Mathematics: A Field of the Future
Where mathematicians work and conduct research
Tuesday, September 8, 2026, 9:00 AM–12:30 PM
University, Lecture Hall Building (Keksdose)
The technological progress that shapes our daily lives would be unthinkable without mathematics. Yet many people are unaware that mathematics plays a role in almost every aspect of life. There is a great need for mathematicians—not only because of their mathematical knowledge, but often also because of their outstanding analytical skills.
Our goal is therefore to give interested students a glimpse into the broad, diverse, and promising career field of mathematics. Mathematics is more than just numbers and calculations!
We will continue the “Mathematics: A Field of the Future” series in 2026 with exciting lectures and guests. In doing so, we offer many students the opportunity to gain fascinating insights into mathematics and engage in personal dialogue with the speakers.
Notice: All events are in German.
Program Overview 2026
9:00 a.m. Welcome
Prof. Dr. Michal Kucera, Vice Principal
for Research and Knowledge
Transfer, University of Bremen
Dr. Hanne Ballhausen,
University of Bremen
Dr. Matthias Knauer,
#MOIN, University of Bremen
9:20 a.m. Mathematics and Artificial
Intelligence: The Future of
Rail Transport
Dr. Johann Hartleb, DB InfraGO AG
10:00 a.m. Studying Mathematics at the
University of Bremen
10:15 a.m. Break
10:45 a.m. Interview with Students
11:15 a.m. From Math to a Medical
Software Startup
Tim Schnauder, Rokits GmbH
11:55 a.m. Final survey and Closing remarks
12:15 p.m. End of the lecture portion of the
event
The presentations from 2026
We are delighted to have once again attracted dedicated mathematicians to contribute to this field of the future. We would like to thank them for taking the time, despite their professional commitments, to highlight the importance of mathematics for a wide range of practical issues.
Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence: The Future of Rail Transport
How can you maintain an overview and optimally manage traffic on a rail network with thousands of trains and millions of passengers every day, even when disruptions occur? Using mathematical models and artificial intelligence, we develop innovative planning and control systems capable of planning and implementing train movements and adjustments for construction sites or operational disruptions in near real time. Using the generated schedules, decisions can be made immediately regarding how a train may proceed or where detours are necessary. This involves methods such as deep reinforcement learning and mathematical optimization techniques from operations research.
We are working to pilot these approaches in operation and deploy them across the rail network. Mathematics can thus serve as the foundation for making rail traffic more flexible, robust, and fit for the future.
Dr. Johann Hartleb studied mathematics at Georg-August University in Göttingen. He then earned his doctorate at Erasmus University Rotterdam and the University of Stuttgart, focusing on mathematical optimization models for public transportation with an emphasis on passenger demand. Since then, Johann has been working at DB InfraGO AG on the Capacity and Traffic Management (CTMS) project to improve real-time rail operations through the use of mathematical optimization and artificial intelligence.
From Math to a Medical Software Startup
In the day-to-day work of a medical software startup, mathematics rarely appears directly in the form of formulas. However, the way of thinking and the tools taught in a mathematics program provide the foundation for more tasks than might be apparent at first glance. Whether it involves planning or developing software solutions, making strategic decisions, or balancing the interests of partners, customers, and the team: A degree in mathematics teaches you to look closely and think logically, providing an essential toolkit for understanding and solving complex problems.
Tim Schnauder studied mathematics and applied mathematics in Bremen. During and after completing his studies, he worked on research and development projects in the fields of numerical optimization, autonomous systems, and medical IT. He has been a co-founder of Rokits GmbH since January 2026. There, he oversees the technical development of software solutions for medical laboratories.
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