the beginning and one at the end of the therapy. In the meantime, the dermatologists retain full control.

Automatic Detection of Body Parts and Skin Redness

As part of the joint research project, Professor Zachmann’s TZI research group is now developing automated image analysis methods to facilitate the safe use of the device. One goal is the automatic detection of body parts. This way, the system can prevent treatment of the wrong surface as well as multiple treatments of the same area. Measuring the right distance between the lamp and skin is also important.

It is also plausible to develop LED lights that automatically adjust exposure to only the affected areas and not the entire body part. Another task that AI can assist with is the precise detection and classification of skin redness. “So far, users have been assessing what their skin looks like,” reports Judith Boeckers, research associate of the TZI Computer Graphics research group. “But what one person classifies as intense red is pale for another.” Even for the attending physicians, this distinction is not easy to make from submitted photos, because the lighting conditions of the images often vary. AI can help with image processing and color matching here.

“We want to look ahead at ways to make medical care even better with the help of intelligent data use,” adds Skinuvita CEO Jan Elsner. One central question is how smartphones can be used to make the treatment more effective.

The development of the first version of the system is now almost complete – the results of the research project will be incorporated into the further development. A clinical study with over 600 completed therapy sessions has so far revealed no safety problems. “As expected, adherence to therapy is higher than when people have to go to a doctor’s office,” reports Elsner. “More patients continue the therapy without stopping. At the same time, the quality of life increases significantly.” The approval process is now nearing completion, so the system could be on the market this fall.

Bremen State supports the research cooperation between the University and Skinuvita within the framework of the “Promotion of Research, Development, and Innovation” (FEI) program.

Contact:

Judith Boeckers
Center for Computing Technologies (TZI)
University of Bremen
+49 421 218-63994

Carolina Idzior
Skinuvita

Further Information:

www.tzi.de
www.skinuvita.de
cgvr.cs.uni-bremen.de
www.uni-bremen.de/en

Victorious in All Matches

With seven wins in seven games, B-Human confidently secured the title in the city of the documenta exhibition. The team from Bremen finished the preliminary round as the best team after five games with a goal difference of 32:1. In the semi-final against the Nao Devils from TU Dortmund, they won convincingly with 10:0, followed by an intense final against the HTWK Robots. Despite many tough situations, B-Human kept the upper hand and won 4:1. The best prospects for the RoboCup World Cup, which will take place in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, from July 17 to 22, 2024, where the Bremen team will be aiming for nothing less than its 11th world championship title.

New Year, New Rules

As is the case every year, 2024 sees several changes to the Laws of the Game, always with the aim of bringing the game closer to human football. The two biggest changes this year concern the recognition of referee gestures and the taking of indirect free kicks: First, the robots must recognize a gesture from the main referee at the start of each half to signal that they may enter the pitch. If they are unable to do so, they receive the information by radio only after a long delay and may not be able to get into the optimal position for the next kick-off. Second, after every standard situation (except “penalties”), two different robots of a team must have touched the ball to score a valid goal. This does not correspond to the rules of classic soccer, but it is supposed to motivate the teams to achieve more complex interactions between their robots.

Preparation Pays Off

Both rule changes were successfully implemented by B-Human, as the corresponding preparatory work had already been carried out in previous years. In both 2022 and 2023, the RoboCup featured “technical challenges” to recognize referee gestures, which were won by the Bremen team. Since B-Human’s tactics are already based on a strong passing game, the implementation of indirect free kicks was also possible without any problems. The team also worked on many other software components to further improve the quality of their own game. This year, these include new tactics and additional or improved object recognition components based on deep learning.

About the Team

B-Human currently consists of 26 students from the City University of Applied Sciences Bremen, one alumnus, and two PhD students. The team is led by Dr. Thomas Röfer from the DFKI research department Cyber-Physical Systems headed by Prof. Dr. Rolf Drechsler and Dr. Tim Laue from the Multisensory Interactive Systems group headed by Prof. Dr. Udo Frese at the University of Bremen. CONTACT Software, a leading provider of solutions for product process and digital transformation, is the main sponsor of the team since 2017. Other sponsors are JUST ADD AI, cellumation, Ubica Robotics, and the Association of the Alumni of the University of Bremen.

Further Information:

https://robocup.de

https://www.b-human.de

Contact:

Dr. Thomas Röfer
German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI)
Research Department Cyber-Physical Systems
Phone: +49 421 218 64200
Email:

Dr. Tim Laue
University of Bremen
Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science
Phone: +49 421 218 64209
E-mail:

Excellent support at the start of your studies

The subject groups of biology, geography, computer science, mathematics, political science and sociology made it into the top group for the indicator of support at the start of studies. The Geography course also shines when it comes to contact with professional practice.

Top group: third-party funding per scientist

Four departments achieved top scores in the research category. The geosciences were in the top group for four research indicators: publications per scientist, citations per publication, third-party funding per scientist and research reputation. The Department of Mathematics and Computer Science performed very well in terms of third-party funding per scientist and in the category of doctorates per professorship. Political Science also achieved a very good result in the category of third-party funding per scientist.

Outstanding student ratings

In the student survey of the CHE ranking, the subjects at the University of Bremen were also given excellent marks with top ratings in key areas such as study organization, library facilities, support from teaching staff and the general study situation.

Biology students are particularly satisfied: The subject was rated better than the Germany-wide average in a total of 15 categories, with contact with professional practice standing out even more positively. Geosciences also scored well in the categories of support during studies, examination organization, rooms and range of courses.

The subjects of Computer Science, Mathematics and Sociology also impressed with very good student ratings. Computer Science stood out in particular for the practical orientation of teaching, Mathematics for the organization of examinations and Sociology for the introduction to academic work. Students from the 3rd semester onwards are always surveyed in the CHE ranking.

“These results confirm the consistently high quality of teaching and study conditions at the University of Bremen. They illustrate the University's strong focus on practical and application-oriented education, which enables students to make a direct connection between theory and practice,” says Professor Maren Petersen, Vice-Rector for Teaching and Studies at the University of Bremen.

Information on the CHE Ranking 2024/2025

In addition to facts on the areas of study, teaching and research, the university ranking of the Center for Higher Education Development (CHE) includes the opinions of 120,000 students on their universities. Each subject is re-evaluated every three years. The weekly newspaper DIE ZEIT publishes the results of the entire ranking in the ZEIT Study Guide 2024/2025 and on ZEIT CAMPUS ONLINE.

Further information

https://methodik.che-ranking.de/datenauswertung/ergebnisberichte/

www.heystudium.de/ranking

www.uni-bremen.de

Questions to

Christoph Wieselhuber
Referat Lehre und Studium
Universität Bremen
Telefon: +49 421 218-60307
E-Mail: christoph.wieselhuber@vw.uni-bremen.de

Further information can be found on the conference website

https://dynamicsdays.eu/bremen2024

The picture of the Bremen team shows the actual students as well as the correctors and delegation leaders. You can see:

(back from left to right) Alexander Freese (corr., Uni Karlsruhe), Semen Razmolodin (grade 10), Huaiyi Guo (grade 8), Charlotte van Engelshoven (grade 10), Erik Ruckes (grade 11) Tjado Edzards (corr., Uni Bremen), Julius Maseberg (grade 8), Johanna Kamp (corr., Uni Bremen), Clara Weykam (corr., Uni Bremen) front from left to right: Zongyi Guo (cl. 9), Katja Krämer (Del.Leit), Jizhe Ma (cl. 9), Zhuoyu (Jorie) Du (cl. 9), Rieke Steenken (cl. 8), Haakon Pätzke (cl. 9), Stela Brannath (Del.Leit.)

Young and talented young mathematicians are needed more than ever. Mathematics plays a fundamental role in industrial research and development as well as in the world of finance and business. Many aspects of our daily lives would look completely different or not exist at all without mathematics.

In a world increasingly characterized by complex problems and challenges, the importance of the Mathematical Olympiad cannot be denied. Young people are encouraged to develop and unfold their mathematical skills, to take up the challenge of solving complex mathematical problems independently.

Congratulations from Faculty 3!

More about the ISI: here (https://www.uni-bremen.de/isi)

Special Expertise in Researching Robots for Everyday Use

“Being involved in the founding of the Robotics Institute Germany is an important milestone for the University of Bremen,” states Professor Michael Beetz, head of the Institute for Artificial Intelligence (IAI) at the University of Bremen and spokesperson for the “Everyday Activity Science and Engineering” (EASE) collaborative research center. “We are much looking forward to cooperating with the other leading international institutions and industrial partners to shape the future of robotics together.”

The University of Bremen with its holistic research into AI-based robotic systems is virtually unique in the world. While most other research institutes focus on specific components, Bremen’s expertise lies in the integration of various components and research findings into systems suitable for everyday use. As this can only be achieved through intensive and close cooperation with many other institutions, Prof. Beetz and his team have also developed a “Virtual Research Building.” This enables scientists to access the research infrastructure and results of other robotics researchers from any location – a model that could be used for future interdisciplinary research cooperation throughout the EU. Due to its outstanding robotics expertise, the University of Bremen has also already been given a key role in the euRobin competence network.

Academic Focus on Robotics in Bremen State

This success is an important milestone for Bremen as a scientific hub. Senator for Science Kathrin Moosdorf: “With the University of Bremen and the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI), two strong partners from Bremen are joining forces in RIG. They will play a key role in pooling expertise in the field of AI-based robotics at a national level in the coming years. This is a very important step for the international development. Bremen State has committed itself to the strategic goal of strengthening AI-based robotics. The fact that two institutions are now involved in RIG, this network of excellent research institutes, is a great success.”
University President Professor Jutta Günther emphasizes: “I am very pleased – for us as a university, but especially for Professor Michael Beetz, whose institute radiates enormously in the field of robotics. The University of Bremen plays in the top league of robotics. It is nationally and internationally renowned for its cutting-edge research. It is therefore only a natural step for it to play a decisive role in the establishment of the Robotics Institute Germany.”

Five Strategic Goals

The Robotics Institute Germany pursues five strategic goals: strengthening cooperation between robotics locations, sharing infrastructure, promoting talent, standardizing research findings, and identifying industry needs at an early stage. Promoting start-up culture is also one of its core tasks.

The following universities and non-university partners are involved in the project:

Technical University of Munich as consortium leader, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) (RIG spokesperson), University of Bremen, University of Bonn, Technical University of Berlin, Technical University of Darmstadt, University of Stuttgart, RWTH Aachen University, Technical University of Dresden, and Technische Universität Nürnberg as well as the German Aerospace Center Bremen (DLR), Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, three Fraunhofer Institutes (IPA, IOSB and IML), and the German Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI). Cooperation with other (also international) partners is planned.

Further Information:

About the Institute for Artificial Intelligence at the University of Bremen:
www.ai.uni-bremen.de

Press release of the TU Munich:
www.tum.de/en/

Contact:

Prof. Dr. Michael Beetz
Institute for Artificial Intelligence/ EASE collaborative research center
University of Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-64005
Email:

As always, the champagne reception took place beforehand in GW2, after which this year's ceremony was opened by the Dean, Prof. Dr. Rolf Drechsler. The presentations by the graduates, Lukas Rust from Computer Science and Kim Klause from Mathematics, were equally entertaining and interesting.

As part of the ceremony, the department awarded 6 students with the department prize for their outstanding theses.

The welcome and presentations were followed by the ceremonial presentation of the certificates to the graduates, which was eagerly awaited by many.

Faculty 3 would like to congratulate the graduates once again!

Rolf Drechsler has been a professor of computer architecture at the Faculty of Mathematics / Computer Science at the University of Bremen since 2001. Since 2011, he has also headed the Cyber-Physical Systems research department at the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI). From 2008 to 2013, he was Vice President for Research and Early-Career Academics, and since 2018 has been Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics / Computer Science. Rolf Drechsler's research focus lies in the development and quality-oriented design of algorithms and problem-specific data structures in computer-aided circuit and system design. He has been a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineeers (IEEE) since 2015. In 2021, he was named a distinguished member of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM).

Further Information:

https://www.acm.org/

https://www.acm.org/media-center/2024/january/fellows-2023

Contact:

Prof. Dr. Rolf Drechsler
Faculty of Mathematics / Computer Science
University of Bremen
Email:
Phone: +49 421-218-63932

History of IdeenExpo

IdeenExpo GmbH was founded in 2007 with the aim of getting young people interested in technology and science and attracting skilled workers to the STEM fields. The company's task is to plan and implement a biennial hands-on and experiential event - the IdeenExpo.

Companies, research institutions, universities and schools take part in the event. The IdeenExpo is financed by contributions from industry and public funding.

IdeenExpo, with its unique concept, is constantly evolving - with success: since 2007, visitor numbers, the number of exhibits and workshops and the event area have multiplied. In 2022, there were over 425,000 visitors from all over Germany and other European countries. This makes the IdeenExpo Europe's largest youth event for technology and science. Its media success is also reflected in the steadily increasing presence in the press, radio, TV and social media. In addition, federal and state ministries are becoming increasingly involved in the IdeenExpo. The continuously growing importance is also reflected in the roadshow, which promotes a visit to the IdeenExpo.

Record broken

Europe's largest youth event for technology and science has set a new attendance record. More than 430,000 people visited the 2024 event. In addition to the number of visitors, the number of exhibitors also set a new record: a total of 310 exhibitors presented the diversity of technical and scientific professions to visitors at the ninth IdeenExpo. This time, there were more than 800 interactive hands-on exhibits to discover in four halls covering 110,000 m² - flanked by 850 workshops.

More information for the IdeenExpo: here

The program gives young women the opportunity to benefit from experience and build a network. It also offers mentors the opportunity to exchange ideas with the student generation and to learn from them.
Are you interested in the program? Then apply by August 1 at the latest with a letter of motivation, a CV, an overview of your grades and possibly your preferred mentor (professor/lecturer/postdoc) by e-mail to mentoringfb3@uni-bremen.de.

We are also happy to receive applications as a mentor.
If you have any questions, please contact Nicole Megow and Maike Vollstedt directly.

Due to geographical restrictions, only students from the coastal federal states are eligible for the five-strong German team. Zhuoyu qualified for the competition thanks to her outstanding performance in the national round of the Mathematical Olympiad, in which she has taken part for the past three years. Zhuoyu is the second student from Bremen in the 35-year history of this competition to make the German team, underlining her exceptional mathematical talent.

300 Teams from 45 Countries

The RoboCup is one of the largest and most prestigious competitions for robots in the world. At the current tournament, which took place from July 17 to 21, 300 robot teams from 45 countries competed against each other. The competition aims to support the development of robots and their artificial intelligence so that they are able to operate without direct human control. Organized by the non-profit RoboCup Federation, the tournament has been held every year since 1997. The participating teams usually come from universities and research institutes, but also from industry.

One Tournament, Various Fields of Robotics

Robots not only play soccer at RoboCup, but also compete against each other in other disciplines: RoboCupRescue, for example, simulates rescue scenarios in which robots find and rescue victims. RoboCup@Home, on the other hand, pits robots against each other in household tasks. There are five different sub-leagues within the Soccer League, which differ according to the type of robot used. B-Human took part in the Standard Platform League where all teams use the same type of robot with the same hardware. The main focus is therefore on skillful software development.

Further Information:

https://2024.robocup.org/
www.b-human.de

Contact:

Dr. Thomas Röfer
German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI)
Cyber-Physical Systems Research Unit
Phone: +49 421 218-64200
Email:

Dr. Tim Laue
University of Bremen
Faculty of Mathematics / Computer Science
Phone: +49 421 218-64209
Email:

German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI)
Corporate Communications Bremen
Phone: +49 421 17845-4111
Email:

Program with Excursions and Company Contacts

In addition to the specialist events, workshops on professions and careers round off the program. One focus will be on sustainability and the social impact of technologies. Furthermore, companies will introduce themselves and seek contact with motivated female students or new employees. Classes take place in small groups and are led by international university lecturers from academia and industry. Participants can attend several half-week courses and earn certificates of achievement and credit points. The teaching languages are German and English. In addition, excursions to technical companies and cultural institutions offer interesting insights into the State of Bremen and Northwest Germany.

Further Information:

https://www.ingenieurinnen-sommeruni.de
https://www.informatica-feminale.de

Contact:

Henrike Illig and Veronika Oechtering
Women in Natural Sciences and Technology Competence Center
University of Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-64469
Email:

Our aim is therefore to give interested pupils an insight into the broad, diverse and promising professional field of mathematicians. Mathematics is more than just numbers and arithmetic!

Click here for the original article

Further Information:
http://www.informatik.uni-bremen.de/iwsbp

Contact:
Prof. Dr. Rolf Drechsler
Universität Bremen
Fachbereich Mathematik/Informatik
Arbeitsgruppe Rechnerarchitektur (AGRA)
Tel. (0421) 218 – 63932
E-Mail: drechsler@informatik.uni-bremen.de

It’s not all about creating finished products, it’s about sharing your ideas with other participants, building inspiring hacks, learning from each other and just having fun. Our goal at the AI Hackathon is to bring together creative minds and different skill sets.

We want to see how you develop new ideas and how the fun of playing with technology is reflected in your presentations and pitches at the end of the hackathon. So if you feel up to the challenge and are interested in AI, bring your skills to the event and work on something cool.

Whether at home or at work, there is a great need to speed up time-consuming tasks and automate processes. Either to have more free time for other activities or to make up for a lack of resources, particularly in view of the increasing shortage of skilled workers. Artificial intelligence is on everyone’s lips as a possible solution or support.

At the AI Hackathon, companies have the opportunity to explore current issues together with participants and develop creative and exciting implementation ideas for networked products, apps, and services.

The focus is on B2B applications. Participants have access to a variety of gadgets, such as 3D printers, Raspberry Pi, beacons and Kinect, which they can use to develop their prototypes. Here they have the opportunity to demonstrate their skills in areas such as cloud, mobile, design, or IoT to the audience and the jury and win attractive prizes.

KI-Hackathon Website

You can look forward to inspiring keynote speeches, the latest findings and projects relating to sustainable energy systems:

From 16:00 Arrival and registration

16:30 Welcome - Prof. Dr. Christof Büskens, University of Bremen

16:40 Welcome - Maike Frese, State Councillor at the Senator for Economics, Ports and Transformation

16:50 Keynote speeches

Hydrogen as the backbone of a climate-neutral energy system - Dr. Geert Tjarks, EWE GASSPEICHER GmbH, Oldenburg

Helleheide: A district as a real laboratory for the energy transition - Dr. Julia Masurkewitz-Möller, City of Oldenburg, Digitalization and Sustainability Department

Challenges in the management of an energy grid - Dr. Michael Schollmeyer, TenneT TSO GmbH, Bayreuth

The best energy storage system is the one that is never built! Exploiting flexibility potential using the example of the frozen food industry - Sören Eilenberger, fleXality GmbH, Bremen

17:50 Sessions

Our interactive sessions offer you the opportunity to gain deeper insights into the topic and work on solutions together with the speakers of the keynote speeches:

Energy storage - Felix Langen, University of Bremen, ZeTeM

    What will Bremen's industry of the future look like?
    Why do we need hydrogen?
    How can we use optimization in the development of infrastructure?

Energy consumption - Lars Kappertz, University of Bremen, ZeTeM

    How can the production and use of renewable energies in agriculture be optimized?
    Which methods from industrial mathematics and non-linear optimization can be used for this?
    How can farmers themselves benefit from this?

Energy grids - Malin Lachmann, University of Bremen, ZeTeM

    How can decentralized district grids support the energy transition?
    How can the stability of energy grids be guaranteed in view of the increasing integration of renewable energies?
    How can line losses and CO2 emissions be minimized without jeopardizing grid stability?

Transformation - Tim Meyer and Viacheslav Solovievskyi, University of Bremen, ZeTeM

    How can pupils and students be involved in the energy concepts of the future?
    What are the optimal energy concepts for a sustainable future?
    Who are the key players in the energy supply of the future?
    How can scientific research be brought closer to pupils?

18:35 Demonstrators, discussions and contacts

Networking together gives you the opportunity to exchange ideas with experts and interested parties and make valuable contacts. Our demonstrators will show practical examples of how industrial mathematics is helping to shape the energy transition.

Get to know the world of industrial mathematics better and be inspired by new ideas and approaches. Register directly: 3-forum-industriemathematik.eventbrite.com

The Computer Science Review Board consists of 23 members. Professor Dr. Barbara Hammer, Chair of the Machine Learning Group at Bielefeld University, was elected as the deputy spokesperson. The term of office runs from 2024 to 2028, in line with the term of the new review board.

The review boards are responsible for evaluating proposals submitted to the DFG through a three-step process of review, assessment, and decision. They compare all proposals to identify the most deserving projects within the available financial framework, ensuring that proposals across all DFG programs are evaluated according to consistent standards.

More information about the DFG Review Boards

https://www.dfg.de/en/about-us/statutory-bodies/review-boards

DFG Review Board 4.43 Computer Science

https://www.dfg.de/en/about-us/statutory-bodies/review-boards/members-of-the-review-boards/engineering-sciences-4-43

Further Information:
https://rsemeeting.github.io/rse2024/
 

Contact:
Prof. Dr. Nico Hochgeschwender
University of Bremen
Faculty Mathematik/Informatik
Software Engineering for Cognitive Robots and Systems (SECORO) working group

Der Preis wird seit 2014 alle zwei Jahre von der Metropolregion Nordwest verliehen und würdigt herausragende Projekte, Ideen oder Initiativen, die das Motto „NordWest.Zusammenhalt“ in vielfältiger Weise umsetzen. Rund 70 Bewerbungen gingen hierfür dieses Jahr ein. #MOIN errang den 1 Preis, der mit 6500 Euro sowie einem Imagefilm dotiert ist. Die Preisverleihung fand am 26. August unter der Schirmherrschaft von Bremens Bürgermeister Dr. Andreas Bovenschulte und der für Regionalentwicklung zuständigen niedersächsischen Ministerin Wiebke Osigus in Wilhelmshaven statt.

Industriemathematik für alle zugänglich machen

#MOIN wird seit 2023 vom Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF) im Rahmen des Förderprogramms "T!Raum" – TransferRäume für die Zukunft von Regionen“  gefördert. Die Initiative wird vom Zentrum für Industriemathematik an der Universität Bremen geleitet und in Zusammenarbeit mit weiteren Partnern aus Wissenschaft, Wirtschaft und Verwaltung durchgeführt. „#MOIN möchte zeigen, dass (Industrie-)Mathematik für alle zugänglich und voller Chancen ist, von der Schule bis zur Hochtechnologie, von der Wirtschaft bis in die Politik", sagt Projektleiter Professor Christof Büskens. Ziel ist es, die Mathematik von ihrem elitären, abstrakten Ruf zu befreien und sie als lebendige und nützliche Wissenschaft erlebbar zu machen – sowohl für Schulen als auch für die Industrie und die Gesellschaft im Allgemeinen. Dafür vollzieht #MOIN einen breiten Austauschprozess mit Gesellschaft, Kultur, Bildung, Politik und Wirtschaft. #MOIN möchte ein wesentlicher Bestandteil von Wirtschaft und Zivilgesellschaft werden sowie die digitale Transformation in der Region entscheidend mitgestalten, etwa in Schulen, Industrie und Gesellschaft.

"Der NordWest Award ist eine großartige Anerkennung für unsere Arbeit und bestärkt uns in unserem Bestreben, (Industrie-) Mathematik als wesentlichen Bestandteil unserer Gesellschaft und Wirtschaft zu verankern, weiterhin innovative Lösungen zu entwickeln und unseren Beitrag zur positiven Entwicklung der Region zu leisten", so Büskens weiter. Die Verleihung des NordWest Awards unterstreicht die Bedeutung von #MOIN als zukunftsweisendes Projekt, das nicht nur die Mathematik in neuem Licht erscheinen lässt, sondern auch maßgeblich zur Stärkung der Innovationskraft der gesamten Region beiträgt.

Weitere Informationen:

www.uni-bremen.de/moin-industriemathematik
www.innovation-strukturwandel.de/strukturwandel/de/innovation-strukturwandel/t_raum/t_raum_node.html

www.nordwest-awards.de

www.metropolregion-nordwest.de/

www.uni-bremen.de

Fragen beantwortet:

Professor Christof Büskens (Projektleiter)
Zentrum für Industriemathematik
Arbeitsgruppe Optimierung und Optimale Steuerung
Universität Bremen
Tel.: 0421 218 63861
E-Mail: bueskens@uni-bremen.de

Almost everyone has experienced a cavity treatment at the dentist, and being reclined in the patient’s chair with a mouth full of drills and mirrors. The treatment is about to begin – not at the dentist’s office, but in virtual reality. Peter Haddawy, professor at the Faculty of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) at Mahidol University, has developed a virtual training system for prospective dentists to practice medical procedures. The simulation is authentic down to the last detail. As in real life, the hard tooth enamel provides more resistance to the drill than the softer dentin below it. Students’ eye movements are analyzed with eye tracking, and they receive feedback on whether they are using the mirror correctly. “Programming all of this required a long and concerted effort,” Haddawy sums up. This was greatly aided by his work in a team with Siriwan Suebnukarn, professor of dentistry at Thammasat University in Thailand, and Gabriel Zachmann, professor of computer graphics and virtual reality at the University of Bremen.

The project is representative of Peter Haddawy’s work; combining both medicine and computer science and unifying researchers from different countries is routine for him. His first visit to the University of Bremen was for a research stay in 2016, through a fellowship at the Hanse-Wissenschaftskolleg in Delmenhorst. He is now an honorary professor of medical informatics here, and holds a number of other positions as well. He became director of the newly founded joint research laboratory for medical informatics in 2018, the Mahidol-Bremen Medical Informatics Research Unit. In 2021, the two universities established a strategic partnership, and Haddawy is a member of the Mahidol-Bremen Board, which continues to maintain and expand this partnership.

For Peter Haddawy, this means spending two to three months each year at the University of Bremen, with additional research stays at the Hanse-Wissenschaftskolleg. The computer scientist has built up a broad network in both research and teaching within northwest Germany.

Using Edge Computing to Combat Malaria and Dengue Fever

One outcome of his networking is a course he has been conducting for several years with Dr. Thomas Barkowsky, senior researcher in the Cognitive Systems working group, and Anna Förster, professor of communication networks. Their common theme is edge computing, the development of small computers that store and evaluate data without connecting to large servers or clouds. The content of the course has a very practical background and teaches students about research on the spread of diseases such as malaria and dengue fever, which are transmitted by mosquitoes.

Peter Haddawy and Anna Förster are developing a way for computers to record how many and which type of mosquitoes are present within in a particular area. Some mosquitoes only transmit malaria, others only dengue fever, and some spread neither of the two diseases. Currently, counting and classifying of mosquitoes is still done using mechanical traps and manual evaluation – methods from the 1960s. “Edge computers could be used to collect and evaluate data on a large scale for the first time,” explains Peter Haddawy. This would help to better predict outbreaks as well as aid the planning for necessary medical treatment.

An App for Detecting Diseases Early

These computers will of course not help after people have been infected. However, the computer scientist is developing other tools for such situations. “Especially in rural areas of Thailand, hospitals are often not well equipped to assist people with dengue symptoms,” he says. Peter Haddawy started a project with Thomas Barkowsky and some of his students to enable an easier diagnosis of diseases. They developed an app in which medical staff can enter a patient’s medical information, including the duration of the fever, nausea, muscle pain, and platelet count. The app then automatically determines the likelihood that dengue fever could be behind the symptoms.

But dengue comes in many forms. While some recover from fever, rash, and muscle pain after a week, others develop severe dengue with hemorrhagic fever, and this can have life-threatening consequences. Based on the health data entered, the app can determine the likelihood of a severe infection for the respective patient. This makes it easier for physicians to decide who should stay in the clinic for observation. “I was impressed by the high level of the German students’ programming skills,” Peter Haddawy sums up. “The app is really remarkable.” It has proven itself in practice, and is already in use at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Bangkok. According to Haddawy, it is particularly helpful in areas without prior dengue fever outbreaks, since the early symptoms are similar to those of other febrile illnesses. At some future date, it could be used in Germany as well, as cases of illness are increasing here due to climate change.

Strategic Partnership with Mahidol University Benefits Students

The project shows how students are already benefiting from the strategic partnership between the two universities. There are many additional examples of the partnership’s success. For example, Mahidol University offers German courses to prepare students for a stay in Germany. Around twelve students come to Bremen every year for research internships. The Christian Freksa scholarship is currently being set up for doctoral researchers from Thailand, and is named after the now deceased Bremen computer science professor who was instrumental in initiating the partnership between the two universities. German students also have the opportunity to go to Thailand for a semester abroad or a research project. This may lead to some of them pursuing an international career like the one Peter Haddawy has established.

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You can find the events for our department here:

https://math.stugen.de/angebote/events/owoche/

https://www.uni-bremen.de/uni-start-portal/owoche/week/events/14

EASE is pleased to welcome friends and colleagues from the euROBIN project. This partnership is invaluable in moving forward in the field of robotics. Through joint efforts, they aim to gain more knowledge and advance future innovations.

EASE Fall School Website

The DENCAI project addresses a highly relevant and socially significant issue. A dengue diagnosis requires immediate investigation of its origin, such as location and circumstances, to combat existing mosquito populations. This is where the award-winning project comes in. In collaboration with partners at Mahidol University in Bangkok, DENCAI has developed a software for monitoring and combating dengue outbreaks.

Kathrin Moosdorf, Senator for Environment, Climate and Science of the City of Bremen, states, “Outreach activities make it possible for academic knowledge to have an impact. This is stated in the outreach strategy of the University of Bremen. The DENCAI project implements this strategy in an exemplary manner. With the DENCAI software, locals can actively prevent the spread of dengue infections. I am delighted that the university will now be regularly awarding the Outreach Award to draw attention to such solutions. I would also like to thank the Wolfgang Ritter Foundation and Sparkasse Bremen for financially supporting this important award.”

Professor Jutta Günther, President of the University of Bremen, emphasized the importance of outreach activities for society: “Knowledge and technology transfer from the university is extremely important for innovative developments and practical applications. This applies to technical as well as social and cultural developments. All these areas are in focus of the outreach activities of the University of Bremen. I am pleased that we can make this significant work more visible to the public with the Outreach Award.”

Professor Michal Kucera, Vice President for Research and Transfer at the University of Bremen, congratulated the award winners, “Today, more than half of the world’s population is already at risk of dengue fever. And as climate change continues unabated, this dangerous disease is spreading further into temperate latitudes. Solutions like DENCAI are therefore urgently needed.”
The Vice President thanked all the participants, “The jury’s decision was not easy as we received many high quality applications. The projects submitted ranged from German studies to biochemistry. They showed impressively how diverse and creative outreach can be. They all contribute to taking on social responsibility, which is one of the guiding principles of our university.
Software for Monitoring and Combating Dengue Outbreaks

The winning software improves and expedites the response to dengue outbreaks and potential sources of infection as it significantly speeds up the organization of disease combating activities. It consists of a web-based and mobile app and is used by Thai public health workers at various organizational levels, where it simplifies and accelerates the monitoring of dengue infections. At the same time, digital data is collected.
The jury was particularly impressed by the fact that the project is largely student driven. Computer science students from the University of Bremen and Mahidol University jointly developed the software.

Immediate Benefit for the Community

The award-winning software has already been put into practice. It was successfully used during the 2023 dengue season in a pilot phase that lasted several months. DENCAI is currently being further refined and the team is working to make the software known beyond the borders of Thailand so that as many people as possible will be able to benefit from it in the future.

Panel Discussion on the Future of Hydrogen

The importance of the dialogue between science and society also became clear during the panel discussion at the award ceremony. Representatives of the hyBit project, led by scientist Dr. Torben Stührmann, discussed energy and hydrogen transformation in the Bremen region. The hyBit project is developing a digital transformation platform to bring together energy transformation paths and potentials in Bremen in the areas of industry, logistics, and urban development.

According to Jutta Günther, the issue of hydrogen is a good example of what effective outreach activities look like, “The focus is on Bremen’s industrial port, in particular the ArcelorMittal steelworks, which is currently the largest emitter of carbon dioxide in our region with emissions of around six million tons. The hyBit project is highly application-oriented and makes a concrete contribution to the transformation of our urban society.”
The President thanked the Wolfgang Ritter Foundation and Sparkasse Bremen for their financial support.

Cooperation Partnerships:

Sparkasse Bremen https://www.sparkasse-bremen.de/

Wolfgang Ritter-Stiftung Bremen https://wolfgang-ritter-stiftung.de/

hyBit_Hydrogen for Bremen’s industrial transformation https://hybit.org/en/

i2b https://www.i2b.de/

Further Information:

DENCAI – DENgue CAse Investigation: https://mobile4d-projekt.de/en/home-en/

Outreach activities at the University of Bremen: https://www.uni-bremen.de/en/cooperation

Contact:

Anne-Kathrin Guder
Administrative Unit 16, UniTransfer
Phone: + 49 421 218-60330
Email:

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In Bremen, the team from the Cognitive Systems Lab at the University of Bremen, led by Prof. Tanja Schultz, has prepared a varied program with great guest speakers to present a broad spectrum of scientific perspectives on the topic. We start in advance at 5 p.m. with lab tours and then offer exciting and entertaining lectures from 6 to 10:30 p.m. in the large lecture hall (cookie jar) on campus. The on-site program will be supplemented by live broadcasts from other locations such as Jena, Karlsruhe and Kiel.

Current updates and detailed information can be found at https://nacht-der-biosignale.de. Join us on a captivating journey to better understand the language of our body!

A total of 11 papers by students from the following schools were honored: Alte Gymnasium, Hermann-Böse-Gymnasium, Gymnasium Hamburger Straße, Europaschule School Center Utbremen, Carl von Ossietzky School Center, Geschwister Scholl School Center in Bremerhaven, and St. Johannis School. With a focus on STEM subjects, several project papers from the fields of biology, chemistry, geography, computer sciences, mathematics, and physics were submitted to the University of Bremen for the Dr. Hans Riegel Award. These were judged by a jury comprised of researchers and a particular focus was placed on a creative topic and a clearly recognizable, practical part, for example in the form of experiments.

Attracting Excellent Young Talent

The award winners from Bremen and Bremerhaven were honored at the award ceremony at the University of Bremen. Katrin Moosdorf, Senator for the Environment, Climate, and Science, is Bremen’s patron of the competition and stated, “The Dr. Hans Riegel awards encourage curiosity and reward good work by young science talents. Students have worked out amazing and enlightening things, such as how social media can affect young people’s eating habits, or that you can have a goat problem in mathematics. I am very pleased that we have so many young talents in Bremen and Bremerhaven. Our world needs creative minds who work out solutions for a future worth living in. I would like to thank the Dr. Hans Riegel Foundation and the University of Bremen for supporting this potential and making it visible.”
Professor Maren Petersen, Vice President for Teaching and Studies, warmly congratulated them and said, “Talents like you are central to understanding and shaping our increasingly complex world. I am thrilled and impressed by your wealth of ideas and would be very happy to welcome you as a student of our university in a few years.”

Beginning of Sustainable Support

Alexander Kukla, who oversees the programs and communications at the Dr. Hans Riegel Foundation, added, “We know that the transition from school to university is often not easy. The competition aims to pave the way for talented pupils to enter university. We see our role as a link between the education providers school and university. By honoring the pre-scientific work, students receive acknowledgment from teaching staff members at universities and make initial contacts. We are very pleased that we were able to award the Dr. Hans Riegel Specialist Awards together with the University of Bremen for the eighth time and will continue to do so in the future.”

The Foundation and Its Specialist Awards

The foundation of former HARIBO co-owner Dr. Hans Riegel is particularly committed to promoting education – always with the aim of helping young people shape their future. The Dr. Hans Riegel Specialist Awards are endowed with 600 euros each for first place, 400 euros for second place, and 200 euros for third place. In addition, the schools of the first-place winners receive a non-cash prize of around 250 euros in recognition of the supervision of the students’ work by the respective subject teachers. The awards are presented in cooperation with 15 German universities. Depending on the university, papers on natural sciences, computer sciences, and mathematics can be submitted.

Further Information:

Details of the individual award winners and their work can be found here (in German only): www.uni-bremen.de/hans-riegel-fachpreise

Contact:

Isabell Harder
University of Bremen
Administrative Unit 16, UniTransfer
Phone: +49 421 218 57134
Email: isabell.harder@vw.uni-bremen.de

Peter Laffin
Project Leader - Dr. Hans Riegel Awards
Dr. Hans Riegel Foundation
Phone: +49 228 227 447 15
Email: peter.laffin@hans-riegel-stiftung.com

Madeleine Breuer

Head of Public Relations
Dr. Hans Riegel Foundation
Phone: +49 (0) 228 - 227 447 23
Email: madeleine.breuer@hans-riegel-stiftung.com

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From 1987 to 2003, she worked as a research fellow and part of an interdisciplinary team investigating the functioning of the brain at the Institute of Medical Psychology at the LMU Medical Faculty, where she headed a research group in the field of "Computational Intelligence" from 1992.

In 2003, Kerstin Schill became professor at the University of Bremen and head of the Institute for Cognitive Neuroinformatics. Since then, a main focus of her research is the investigation of the cognitive abilities of biological systems and their application to intelligent technical systems. From 2011 to 2018, she also served as Dean of the Faculty of Computer Science/Mathematics at her university and from 2014 to 2019 as spokesperson for the "Minds, Media, Machines" research focus area as part of the university's Excellence Initiative.

Since 2018, she is also Rector of the Hanse-Wissenschaftskolleg Delmenhorst, an independent Institute for Advanced Study, which offers excellent researchers from abroad the opportunity for a fellowship in Germany.

From 2014 to 2019, Kerstin Schill was member of the Senate of the German Research Foundation (DFG) before being elected as Vice President of the DFG in July 2019. In this role, she focused especially on the impact of the digital transformation on the world of science and was involved in the development of the National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI) and the DFG Commission for Sustainability. She also holds various other positions in numerous scientific organisations and committees and was part of the jury for the Erwin Schrödinger Prize awarded by the Stifterverband and the Helmholtz Association until 2021.

Daniel Leidner’s research focuses on the development of robust and resilient robotic systems that can operate autonomously in complex and dynamic environments. He is interested in the possibility of not only preparing machines for predetermined scenarios, but also enabling them to react flexibly to unforeseen events and still successfully achieve their goals. His research, which is funded by the RECOVER.ME ERC Starting Grant, therefore not only examines technological innovations, but also seeks to understand underlying principles of human resilience known as metacognition, and analyze how these can be incorporated into robotic systems.

“The decision to come to Bremen and join the University of Bremen was easy for me because the city has a long tradition in space research that fits perfectly with my interests. It has a unique ecosystem of scientific institutions and innovative companies that are world leaders in their fields,” says Leidner. The University of Bremen’s close connection between basic and applied research that combines robotics, artificial intelligence, and space technology was a deciding factor as well.

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Lecturers: Prof. Rudolf Sträßer, JLU Gießen - ACU Brisbane

Time: 26.11.2024, 16:00 - 17:30

Address: MZH 5600

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Co-founded in 2018 by Petra Berenbrink from University of Hamburg and Nicole Megow from University of Bremen, the initiative hosted several meetings involving the groups of Peter Kling, Matthias Mnich, Mathias Schacht, Daniel Schmand, Sebastian Siebertz, and Anusch Taraz took place in Hamburg and Bremen prior to the pandemic. In 2024, the initiative is being revitalized welcoming many new participants. Bremen-Hamburg Colloquium on ACO on December 2, 2024

This is a one-day meeting on topics around algorithms, combinatorics and optimization. It will start on Monday, December 2nd, at 10 am at the University of Bremen in room MZH 5500 (Bibliothekstrasse 5, 28359 Bremen).

Click here for their Website

Excellence in Teaching: Sabine Ritter is Positive and Enthusiastic

Dr. Sabine Ritter won the award in the Excellence in Teaching category for her “Sociological Thinking and Working” class. The jury highlighted Sabine Ritter's goals, her positivity and enthusiasm for teaching, and the implementation of university teaching ideas. The students praised her outstanding teaching and approachability as well as her inclusivity on various levels. Sabine Ritter is committed to the students and is interested in their circumstances. She was one of the first teaching staff members to record her face-to-face lectures after the online semesters to enable all students to participate in her class. The students also mention the introductory phase of the degree program, which Sabine Ritter played a leading role in redesigning. To this end, she merged the modules on sociological thinking and academic working techniques into the new module “Sociological Thinking and Working.”

Barbara Cludius: Teaching Tailored to Students' Wishes

Professor Barbara Cludius received the Berninghausen Prize in the Student Prize category. She has not been working at the University of Bremen for very long and yet has already been nominated for the Berninghausen Prize by seven students. The student feedback has been consistently positive. Barbara Cludius submitted a coherent, convincing concept and in her class, she is able to cover and present three technically complex areas well. The students emphasized, among other things, that the courses are “very well structured and comprehension-oriented.”
Barbara Cludius' teaching is tailored to the students' wishes and designed for long-term, in-depth learning. Throughout the semester, she creates regular practice questions that continuously prepare students for final examinations. Her teaching is particularly interactive, diverse, and innovative. Through the didactic structure and the variety of teaching methods as well as her personal skills, the professor actively promotes students' motivation to learn.

Hendrik Vogt: Well Implemented Research-Based Learning

Another Student Prize was presented to PD Dr. Hendrik Vogt from the Faculty of Mathematics / Computer Science. The jury was impressed by his “Analysis” course, which Vogt conducts in a rather unusual way for mathematics. He encourages discussions, bases the lessons on the skills the students have, and develops outstanding and innovative ideas to help them understand the subject and develop a long-term interest in mathematics. According to the students, “Mr. Vogt is a master at conveying complex and abstract calculus content in a way that is both understandable and engaging for the students. He manages to create an atmosphere of shared discovery and learning.”
Hendrik Vogt provides hands-on teaching that implements research-based learning very well. He takes a proactive approach and his research-based learning take on teaching allows students to work independently in small groups to develop and present topics in calculus - a valuable addition to the traditional lecture format. According to the students, the interdisciplinary perspective of the course gives it “a special depth and makes the relevance of the content learned clear for the students' future professional and academic careers.”

The Berninghausen Prize

Since 1991, the University of Bremen and the "unifreunde" Association of the Friends of the University of Bremen and Constructor University have awarded the prize, donated by the Berninghausen family, every year to honor special achievements in university teaching. The prize is endowed with 6,000 euros and can be awarded in several categories. All members of the university can nominate teaching staff members for the prize; only students are eligible to nominate students for the Student Prize.

Further Information:

https://www.uni-bremen.de/en/preis-fuer-gute-lehre/the-award
www.uni-bremen.de/en/

Abstract:

In public discourse and social media, discourse tends to be more emotional, charged and rhetorically manipulative than factual and rational. Mathematics and mathematics education stand in a different tradition that emphasizes logic and proof, i.e. unbroken chains of reasoning and deductive reasoning. The rational argument is decisive, not emotions or social affiliations. Rhetoric and manipulation also tend not to feature in mathematical discourse. Critical thinking is required and possible for everyone. What significance do these values still have in mathematics lessons today? Should these values be important? Possibly in other subjects too? How do teachers, pupils and parents see this as stakeholders at school? How do those responsible for education at the State Institute for Schools, the State Center for Political Education and the university?

The event “Evidence - why evidence?” on March 13 at the Haus der Wissenschaft is an invitation to the general public to enter into a discussion about this. Colleagues from Japan and Norway will also be actively contributing, so the event will be held in German and English.

Contact person:

Marie-Theres Brehm
Research Associate

University of Bremen
AG Didactics of Mathematics
Faculty 03 I Mathematics and Computer Science
MZH, Room 5160
Bibliothekstraße 5
28359 Bremen
Tel. 0421 218-63728
mbrehm@uni-bremen.de

Look forward to an exciting and inspiring exchange.

Organizer: #MOIN model region industrial mathematics
Location: Digital Hub Industry
Contact: moremath@uni-bremen.de

The ten-storey building with a floor area of almost 10,000 square meters was designed and planned by the architects Henn and Petersen from Braunschweig in a reinforced concrete skeleton construction.

In 1971, the GW 1 and NW 1 buildings were erected as a fast-track construction project by the federal government outside the immediate campus. The second construction phase, which established the actual campus, saw the construction of the central area, buildings GW 2, NW 2, MZH, the student hall of residence, the SuUB and the technology center in the following years. The university boulevard connects the buildings to this day. One exception is the MZH, which was given a ground-level main entrance with a redesigned foyer after part of the boulevard was demolished.

Opening of the new foyer in the MZH

The renovation of the MZH foyer began on July 4, 2008 and the new foyer was officially opened on July 1, 2010. With its asymmetrical glass façade, the red foyer of the MZH has become an eye-catcher in the central area. The foyer's glass façade not only provides more light - it also visually connects the two lower levels. Here you will find work areas with 50 laptop and 30 computer workstations and six new seminar rooms for a total of 300 students.

Refurbishment of various levels

Over the last few years, several levels in the MZH have been renovated. The refurbishment of the levels was prepared by the department for a long time and carried out successively. The modernization has made the faculty fit for the future in the long term and will continue to play a central role at the University of Bremen.

Thank you MZH for your 50 years of hospitality!

The central focus of his research is the implementation of lifelong learning fundamentals in machine learning processes. This enables developed artificial intelligence systems, such as vision and language models, to continuously learn throughout their entire life cycle without ever forgetting knowledge, similar to the adaptability of the human brain. Such features are crucial for dealing with new situations and handling different contexts. Martin Mundt works on AI solutions that can be used in the industrial sector and in health and social services. In doing so, he is particularly concerned with the technical and social sustainability of AI in order to tailor it to individual needs and thus make AI technologies more human-centered.

The connection between lifelong learning processes and the resulting sustainability is also reflected in Martin Mundt's teaching. Inter and transdisciplinary perspectives that, for example, link components of the cognition and design of algorithms with complex questions about collected data and the impact of developed systems are particularly important to him. Martin Mundt is especially looking forward to teaching formats with practical relevance, backed by the faculty's focus on research-based teaching and learning.

The competition takes place in different categories: In the Student Track, students from all universities compete against each other. They should have sound programming skills in any programming language. However, previous experience in the field of big data is not necessary. Students at the University of Bremen can also have their participation credited towards their studies. The Professional Track is aimed at university employees as well as employees of sponsors, supporters and alumni of the University of Bremen. If desired, students can also participate in this category. The cash prizes for the Student Track are sponsored by the companies “JUST ADD AI”, “neuland - Büro für Informatik” and “Die Sparkasse Bremen” as well as by “Tagaia” and range from 100 euros (5th place) to 500 euros (1st place). In both tracks, the winning teams will each receive a trophy, places 1 to 5 will be awarded medals and all participants in the top 30 teams will receive attractive non-cash prizes.

The data that the participants work with is simulated financial transactions in a mobile banking scenario. The corresponding simulator was developed by researchers at the Cognitive Systems Lab (CSL). It is based on public descriptions of typical money laundering processes and was deemed suitable for anti-money laundering research by financial experts at Sparkasse Bremen. The data was simulated to follow the patterns of normal customer interactions, but with a twist... some customers also commit fraud! Participants are asked to use the data to identify the fraudsters. The BBDC is supported by the scientific focus “Minds, Media, Machines”.

Further information:
Bremen Big Data Challenge: https://bbdc.csl.uni-bremen.de
Cognitive Systems Lab: https://csl.uni-bremen.de
Sparkasse Bremen: https://www.sparkasse-bremen.de
Research focus “Minds, Media, Machines”: https://minds-media-machines.de

Questions answered:
The BBDC Team
Cognitive Systems Lab
Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
University of Bremen
E-Mail: bbdc@uni-bremen.de

For students of Faculty 3
This year there is a special focus on software development. Companies from this sector will be specifically involved in order to give participants direct contact with the industry. Students from Faculty 3 already successfully took part last year and gained valuable career opportunities.

What participants can expect:
● Workshops on career planning and applications
● Networking sessions with companies
● Exclusive insights into the IT and software industry
● Acquisition of 3 CP through active and complete participation

Event details:
● Date: March 24-28, 2025
● Location: University of Bremen
● Registration & further information: To the event

After registration, participants will receive a link to a short survey. This is required in order to be included in the core team.
The Career Camp offers an excellent opportunity to make valuable contacts and develop your own career in a targeted manner. For more information, you can register for the information event on 13.02.2025 and clarify open questions - it will take place online via Zoom at 6 pm!

The interested pupils ensured that the new series of events got off to a really successful start. We are already looking forward to the next #MATHDAYS events! For more information: www.uni-bremen.de/moin-industriemathematik/projekte/campus-nachbarschaft

Abstract

Citizens and communication professionals use it to communicate about political and economic topics, healthcare, technology and other issues, with potentially far-reaching implications. Scholars and pundits have discussed how this might impact public communication about science: On the one hand, GenAI can support science communication practitioners in generating content or identifying new ideas and trends, preparing scientific results and publications for different channels and audiences, and enabling interactive, dialogical exchanges with various user groups. On the other hand, GenAI is feared to present science inaccurately, to contain biases towards certain scientific fields and to deepen digital divides. Researchers have started to analyze these implications of AI for science communication in recent years. The lecture provides an overview of this research. It presents how science communicators and journalists employ GenAI, how tools like ChatGPT present science, how citizens use GenAI to inform themselves about science, and what effects this has.

Bio

Mike S. Schäfer (Universität Zürich) is Full Professor of Science Communication and Head of Department at IKMZ – Department of Communication and Media Research of the University of Zurich. He is also Director of the university’s Center of Higher Education and Science Studies (CHESS) and PI of the Swiss Science Barometer. Schäfer’s work focuses on public communication and public perceptions of science and technology, particularly around issues AI and climate change, as well as on science-related populism and conspiracy theories.

For more information click here: https://www.dsc-ub.de/en/data_snacks_en.php

What?
▪ Individual meetings with mentor (1-2 times per semester)
▪ Exchange of experiences and networking within the group of mentees
▪ Workshops or talks on particular topics (approx. once per semester)
▪ Begins in October and runs for two semesters

Interested? Then apply:
▪ with a letter of motivation, CV, transcript of records, and
optionally your preferred mentor (professor/postdoc)
▪ via email to mentoringfb3@uni-bremen.de by August 15

Contact:
Nicole Megow, Maike Vollstedt, Lena Wollschläger

To the website

A key result for Bremen: As part of the project, five traffic light systems in the Bremen Technology Park were modernized and now enable communication with vehicles via V2X (vehicle-to-everything) technology. This allows autonomous vehicles to receive information directly from the traffic light system – an essential step for safe and connected driving in urban areas. The research project was supported by the Bremen State Department for Roads and Traffic.

"The modernization of the traffic infrastructure in the Technology Park is a milestone: It enables direct communication between traffic light systems and vehicles for the first time – and makes Bremen a real-world laboratory for autonomous driving," says Dr. Mitja Echim, Managing Director of TOPAS Industriemathematik gGmbH.

Thanks to the newly deployed technology, traffic data can be received and used in real time in the future – not only within the scope of the project, but also by all road users.

“This exciting research project is making an important contribution to the mobility of the future. As a project partner, we have been able to gain valuable insights into traffic planning and control and jointly demonstrate what will be possible in the future,” says Tim Campen, Head of Transport Technology at the Bremen State Department for Roads and Traffic.

The research contribution from Bremen is a first step toward an intelligently networked infrastructure that will enable greater safety, efficiency, and sustainability in road traffic.

At the Digital Hub Industry Bremen, a prototype safety control center was set up at the same time and linked to an autonomous shuttle bus. The system not only allows remote status monitoring, but also remote control functions that can be used to control the vehicle from a distance if necessary. “The safety control center builds an ideal bridge between research and practical application. It clearly demonstrates how autonomous driving functions can be made safer and more efficient through intelligent control center systems. For us researchers, it offers a valuable opportunity to test our developments under real operating conditions and refine them in a targeted manner,” explains Professor Büskens from the University of Bremen.

The following partners from science and industry are involved in the project:

TOPAS Industriemathematik Innovation gGmbH is responsible for project management and the technical connection of the vehicle to the safety control center, as well as for testing the autonomous shuttle.

The University of Bremen is contributing its expertise in the field of autonomous driving functions through its “Optimization and Optimal Control” and “Cognitive Neuroinformatics” working groups. Technologies that have already been successfully tested in other research projects have been further developed specifically to fulfil the requirements of interaction with the safety control center.

The Department for Roads and Traffic in Bremen coordinated the conversion of the traffic light systems. The main challenge was to modernize existing traffic light technology and make it suitable for the requirements of connected driving.

The companies CGI Deutschland B.V. & Co. KG from Bochum and Verified Systems International GmbH from Bremen are focusing on real-time communication, cybersecurity, and the development of automated test procedures for verifying the algorithms used.

The project is being supervised by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) as the project management agency.

The successful completion of the project has created a forward-looking infrastructure that will make the use of autonomous vehicles in public transport systems more realistic, safer, and, in Bremen, a tangible experience.

Information for Press Representatives:

Press representatives who would like to learn more about the Safety Control Center project as part of their reporting are welcome to contact us. We would be happy to give a presentation on the central functions of the safety control center upon request.

Contact:

Dr. Mitja Echim
TOPAS Industriemathematik gGmbH
Phone +49 421 52632510
Email: mitja.echim@topas.tech
 

Prof. Dr. Christof Büskens
Center for Industrial Mathematics
Optimization and Optimal Control Working Group
University of Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-63861
Email: bueskens@uni-bremen.de

Click here for the original article

The three-day program consists of workshops and lab exercises in various STEM fields, discussion rounds with female university students, campus tours, as well as field trips to companies within Bremen. Participants will benefit from the insights into degrees in natural sciences and technology.

The participation fee is 10 euros and includes drinks, snacks, and a meal in the university dining hall (Mensa). Female school students can register at https://www.schnupperstudium.uni-bremen.de (website is in German only). The registration deadline is June 25, and spots are limited.

This introductory course is part of the collaborative MINTsteps project, which has received funding from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) since May 2024 as part of the third funding period of the regional clusters for youth education in STEM. The goal of MINTsteps is to break with stereotypical gender norms, create access to STEM fields, and empower young women by offering opportunities to connect with female students, researchers, and professionals.

“We want to create spaces where girls can ask questions, try new things, and rediscover themselves and their interest in STEM fields – independent of ascribed social roles,” says Inessa Ulrich, MINTsteps collaborative project coordinator.

Further Information:

Https://www.schnupperstudium.uni-bremen.de/ (in German only)

Contact:

Inessa Ulrich
MINTsteps Joint Project Coordinator
Center of Excellence for Women in Science and Technology
University of Bremen
Email: mintsteps@uni-bremen.de
Phone: 0421 421 218-64471

Click here for the original article

The women´s network Informatica Feminale is a place to exchange about technical and social developments, which we meet in our every-day life and which are designed by ourselves as technical experts. The Summer University wants to give space and time for critical reflections and highly welcomes experimental debates on the relations of technological knowledge and developments in societies. We especially offer teaching, which deal with applications of technical know-how in spaces for work and life (for example within care, education, health, food, household, mobility, social networking, publicity, sports, militarization, etc.) from feminist perspectives.

All, who want to receive information about future Summer Universities, are invited to subscribe to our mailing list. Please send an email to if@informatica-feminale.de.

Companies with gender sensible organizational concepts and successful personal management strategies to promote women engineers to a broad spectrum of leading positions are invited to present their best practices to the participants of Informatica Feminale. There will be plenty of other opportunities to sponsor.

International Summer Courses for Women in Computing

For the Summer University Informatica Feminale 2025 we cordially invite women students from all types of universities and colleges as well as women professionals interested in further training from all over the world! You will experience three weeks of professional studies and establish a network with women having manifold backgrounds in a friendly and stimulating environment at the University of Bremen.

Every year the Informatica Feminale offers compact teachings in computing and ICT.

Entering higher education, developing a student career, transition into labour market and lifelong academic learning are equally in the field of vision. Inter/national lecturers and students meet at the Informatica Feminale in Bremen, Germany to exchange.

Since 1998 the Summer University Informatica Feminale is part of the regular course program of Bremen University and organized by the Fachbereich Mathematik und Informatik (Department of Mathematics and Computer Science) and the Kompetenzzentrum Frauen in Naturwissenschaft und Technik der Universität Bremen (Center of Excellence Women in Science and Technology at Bremen University).

Funding comes predominately from the Professorinnenprogramm (joint initiatives of the German federal state and the Länder), the University of Bremen and from the Faculty.

Awared the Equality Prize of the German Faculty Conference of Informatics Faculties
The German Faculty Conference of Informatics Faculties has awared its first Equality Prize (“Preis für herausragende Gleichstellungsarbeit”) to the Summer University Informatica Feminale of the Department of Mathematics and Informatics at Bremen University. The awards ceremony with the laudatory speech by Professor Christiane Floyd is available as video and photos.

A place for experimentation in teaching

In 1998 the University of Bremen started the first summer university for women in computing: Informatica Feminale is a place for experimentation and professional exchange, with the intention to develop and imply new impulses in Computer Science and Informatics.

The concept of Informatica Feminale was developed at Bremen University and has been transfered several times to national and international places. Informatica Feminale is organized at Bremen on a yearly basis. Every summer 200-250 students participate in some 50 courses.

Click here to go to the Informatica Feminale website

More than 60 courses from the broad field of engineering and technology will be offered to women students in engineering studies, to practitioners in the field and to students with other backgrounds. There will be basic, special and interdisciplinary course topics as well as course offers concerning studies, jobs and careers.

Topics from the broad field of engineering and technology are welcome. Especially teaching in electrical engineering, information technology, chemical and mechanical engineering is invited. Additionally, our special topic will be sustainability with focus on ecological and social impacts of technologies.

The women´s network Ingenieurinnen-Sommeruni is a place to exchange about technical and social developments, which we meet in our every-day life and which are designed by ourselves as technical experts. The Summer University wants to give space and time for critical reflections and highly welcomes experimental debates on the relations of technological knowledge and developments in societies. We especially offer teaching, which deal with applications of technical know-how in spaces for work and life (for example within care, education, health, food, household, mobility, social networking, publicity, sports, militarization, etc.) from feminist perspectives.

All, who want to receive information about future Summer Universities, are invited to subscribe to our mailing list. Please send an email to info@ingenieurinnen-sommeruni.de

Companies with gender sensible organizational concepts and successful personal management strategies to promote women engineers to a broad spectrum of leading positions are invited to present their best practices to the participants of Informatica Feminale. There will be plenty of other opportunities to sponsor.

International summer courses for women in engineering

For the Summer University for Women in Engineering 2025 we cordially invite women students from all types of universities and colleges as well as women professionals interested in further training from all over the world! You will experience three months of professional studies and establish a network with women having manifold backgrounds in a friendly and stimulating environment at the University of Bremen.

Every year the Ingenieurinnen-Sommeruni offers compact teachings in engineering and technology.

Entering higher education, developing a student career, transition into labour market and lifelong academic learning are equally in the field of vision. Inter/national lecturers and students meet at the Ingenieurinnen-Sommeruni in Bremen, Germany to exchange.

Since 2005 the Ingenieurinnen-Sommeruni is part of the regular course program of Bremen University and organized by the Kompetenzzentrum Frauen in Naturwissenschaft und Technik der Universität Bremen (Center of Excellence Women in Science and Technology) in cooperation with the Fachbereich Produktionstechnik – Maschinenbau & Verfahrenstechnik sowie dem Fachbereich Physik und Elektrotechnik.

Funding comes predominately from the Professorinnenprogramm (joint initiatives of the German federal state and the Länder) and the University of Bremen.

A place for experimentation in teaching

In 2005 the University of Bremen started the first summer university for women in engineering: Ingenieurinnen-Sommeruni is a place for experimentation and professional exchange, with the intention to develop and imply new impulses in Engineering.

The concept of Ingenieurinnen-Sommeruni has been transfered from Informatica Feminale, the summer university for women in Informatics (Computer Science). Informatica Feminale was developed at Bremen University in 1998 and is organized at Bremen on a yearly basis in parallel to the Ingenieurinnen-Sommeruni . More detailed information about the concept and history of Informatica Feminale can be found at

www.informatica-feminale.de.

Click here to go to the original website

The RoboCup

The RoboCup is one of the largest and most prestigious competitions for robots in the world.It aims to support the development of robots and their artificial intelligence so that they are able to operate without direct human control. Organized by the non-profit RoboCup Federation, the tournament has been held every year since 1997. The participating teams usually come from universities and research institutes, but also from industry.

One Tournament, Many Competitions

Robots not only play soccer at RoboCup, but also compete against each other in other disciplines: RoboCupRescue, for example, simulates rescue scenarios in which robots find and rescue victims. RoboCup@Home, on the other hand, pits robots against each other in household tasks. There are five different sub-leagues within the Soccer League, which differ according to the type of robot used. B-Human took part in the Standard Platform League where all teams use the same type of robot with the same hardware. The main focus is therefore on skillful software development.

A Special RoboCup

The 2025 RoboCup was a special tournament in two respects. B-Human succeeded in winning a competition on the American continent for the first time. Despite many world championship titles, previous attempts in Mexico City (2012, 2nd place), João Pessoa (2014, 3rd place) and Montreal (2018, 2nd place) had not been successful. This negative streak has now been broken. It is a double success, as B-Human also won the technical competition, which involved shooting rolling balls and innovations for the future of the league.

This was also the last competition in the Standard Platform League. Starting in 2026, there will be a new competition for humanoid soccer robots, in which different robot models will be used. B-Human will once again be at the starting line.

Further Information:

https://2025.robocup.org

www.b-human.de

Contact:

Dr. Thomas Röfer
German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI)
Cyber-Physical Systems Research Group
Phone: +49 421 218-64200
Email: Thomas.Roefer@dfki.de

Dr. Tim Laue
University of Bremen
Faculty of Mathematics / Computer Science
Phone: +49 421 218-64209
Email: tlaue@uni-bremen.de

German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI)
Team Communication & Media Bremen
Phone: +49 0421 178 454180
Email: communications-hb@dfki.de

Click here to get to the original article

In addition to his duties as dean, Professor Malaka will remain at the TZI as head of the Digital Media Lab. “We are extremely grateful to Professor Malaka for the extraordinary commitment with which he has driven forward the TZI’s further development over the past 16 years,” emphasizes Prof. Zachmann. “Under his leadership, third-party funding has risen steadily. The high number of doctorates and the successful acquisition of graduate schools also attest to the high quality of research and teaching during his tenure. Last but not least, the preliminary work from various projects is also feeding into the EASE Collaborative Research Center and the new "The Martian Mindset" Cluster of Excellence.”

From Basic Research to Start-Ups

With its research topics, the TZI is at the center of the ongoing digitization of all areas of life. On the one hand, this involves basic research: What questions need to be answered in order to constructively shape the information technologies of the next ten to twenty years? At the same time, however, the TZI also serves as a knowledge transfer partner for companies and organizations that want to tap into current research findings for their own areas of activity. The institute has already collaborated with a wide range of partners from sectors such as healthcare, IT, retail, logistics, and the creative industries. At the same time, numerous start-ups have emerged from the research projects, which now employ hundreds of highly qualified staff. In addition, the TZI trains many urgently needed specialists within the framework of its research-based teaching.

Professor Zachmann sees one of the TZI's key strengths in its ability to identify new topics that will be relevant in the future at an early stage. Intensive interdisciplinary cooperation plays an important role in this – the institute even spans two faculties, Mathematics / Computer Science and Physics / Electrical Engineering. “There is a culture of cooperation here. The TZI brings together researchers who work well together.” This enables the institute to continually generate innovations from within its structure and respond to new challenges in the extremely dynamic world of IT.

People at the Heart of Technology

Zachmann expects technologies such as extended reality (XR), everyday robotics, and artificial intelligence to become even more important in the coming years and to raise many new research questions. This could also open up opportunities for collaboration with other disciplines such as sports science, psychology, and health research. “We are looking for scientists who want to play an active role in shaping new technologies,” says Zachmann. “They can come from completely different faculties.”

A principle that applied under Professor Malaka's leadership will continue to apply: “People remain at the heart of everything we do. We investigate how technology can best support people, rather than restricting, manipulating, or replacing them.”

Further Information:

https://www.uni-bremen.de/en/tzi

www.uni-bremen.de/en

Contact:

Professor Gabriel Zachmann
Phone: +49 421 218-63991
zach@cs.uni-bremen.de

Click here for the original Article.

More modularity in space robotics

With the project MODKOM ("Modular Components as Building Blocks for Application-Specific Configurable Space Robots"), the DFKI Robotics Innovation Center and the Robotics Group at the University of Bremen – both led by Prof. Dr. Frank Kirchner – have taken an important step toward transforming space robotics: moving away from rigid, one-off developments and toward flexibly reconfigurable systems. Funded by the German Space Agency at DLR with support from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE), the partners developed a modular construction kit for robotic space technologies. Wiebke Brinkmann, Project Lead: With our modular construction kit, we are laying the foundation for a new generation of space robots — flexible, sustainable, and ready for the missions of tomorrow.

A construction kit for reconfigurable space robots

The system includes all the necessary hardware and software components to flexibly build mobile robotic systems. The researchers categorize these components into different levels of granularity. At the lowest level are basic elements such as joints, structural parts, and electronic modules, which can be connected via standardized interfaces. These basic units can be combined into subsystems, which are then integrated as modular functional units at higher levels within the construction kit.

At the highest level, complete systems are assembled – for example, by combining stationary or mobile platforms with sensors, payload modules, or manipulators. A unified software architecture enables the dynamic integration of system components at runtime, following a plug-and-play principle. The standardized interfaces also support the use of learning and optimization methods to automatically generate optimal hardware and software configurations and adapt individual modules.

Advantages: flexible, robust, cost-efficient

The modular system can be flexibly expanded and adapted to evolving mission requirements – even after deployment. Reusable modules significantly shorten development and qualification cycles, saving both time and costs. Standardized interfaces and dedicated adapters allow for the integration of commercial components that were previously incompatible, greatly broadening the range of potential applications. The modular architecture also increases system resilience: defective components can be quickly replaced – an important advantage in remote or high-risk environments such as space.

Performance demonstration and space qualification

To demonstrate the system’s capabilities, the project team assembled a complex manipulation system using the modular construction kit. They combined a modular manipulator developed at DFKI with two commercial components: the HUNTER SE mobile platform from AgileX Robotics and the multifunctional iSSI® interface from the iBOSS system. In a realistic test environment, they successfully demonstrated how flexibly external systems can be integrated into the kit and how quickly individual modules can be adapted or replaced to meet specific requirements.

Another major focus of the project was the qualification of components for space applications. With the DFKI-X2D joint, the researchers developed a high-dynamic actuator specifically designed for use in space. Extensive qualification testing enabled the system to reach Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5 – a key milestone on the path to operational deployment. To support integration and testing under realistic conditions, a state-of-the-art, ISO-compliant cleanroom was established at DFKI Bremen, enabling further development toward even higher TRLs.

From research to application

The insights and technologies developed through the MODKOM project provide a vital foundation for the continued evolution of reconfigurable space robotics. They are intended to be transferred to future space missions, with the goal of significantly enhancing the flexibility, efficiency, and sustainability of robotic space systems.The MODKOM project was funded by the German Space Agency at DLR with support from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE). The project ran from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2025, with a total budget of approximately 3.2 million euros.

Involved with New Cluster of Excellence "The Martian Mindset"

The DFKI Robotics Innovation Center is a partner in the excellence cluster of the MAPEX Center for Materials and Processes. In this cluster, scientists are adopting the "Martian mindset" to rethink the production of materials and components from the ground up. The scarcity of resources and extreme conditions on Mars provide an experimental setting for developing a new sustainability paradigm that enables innovative, energy-efficient processes for extracting and processing materials. Ultimately, this approach will contribute to sustainable space exploration and drive green change on Earth.

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In a field test on the volcanic island of Lanzarote in February 2023, this concept was successfully validated using three specialized rovers: the two DFKI systems SherpaTT and Coyote III, and the LUVMI-X developed by Space Applications Services (Belgium). First, the robots jointly mapped the environment and skylight (phase 1). Then, the compact rover LUVMI-X placed a sensor cube into the entrance to collect initial measurements inside the cave (phase 2), providing data to select a suitable rappelling point. Subsequently, the robust SherpaTT lowered the agile Coyote III into the cave in a controlled manner using a cable winch (phase 3). After decoupling from the docking mechanism, Coyote III explored the difficult-to-access underground area, successfully generating a detailed 3D model of the cave (phase 4) – a key milestone for applying such technologies in extraterrestrial missions.

The results not only confirm the technical feasibility of the concept but also demonstrate the potential of collaborative robotic systems for use in future Moon or Mars missions. The study thus provides valuable impetus for the further development of autonomous robotic solutions in the context of planetary exploration.


Publication title: Cooperative Robotic Exploration of a Planetary Skylight Surface and Lava Cave

Authors: Raúl Domínguez (DFKI, University of Bremen), Carlos Perez-del-Pulgar (Universidad de Malaga), Gonzalo J. Paz-Delgado (Universidad de Malaga), Fabio Polisano (Space Applications Services), Jonathan Babel (DFKI), Thierry Germa (Magellium), Iulia Dragomir (GMV), Valerie Ciarletti (LATMOS), Anne-Claire Berthet (Magellium), Leon Cedric Danter (DFKI), Frank Kirchner (DFKI, University of Bremen)

The publication is available online at: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scirobotics.adj9699

The presented concept was developed within the framework of the European Commission-funded project CoRob-X (Cooperative Robots for Extreme Environments), which was coordinated by the Robotics Innovation Center of the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI). Since 2021, nine European partners have been developing key technologies for autonomous robotics in extreme environments. CoRob-X was part of the Strategic Research Cluster “Space Robotics Technologies,” implemented under the EU Horizon 2020 funding program as part of the PERASPERA initiative.
 

DFKI Contact:
Raúl Domínguez
Robotics Innovation Center
Phone: +49 421 17845-6617
Email: raul.dominguez@dfki.de

Click here for the original Article

Nake was born in 1938 and studied mathematics at the University of Stuttgart, where he completed his doctorate in 1967 with a dissertation on probability theory. His first artistic experiments began in 1963 at the Technical University of Stuttgart, using the Graphomat Z64 – the pioneering drawing machine created by computer inventor Konrad Zuse. In 1965, he staged his first exhibition of computer-generated works in Stuttgart, establishing himself as one of the founders of computer art. In the years that followed, his work appeared in groundbreaking international exhibitions, including Cybernetic Serendipity (London, 1968), Computers and Visual Research (Zagreb, 1968), and the Venice Biennale (1970). In 1968/69, he also conducted research into computer art with Leslie Mezei at the University of Toronto. From 1972 until 2024, Nake was Professor of Graphic Data Processing and Interactive Systems at the University of Bremen, spending twelve of those years also teaching at the University of the Arts Bremen. In the winter semester of 2024/25, he taught his final course – his 105th semester in Bremen.

In 1997, he received the Berninghausen Prize for Excellence in Teaching, awarded by the University of Bremen and the unifreunde Association of the Friends of the University of Bremen and Constructor University. In 2018, he was honored with the Klaus Tschira Medal for Computer Science. Over the course of his career, he has supervised nearly 500 bachelor’s, master’s, and diploma theses, as well as around 80 doctoral dissertations in Bremen. Frieder Nake has also taught on every continent except Africa.

The four additional authors, Anna Odone, Chiara Barbati, Silvia Amadasi, and David B. Resnik, conduct research in the fields of public health, medicine, and bioethics. In general, the journal is aimed at professionals in these fields. In information boxes, Tanja Schultz explains the technical terms used in the articles and background information on AI, such as machine learning, deep learning, and computational linguistics, to the interdisciplinary specialist audience.

Further Information:

https://authors.elsevier.com/c/1lnbB5E-UokLDW

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/home

Contact:

Tanja Schultz
Professor of Cognitive Systems
Faculty of Mathematics / Computer Science
University of Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-64270
Email: tanja.schultzuni-bremen.de

Fragen beantwortet:

Tanja Schultz
Professorin für Kognitive Systeme
Fachbereich Mathematik und Informatik
Universität Bremen
Tel.: +49 421 218-64270
E-Mail: tanja.schultzuni-bremen.de

The team conducted a comprehensive analysis of twenty popular mHealth apps available in Germany. Such apps have become an integral part of many people's everyday lives. They help with fitness training, cycle monitoring, and taking medication – and in doing so, they process particularly sensitive health data. But how secure and transparent are these applications when it comes to handling this information?

To find out, the researchers used static and dynamic analysis methods to examine app behavior and data flows. They also examined the privacy policies and consent dialogs in detail. “We wanted to see not only whether data is shared, but also when and where it is sent – and whether users are even informed,” explains Dr. Mehrdad Bahrini. “Our goal was to combine the technical perspective with legal and user-centered aspects.”

Serious Problems: Data Transfer Without Consent, Manipulative Tricks, Linguistic Ambiguities

The study reveals several serious problems with regard to data protection and transparency. For example, several apps transmitted personal data such as advertising IDs even before users had given their consent. All twenty examined apps also sent data to third countries, particularly the US. Around 40 percent additionally communicated with servers in Ireland, which often serves as a European data hub. Connections to servers in Australia, Sweden, China, and Singapore were also detected – an indication of the global distribution of data flows in mHealth apps. In order to obtain users' consent to data transfer, all apps contained at least one manipulative design trick (“dark pattern”) that misled users into hastily accepting all terms and conditions.

There were also language and comprehensibility issues: In 10 out of 16 apps with a German interface, the privacy policies were available exclusively in English. And even with German privacy policies, some things remained unclear. For instance, many apps only named data recipients in general categories such as “partners” or “service providers” instead of listing specific companies

“Legal compliance alone is not enough if users cannot understand what is happening to their data.”

The study reveals a significant gap between the stated data protection practices and the actual conduct on the part of the apps. Even though many applications formally meet the requirements of the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), there is often a lack of genuine transparency and comprehensibility.

“Legal compliance alone is not enough if users cannot understand what is happening to their data,” emphasizes Bahrini. “Trust is crucial, especially when it comes to sensitive health data – this is as much a matter of ethics as it is of regulation.”

The results highlight the need for clearer guidelines for transparent data protection information and for design standards that prevent manipulative consent dialogues – especially in the field of digital health applications.
 

In future projects, the team plans to develop automated procedures for analyzing data flows and detecting dark patterns. The aim is to support developers and regulatory authorities in evaluating and improving digital health applications.

Further Information:

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-07901-5_1

Contact:

Dr. Mehrdad Bahrini
Faculty of Mathematics / Computer Science
University of Bremen
Email: mbahrini@uni-bremen.de
Phone: +49 421 218-64404

PD Dr. Karsten Sohr
Faculty of Mathematics / Computer Science
University of Bremen
Email: sohr@uni-bremen.de
Phone: +49 421 218-63922

Click here for the original Article

During their welcoming speeches, Dr. Henrike Müller (Senator for Environment, Climate, and Science), Professor Michal Kucera (Vice President for Research and Transfer at the University of Bremen), and Dr. Georg Mecke (unifreunde chairperson) praised the laureates’ notable achievements.

“Excellent research thrives on a diversity of perspectives. This diversity helps us avoid distortions and blind spots because even academia is not immune to bias. In light of this, I am particularly pleased about the diversity of our laureates today, in terms of their topics, disciplines, personal backgrounds, and university affiliations. This diversity is an asset, and it is much needed. In today’s complex world, we must tackle the multiple challenges with a diverse range of knowledge, innovative approaches, and the boldness to ask new questions,” said Michal Kucera.

Henrike Müller added: “The current era of rapid change demands that science play a more prominent and influential role than ever before. It provides guidance and develops solutions for a future worth living. Excellent science is the result of dedicated, curious, and motivated people. You, dear laureates, are among the most outstanding young researchers that our universities have produced. You are shaping this time of change, serving as a compass and providing new impetus. My sincere congratulations on your outstanding work.”

Georg Mecke emphasized: “Dear laureates, you have demonstrated what excellence means through your work. Rather than settling for the obvious, you delved deeper into your respective topics, thought further, combined new ideas, and reflected critically. Academic success is never a coincidence. We know the path you took was not always easy. Often, it required you to go the extra mile. These qualities are important far beyond academic life and will serve as a valuable foundation for your future.”

The winners of the Bremen Thesis Award are:

Dr. Sarina Niedzwiedz from the Faculty of Biology / Chemistry at the University of Bremen – dissertation entitled “The Dark Side of Polar Day – The influence of coastal run-off on Arctic kelp communities”'

Enna Gerhard from the Faculty of Mathematics / Computer at the University of Bremen – master’s thesis entitled “Solving the Directed Feedback Vertex Set Problem in Theory and Practice”                                          

Dr. David Karpa from the Faculty of Economics at the University of Bremen – dissertation entitled “The Political Economy of Digital Repression”

Paul-Frederik Siemer from the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Bremen – master’s thesis entitled: “Kommunismus im Nebensatz: Gedenkstätten auf TikTok zwischen Emotionalisierung und Tabuisierung” (Communism in Subordinate Clauses: Memorial Sites on TikTok: Between Emotionalization and Tabooization)

Dr. Jan David Brüwer from the Faculty of Biology / Chemistry at the University of Bremen – dissertation, “Using fluorescence in situ hybridization to study intracellular properties", special prize from Bruker Daltonics GmbH & Co. KG

Dr. Thomas Eßmeyer (formerly Mildner) from the Faculty of Mathematics / Computer Science at the University of Bremen – dissertation entitled "MITIGATING DARK PATTERNS THROUGH RESPONSIBLE DESIGN – Ethical Design Consideration for User-Centred Technologies”

Chukwuemeka Achugo from Constructor University – master’s thesis entitled  “Generating Test Oracles with Generative AI”

Dr. Tridib Banerjee from Conctructor University – dissertation entitled “Numerical mixing across density surfaces in ocean modelling”

Further Information:

https://www.uni-bremen.de/forschung/foerderangebote-service/ausschreibungen/zentrale-forschungsfoerderung-zf/bremer-studienpreis (in German only)

Contact:

Julia Böttjer
Central Event Management
University of Bremen
Phone: +49 (0)421 218 60118
Email: Julia.boettjer@vw.uni-bremen.de

Click here for the original article.

Research with Large Datasets – A Multidisciplinary Phenomenon

Researching with large datasets is no longer limited to fields such as statistics and computer science, but has become a common practice in language and cultural sciences, history, and other fields as well. This is due to the role of modern technologies and digitalization in making increasing amounts of data from various sources available, including mobile networks, location data, open government city data, and health apps.

To sustainably strengthen data-intensive and digitally supported research, researchers are advocating for reliable and long-term funding for central institutions such as data and digital science centers. Currently, financing for these centers is often project-based, as seen in the eleven data competence centers supported by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space.

Researchers are urging policymakers to explicitly consider data and digital science in federal and state-funded research, digital, and innovation strategies, and to provide support through long-term funding programs.

Stronger Focus on Digital and Data Science in Research and Teaching

To supplement these political considerations, researchers are advocating for a stronger focus on digital and data science in research and teaching. This includes equipping digital and data science centers with the resources they need. The researchers believe that this would enable the provision of data and digital science services, including consultations, data management, and data analysis support, as well as facilitate collaborations between centers at different locations.

Furthermore, the researchers are emphasizing the importance of teaching data and digital literacy, which involves the ability to work with large datasets. They recommend providing broad support for this effort, including didactic and expert support for teachers, to ensure that competent use of data is taught in interdisciplinary courses across various degree programs. This would require collaboration between technical and non-technical disciplines.

Data and Digital Science at the University of Bremen

Since 2019, the University of Bremen has had its own interdisciplinary institute for data-based research, the Data Science Center (DSC). The university’s data-related competence and activities are bundled and developed here. The center aids in networking researchers across disciplinary boundaries, strengthening their data skills, and creating the requirements for sustainable, data-based research in all academic areas.

In its role as a central contact point, the DSC offers a range of services for researchers, including consultations, training, financial support, and computing resources, and serves as a partner in data-based research projects. The DSC is also home to the competence center DataNord, which is led by the University of Bremen in collaboration with other Bremen partner institutions, with Rolf Drechsler as one of the spokespersons. Since 2023, DataNord has received over 3.5 million euros in funding from the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space.

Further Information:

Link to Position Paper: https://zenodo.org/records/17475528 (in German only)

https://www.uni-bremen.de/en/data-science-center

https://dadisc.org/ (in German only, under construction)

https://www.bremen-research.de/en/datanord    

Contact: 

Dr. Lena Steinmann
Data Science Center Coordinator
University of Bremen
Phone: +49 (421) 218 - 63941
Email: lena.steinmann@uni-bremen.de

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During the demonstration in the Technology Park, the project members were able to show how sensors, communication, and mathematical control work together to create a safe, networked system.

Professor Christof Büskens, project leader at the University of Bremen, says, “In the MUTIG-VORAN project, we ourselves took a courageous step forward by successfully implementing interdisciplinary research in a practical, application-oriented manner. Bremen thereby connects science and practice for the mobility of the future and creates theories that propel progress instead of hindering it.”

What is special about this is that the algorithms were adapted so that they don’t only work on a specified test platform, but can be transferred to other areas, such as other research vehicles, rovers, or lawnmowers.

Successful Test Drive Through the Technology Park

One of the things the test drive demonstrated, was successful communication with modernized traffic light signals. The signals are now equipped with V2X technology (vehicle-to-everything), which allows vehicles to read the current status of traffic lights in real time. The drive also presented the connection to the recently completed safety control center – a further step in creating safe, networked mobility.

The project, funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, combined expertise from industrial mathematics, artificial intelligence, and communications engineering. The collaboration between the participating partners impressively demonstrated how interdisciplinary research can lead to practical solutions.

Combining Expertise to Create Highly Complex Solutions

The University of Bremen’s Department of Communication Engineering (ANT) focused on mobile communication and developed new methods to improve 5G systems for use in automated vehicles. This included researching methods to collectively localize and communicate as well as building a portable campus network that can be used in other test areas in the future. Dr.-Ing. Carsten Bockelmann, research group leader at ANT, explains, “Uninterrupted connectivity is mandatory for self-driving cars in the future. 5G, and in the future 6G, can ensure the connection to the remote control center and facilitate data transfers between cars. In addition, the communication system will in the future offer localization services and thereby support self-driving cars.”

The TOPAS Industriemathematik gGmbH was responsible for building the test drive vehicles. The researchers also contributed their expertise in creating digital twins for safety and testing purposes and were responsible for controlling the cars. They transferred the theoretically developed control procedures into functioning systems that operate safely and reliably in real-world conditions. “Mathematical optimization is the key to enabling vehicles to make correct, split-second decisions. The combination of simulation, modeling, and practical testing was particularly exciting,” said Dr.-Ing. Mitja Echim, managing director of TOPAS.

Sensors Detect Obstacles in Road Traffic

For a vehicle to truly understand its environment, it must be able to intelligently combine data from multiple sensors. This was the focus of the University of Bremen’s Cognitive Neuroinformatics working group in this project. In addition, the researchers developed procedures for localization, mapping, recognizing other road users, and strategic decision-making. “Sensor fusion and strategic decision-making are two central components of autonomous driving,” emphasized Dr.-Ing. Joachim Clemens from the Cognitive Neuroinformatics working group. “Sensor fusion determines the position of the vehicle and provides information about the environment, such as obstacles and other road users. It forms the basis for all the vehicle’s actions. Strategic decision-making takes over the high-level planning.” This includes, for example, intelligent route planning and optimal processing of transport orders.

The Optimization and Optimal Control research group at the University of Bremen brought their expertise in the field of tactical decision-making to the table which involves short-term decisions during the journey, such as choosing a lane, braking, or avoiding obstacles.

Further Information:
 

Project video: https://youtu.be/XD2Ky4FAENM?si=HEM98DfWULkSjnHZ

Press release about the Safety Control Center and modernized traffic light system: https://www.uni-bremen.de/en/university/university-communication-and-marketing/all-news/details/intelligent-safety-for-autonomous-shuttles-safety-control-center-project-celebrates-successful-completion-feiert-erfolgreichen-projektabschluss

Contact:
 

Prof. Dr. Christof Büskens
Center for Industrial Mathematics
Optimization and Optimal Control Research Group 
University of Bremen
Phone: +49 (0)421 218 63861
Email: bueskens@uni-bremen.de

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Preparatory video lectures

Ahead of the workshop, participants will receive access to six video lectures covering the following core topics: ROS2 basics, sensors, odometry, mapping, localization, and path planning. These materials provide a solid theoretical foundation and ensure that attendees are well prepared for the practical sessions.

Hands-on workshop

During the two-day in-person training, participants will work in small groups with TurtleBot3 robots. Under close guidance, they will learn how to:

• Set up ROS2 Jazzy on Ubuntu 24.04
• Teleoperate the robot and process sensor data
• Create and use custom ROS2 nodes in Python
• Perform mapping and localization in a maze environment
• Implement autonomous navigation, enabling the robot to move from a start position to a defined goal using path-planning algorithms

Learning outcomes

By the end of the workshop, participants will have gained hands-on experience in setting up and programming autonomous mobile robots, integrating sensor data, and deploying navigation algorithms in real-world scenarios.

Date: 12 – 13 February 2026
Registration deadline: 20 January 2026
Location: DFKI, Robert-Hooke-Straße 1, 28359 Bremen
Training language: English
Fee: €450

To register, please send an email to event-hb@dfki.de. 

Please note: The workshop will only take place with at least six registered participants. Places are limited.

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He brings extensive expertise in statistical learning and interpretable machine learning methods and their applications in health research. He has led an Emmy Noether Junior Research Group on interpretable machine learning with applications in epidemiology at BIPS since 2020 and has held a W2 professorship at the University of Bremen since 2021. Prior to his arrival in Bremen, Wright studied computer science and mathematics in medicine and life sciences, holding various research positions in Lübeck and Copenhagen.

He is setting new standards in research and technology by developing innovative machine learning approaches for the statistical analysis of complex data. These approaches facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration between computer science, statistics, and health sciences. Students and researchers alike benefit from his experience, methodological focus, and impetus for modern data science questions.

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