13.12.2024
QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2025: University of Freiburg among the top three nationally in the Environmental Impact category
The University of Freiburg stands out for its commitment to sustainability in research, education and knowledge transfer.
11/12/2024
CHE Master Ranking 2024: University of Freiburg achieves top positions in computer science, mathematics and physics
The University of Freiburg received high ratings in the survey of master’s students.
04/12/2024
Sociologist Sujata Patel Comes to Freiburg University for a Research Stay
Prof. Dr. Sujata Patel from the University of Hyderabad, India, has been awarded the Humboldt Research Award. As part of this honor, she will undertake a guest research stay next year, collaborating with sociologist Prof. Dr. Manuela Boatcă from the University of Freiburg on the histories of anti-colonialism.
03/12/2024
Oana Cojocaru-Mirédin of the University of Freiburg receives ERC Consolidator Grant
The materials scientist is researching the properties of grain boundaries in crystalline materials in her funded project. Cojocaru-Mirédin combines a range of highly-specialised microscopy techniques to achieve this. Her results can contribute to advancing development of sustainable energy materials, for example, for ultra-thin solar cells.
27/11/2024
Orange the World Campaign: KG I Illuminated until 10 December 2024
University participates in global campaign to end violence against women and girls.
26/11/2024
Research team develops novel biomimetic speaking valve technology
A research team from the University of Freiburg and the Medical Center- University of Freiburg has developed a novel biomimetic speaking valve technology that could significantly increase the safety of tracheostomised patients.
Collaborative research centres on kidney and brain prolonged
A total of around 17 million euros in funding for medical research in Freiburg. The two collaborative research centres have already been successfully funded.
25/11/2024
The DFG Funding Atlas 2024 confirms the University of Freiburg’s consistently high performance
Researchers at the University of Freiburg have acquired a total of 287.8 million euros in DFG funding for 2020-2022. The University of Freiburg performs particularly strongly in the life sciences. With DFG funding of 122.3 million euros, the Medical Center – University of Freiburg ranks third in Germany.
20/11/2024
19/11/2024
Seven Freiburg Scientists have been named Highly Cited Researchers 2024
Seven scientists at the University of Freiburg have been announced as Highly Cited Researchers 2024 in the ranking of the same name. They are among the authors who have been cited the most in their various research fields over the past decade.
15/11/2024
Student Joseph Oertel wins Engagement Prize for his work with Sea Watch
Joseph Oertel is studying medicine at the University of Freiburg and volunteers with Sea Watch e.V. In 2025, the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes (German Academic Scholarship Foundation) honoured him with the Engagement Prize. In this interview, Oertel talks about his commitment to refugees, his tips for other students who want to get involved, and what gives him strength.
14/11/2024
Fourteen thousand World War I poems digitised
The Centre for Popular Culture and Music (ZPKM) of the University of Freiburg is publishing historic sources from World War I
13/11/2024
Holdings in the low-lying stacks of the University Library at the University of Freiburg have been partially affected by mould
The affected volumes are currently not available for loan. The mould infestation was discovered at a very early stage. Immediate measures for protection and cleaning are in progress. There is no health risk.
ShanghaiRanking GRAS 2024: The University of Freiburg lands a spot amongst the Top 100 in four subjects
Extraordinary quality has been rewarded: With 28 out of 55 subjects evaluated, the University of Freiburg is well placed in the national and international ‘Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2024 (GRAS)’ compiled by ShanghaiRanking Consultancy. Among more than 1,900 universities from 96 countries, the University landed in the top 100 worldwide in four subjects.
08/11/2024
Collapse of the traffic light coalition: “Dreams of quick new elections are illusory.”
In this interview, Freiburg political scientist Uwe Wagschal talks about the significance of the collapse of the ‘traffic light’ coalition, the planned new elections and how the political situation in Germany will change until then and beyond.
07/11/2024
Excellence Strategy: Cluster applications to be reviewed starting in November
A decisive phase is now beginning for the newly proposed Clusters of Excellence ConTrans and Future Forests, as well as for the two existing Clusters of Excellence CIBSS and livMatS: their full and follow-up proposals will be reviewed by international experts in Bonn in the coming weeks as part of the current round of the Excellence Strategy competition organised by the German federal and state governments.
05/11/2024
Researchers at the University of Freiburg receive ERC Synergy Grants
The European Research Council (ERC) is honouring two international and interdisciplinary teams, including researchers from Freiburg
04/11/2024
Prof. Dr. Abhinav Valada Awarded at IROS Robotics Conference
Freiburg robotics researcher receives IROS Toshio Fukuda Young Professional Award
31/10/2024
Eucor Fall School on sustainable water use on the Rhine
From 7 October to 11 October 2024, students and doctoral candidates explored the sustainable water use in the Rhine region as part of the trinational Eucor Fall School. In a policy paper, they developed recommendations for cross-border policy in the Upper Rhine region.
Research for more heat protection: Ihringen is a pilot municipality
The PROLOK project and the municipality of Ihringen are jointly exploring new ways of protecting small communities from heatwaves. PROLOK is a project of the Sustainability Innovation Campus, a joint initiative of the University of Freiburg and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), funded by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research and Arts.
30/10/2024
Study on multilingualism and democracy
The Freiburg linguist Prof. Dr. Katharina Brizić is starting a case study on ‘Migration, Belonging, and Cohesion in Multilingual Berlin’. The focus is on children and youths. The study is part of a large-scale project funded by the EU.
25/10/2024
New Research Project to Develop Environmentally Friendly Sodium-Ion Batteries
Sodium is inexpensive and easy to recycle, so the sodium-ion technology is regarded as holding great promise für energy storage. However, it is not yet ready for use on an industrial scale. The ENTISE project aims to change that. Two teams from the University of Freiburg’s Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF) are collaborating on the project.
24/10/2024
New formation of neurons from stem cell niche disrupted after stroke
Activation of microglial cells in the subventricular zone of rodents results in the reduced survival of newborn neurons after stroke than in a healthy brain.
22/10/2024
Interdisciplinary Lecture Series on Sustainability Begins on 30 October 2024
The interdisciplinary lecture series on sustainability, offered within the context of the optional Sustainability Certificate programme, will again be held in the 2024/25 winter semester. The lectures are geared towards the interested public and all matriculated students.
17/10/2024
Studying Insects with Drones
A team at the University of Freiburg has built a drone capable of following and filming bees over a distance of more than 100 metres. The data is intended to provide information about the behaviour of insects in their national surroundings. The researchers developed a new tracking technology for this purpose.
16/10/2024
The Academic Year has officially begun
‘Research without limits in Freiburg – international, interdisciplinary, innovative’ was the motto during the official opening ceremony for the 2024/2025 academic year at the University of Freiburg in Freiburg’s Paulussaal on 16 October 2024.
15/10/2024
2,800 visitors for First Semester Day
Around 2,800 participants were present at the First Semester Day of the University of Freiburg in SC Freiburg’s Europa-Park Stadium.
Plastic pollution harms bees
A new review study in Nature Communications is the first to systematically show the harmful effects of nano- and microplastics on bees and other beneficial insects. Their function as pollinators is impaired by the plastic particles. This harbours risks for global food security.
11/10/2024
University of Freiburg among Eight Best German Universities on Nature Index 2024 Neuroscience
The Nature Index 2024 Neuroscience supplement is out. It ranks the University of Freiburg as one of the leading 200 academic institutions. Freiburg comes in at 103rd place internationally and eighth in German comparison.
CWTS Leiden Ranking 2024 Open Edition: The University of Freiburg lands in eighth place amongst the top 10% publications nationwide
The University of Freiburg is ranked fifth in the top 10% of publications in the research areas of ‘Biomedical and Health Sciences’ and sixth in ‘Life and Earth Sciences’.
Plant stem cells: Better understanding the biological mechanism of growth control
Researchers from the University of Freiburg have identified the HAN molecule as an important regulator that controls plant growth in conjunction with WOX5. Understanding this mechanism is relevant for breeding more resilient or higher-yielding crops.
10/10/2025
Semester Welcome 2024
The Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg will once again be welcoming first-semester students to the Europa-Park stadium of SC Freiburg this year. The Welcome Day will take place on Friday, October 11. In addition to the new students, families and friends as well as students from higher semesters are cordially invited.
09/10/2024
THE World University Rankings 2025: the University of Freiburg ranks 11th nationwide
The THE (Times Higher Education) World University Rankings 2025 have just been released. The University of Freiburg is ranked 11th out of a total of 50 German institutions. Internationally, it is ranked 128th out of over 2,000 ranked institutions.
04/10/2025
Order of Merit for Freiburg Forest Scientist Johann Georg Goldammer
On 1 October, the Freiburg forest scientist and fire ecologist Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Johann Georg Goldammer was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany by President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Berlin. The president recognized Goldammer as ‘one of the most experienced experts on forest fires worldwide’ and emphasized: ‘It was he who introduced the issue of preventing and fighting forest fires to the United Nations.’
04/10/2024
University of Freiburg Marks Retirement of Andreas Barner as Chair of University Council
Andreas Barner, the longest-ever serving University Council chair, is retiring from his post after nine successful years. Rector Kerstin Krieglstein acknowledges him as an outstanding individual who played a decisive role in shaping and guiding the University’s further development.
02/10/2024
Movements of Plant Leaves Distort Satellite-Based Vegetation Monitoring
Satellites have been used since the 1970s to observe the condition of vegetation on Earth. However, the movement of plant leaves can systematically influence this satellite data and lead to misinterpretations of vegetation conditions. This has been demonstrated for the first time in a study led by the Freiburg geoinformatics expert Prof. Dr. Teja Kattenborn in the Nature journal Communications Earth & Environment.
Inspired By Nature: Filtering Textile Microfibres in Waste Water
Prof. Thomas Speck and Dr. Tom Masselter from the Cluster of Excellence livMatS Are Developing a Novel Filtering System for Washing Machines
01/10/2024
New Newsletter for all University Members
All for one: The new University-wide newsletter “Rundblick” will be launched on October 2, 2024. Every two weeks, it will inform all members of the University of Freiburg about central topics from the Rectorate, from research, studies, teaching, as well as about services and events.
30/09/2024
Joint Initiative on Fighting Cardiovascular and Kidney Diseases
A joint meeting of collaborative research centres and graduate schools funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) devoted to highlighting the key significance of cardiovascular and kidney research in Germany will be held at the Kap Europa Congress Centre in Frankfurt am Main on 9 and 10 October 2024.
27/09/2024
Jet Stream’s Centuries-Long Impact on European Societies Revealed
A new study published in “Nature” has examined how historical extreme weather events contributed to harvest failures, wildfires, and epidemics in Europe. Dr. Andrea Seim, a forest scientist from Freiburg, participated in this research.
AI Research: University of Freiburg Making Important Contribution
The Nature Index 2024 Artificial Intelligence supplement is out. It ranks the University of Freiburg as one of the leading 200 institutions in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). Freiburg comes in at 143th place internationally and is the eighth best university in German comparison.
26/09/2024
Modelled from nature – Light-controlled bio-based OptoAssays can diagnose diseases more easily and affordably
A research team from the University of Freiburg and the INM – Leibniz Institute for New Materials in Saarbrücken has, for the first time, developed light-controlled tests to detect pathogens and other biomarkers. These OptoAssays not only mimic the behaviour of biological cells but also use their genetic programming.
25/09/2024
Embryonic development: Discovery in Freiburg 100 years ago shapes research today
In 1924, Hans Spemann and Hilde Mangold in Freiburg made observations that contributed decisively to our current understanding of embryonic development and which were recognised with a Nobel Prize. 100 years later, an international symposium and a temporary exhibition at the Uniseum put the scientists’ work in the context of current research.
23/09/2024
Carl Zeiss Foundation supports early career research group for biohybrid neuroimplants
Dr Simon Binder has been awarded a five-year, 1.5 million euro grant from the Carl Zeiss Foundation for his research into novel neuroimplants.
06/09/2024
„Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network“-funding for Giuseppe Sansone
The QU-ATTO doctoral network ley by Prof Dr Giuseppe Sansone is investigating quantum information science processes such as entanglement and coherence with the temporal resolution offered by attosecond technology.
05/09/2024
Vaccination skepticism and esoteric attitudes are linked
Freiburg political scientists prove that positive attitudes towards esotericism and alternative medicine influence Covid-19 vaccination rates and the reasons for vaccination
22/08/2024
Website goes live with new look, structure, and technology
The University of Freiburg has relaunched and is continuing to modernise its website
16/08/2024
Statement on dealing with the Israel-Palestine conflict at the University of Freiburg
Disputes about the Israel/Palestine conflict in public, in politics, in the media and also at universities in some cases become highly controversial and emotional.
19/08/2024
ShanghaiRanking: University of Freiburg places highly again
Fifth place nationally, among the best 101-150 universities internationally from a total 2500: once again the University of Freiburg has achieved very good results in the prestigious ranking
06/08/2024
University Administration Outing
The Central Administration (ZUV) of the University of Freiburg will have limited availability on 18 July 2024
24/07/2024
Gender Differences in Sport – Sport gÄndern
At the Department of Sport and Sport Science students are investigating the role played by gender in various areas of sport
25/07/2024
Volkswagen Foundation Supporting Two University of Freiburg Research Projects
Dr. Axel Bohmann is examining linguistic variation at the level of the individual. Prof. Dr. Edoardo Milana is investigating how “neurofluidic” systems can be integrated into soft robots.
18/07/2024
Analysing internal world models of humans, animals and AI
Freiburg researchers develop new formal description of internal world models, thereby enabling interdisciplinary research
16/07/2024
Learning from Venus: Combining Earth System Sciences with Planetary Sciences
The Volkswagen Foundation is funding a new tenure track professorship in Earth and Planetary Geodynamics at the University of Freiburg
09/07/2024
Unique characteristics of previously unexplored protein discovered
Freiburg-Prague research collaboration achieves scientific breakthrough in understanding cell division
05/07/2024
How Cities Can Adapt to Climate Change with Artificial Intelligence
The Freiburg project ‘I4C – Intelligence for Cities’ has developed locally precise climate models and foundations for planning tools
04/07/2024
CWTS Leiden Rankings: University of Freiburg ranks 11th nationwide in number of publications
In the research field “Biomedical and Health Sciences,” the University of Freiburg ranks 6th in the total number of publications.
03/07/2024
Julia Gurol-Haller is the new speaker of the Junge Akademie
The University of Freiburg Political Scientist sees the societal role of research as a key issue of her term in office
