Seal element of the university of freiburg in the shape of a clover

Press Releases

This section offers various updates on the activities and achievements of FRIAS, its fellows, and alumni. If you have news to share, please contact us. The archive includes news dating back to the summer of 2024. Subscribe to our channels to stay up to date.

Jürgen Osterhammel receives an honorary doctorate from the University of Freiburg

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Ehrendoktor für Historiker Prof. Dr. Jürgen Osterhammel

Die Universität Freiburg hat Prof. Dr. Jürgen Osterhammel mit der Ehrendoktorwürde ausgezeichnet. Der Historiker ist ein führender Vertreter globaler Perspektiven in der zeitgenössischen Geschichtsschreibung und hat diese wesentlich mitgeprägt. Ein Schwerpunkt seiner Arbeit ist die Auseinandersetzung mit der Geschichte Chinas.

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Abdulrazak Gurnah at the Aula University of Freiburg giving Hermann Staudinger Lecture

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32. Staudinger Lecture – Abdulrazak Gurnah

For the first time in its history, the prestigious FRIAS Hermann Staudinger Lecture was delivered by a nobel laureate from outside the natural sciences: Abdulrazak Gurnah, winner of the 2021 Nobel Prize in Literature, spoke at the University of Freiburg, reflecting about the meaning of “Living together” in the past and contemporary societies.

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Minister Petra Olschowski at Conference of Baden-Württemberg/Connecticut have been funding the Human Rights Research Consortium (HRRC)

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„Ohne Mut und Furchtlosigkeit geht Wissenschaft nicht mehr“

Die vierte Jahrestagung des Human Rights Research Consortium (HRRC) demonstrierte, wie interdisziplinäre Erforschung von Menschenrechten Demokratie stärkt. Sie zeigte aber ebenfalls, wie aktuelle Entwicklungen in den USA die Gefährdung der Wissenschaftsfreiheit auch in Europa ins Blickfeld rücken.

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FRIAS Direktor von den Hoff und ein Fellow unterhalten sich im Rahmen des AvH-Netzwerktreffens

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FRIAS stärkt Netzwerk mit Alexander von Humboldt-Stipendiat:innen

Am 4. Juni 2025 fand am FRIAS das erste Netzwerktreffen mit Stipendiat:innen der Alexander-von-Humboldt-Stiftung und ihren Gastgeber:innen statt. Weitere Treffen sind geplant.

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Sebastian Wogenstein FRIAS HRRC Portrait picture

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Research on Human Rights: “We can feel that something is shifting”

On June 17 and 18, 2025, the fourth annual conference of the Human Rights Research Consortium (HRRC), which is coordinated by FRIAS, will take place in Freiburg. Ahead of the event, Sebastian Wogenstein, one of the four HRRC directors, talks about the impact of current US policy on scientific exchange and the future of the project.

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Portrait of Benjamin Nathans

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Pulitzer Prize for FRIAS Alumnus Benjamin Nathans

Former FRIAS Fellow Benjamin Nathans has been awarded the prestigious Pulitzer Prize in General Nonfiction in May 2025 for his book “To the Success of Our Hopeless Cause”. It provides a gripping account of courage, resistance, and forgotten voices behind the Iron Curtain.

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Portrait of Elisabeth Piller

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80 Years after the End of the War in Europe: How Stable Is the Postwar Order?

How stable is the world order that took shape after 1945 – and what will happen if its foundations crumble? In our interview, the Freiburg historian Jun.-Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Piller speaks about the fragile transatlantic relations and draws historical parallels between postwar periods. It is a discussion of shifts of power, emotional breaks – and the end of cherished certainties.

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Scholar sitting in FRIAS Library

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FRIAS Website Relaunched with new Features and Design

As part of the university-wide website relaunch, FRIAS has completely redesigned its online presence. The updated website is intended to be clearer, more user-friendly, and includes several new features.

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Auslage der Grpahic Novel Welt im Wandel

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New Graphic Novel Communicates Sustainability in a Creative Way

Addressing new audiences involves exploring new avenues: This insight motivated five members of the first generation at the Young Academy for Sustainability Research (YAS) to convey their research findings to teenagers in a graphic novel.

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Javier Francisco auf der Bühne beim Vortragen

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YAS: Career launchpad and incubator for sustainability research

After three years, the first funding phase of the Young Academy for Sustainability Research (YAS) ended in September 2024. In this time, the Academy has established itself as an incubator for innovative projects in the field of sustainability research and has decisively supported the careers of up-and-coming scientists. It now also serves as a model for a new funding program at the University of Freiburg.

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Portrait of Guiseppe Sansone

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FRIAS Fellow Sansone receives Marie Skłodowska-Curie funding

The doctoral network QU-ATTO, coordinated by Prof. Dr. Giuseppe Sansone, is supported by the “Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network” program. It investigates processes in quantum information science, such as quantum entanglement or coherence, with the temporal resolution enabled by attosecond technology. The Doctoral Networks (DN) support transnational doctoral programs involving various institutions from both the academic and non-academic sectors.

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Das “Prinzip Held*” erleben – SFB 948 präsentiert Ergebnisse

Eine interaktive Ausstellung im Militärhistorischen Museum Berlin-Gatow präsentiert die Ergebnisse des Sonderforschungsbereiches „Helden, Heroisierung, Heroismen“, der von FRIAS Direktor Ralf von den Hoff geleitet wurde.

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“Ein Aushängeschild für den Forschungsstandort” – MdL Saint-Cast betont Bedeutung des FRIAS

Bei einem Besuch am FRIAS hob die baden-württembergische Landtagsabgeordnete Nadyne Saint-Cast (Die Grünen) die wichtige Rolle des Instituts für die Förderung internationaler Spitzenforschung hervor – auch mit Blick auf die aktuelle Runde der Exzellenzinitiative.

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FRIAS is Promoting Networks of Young Academies

Young Academies offer first interdisciplinary work opportunities to Early Career Researchers. FRIAS is committed to helping Young Academies further extend their networks and establish themselves in the research landscape.

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The Young Academy for Sustainability Research is going into another round

The Eva Mayr-Stihl Foundation is extending 1.26 million euros of support for the Young Academy for Sustainability Research (YAS) until 2027. The Call for Applications or the new funding period runs until March 4, 2024.

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ERC Consolidator Grants awarded to Eva von Contzen

FRIAS Fellow Prof. Dr. Eva von Contzen has received a grant of 2 million euros from the European Research Council (ERC). The ERC is funding von Contzen’s research projects on retellings in English literature.

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New Kuratorium at FRIAS

A new committee is supporting FRIAS in looking for new sponsors. During the first meeting of the FRIAS Kuratorium, the Friends of Freiburg North America made a generous donation.

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Postdoc Appreciation Day at FRIAS

On 20 September, the University of Freiburg honours the work of scientists in early career phases with the Postdoc Appreciation Day. FRIAS is among those involved in this multifaceted programme.

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Jürgen Osterhammel erhält Bayerischen Maximiliansorden

FRIAS Distinguished Fellow Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Jürgen Osterhammel wurde mit dem Bayerischen Maximiliansorden ausgezeichnet. Die Verleihung fand am 26. Juli 2023 im Antiquarium der Münchner Residenz statt.

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FRIAS presents Fellowship Programme 2024/25

Until 15 September 2023, researchers of all nationalities and disciplines can apply for the FRIAS Early Career and Senior Fellowship Programmes 2024/25. In addition, FRIAS is strengthening the exchange with the Global South with a fellowship for researchers from Africa.

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UB University of Freiburg

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HRRC-Funding approved until 2026

In July 2023, the States of Baden-Württemberg (Germany) and Connecticut (USA) decided positively about the application for a second phase of funding for the “Connecticut/Baden-Württemberg-Human Rights Research Consortium” (HRRC) from 2023 to 2026.

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Vom Ende des Kapitalismus in die russische Gedankenwelt

Die „Freiburger Horizonte“ sind mit zwei gut besuchten Veranstaltungen ins Sommersemester 2023 gestartet. Die Buchautorin Ulrike Herrmann und der Freiburger Ökonom Lars Feld stritten über „Das Ende des Kapitalismus“. Die Politikwissenschaftlerin Ekaterina Schulmann skizzierte ein Meinungsbild der russischen Gesellschaft in Zeiten des Krieges.

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All Disciplines United! New FRIAS Colloquium has started

The new centerpiece of the academic programme brings together Humanities and Social Sciences as well as Medicine, Natural and Life Sciences.

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Alumni Freiburg e.V. und FRIAS unterstützen ukrainische Linguistin

Dank großzügiger Spenden der Alumni Freiburg e.V. und durch Mittel des Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies (FRIAS) konnte die Universität Freiburg Fellowships für ukrainische Wissenschaftler:innen anbieten. Eine der Geförderten ist die Linguistin Oksana Mykhalchuk.

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Gold medal for team around FRIAS Co-Director Di Ventura

FRIAS Scientific Director Barbara Di Ventura and her team received a gold medal for their project “chAMBER”and were awarded first place in the competition’s Foundational Advance track in the Overgraduate category.

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Verabschiedung des Direktoriums: „Ich gehe mit zwei lachenden Augen“

Langjährige Wegbegleiter verabschieden den ehemaligen FRIAS-Direktor Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Bernd Kortmann, der die Entwicklung des Instituts neun Jahre maßgeblich geprägt hat, Anfang November mit einem feierlichen Festakt.

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FRIAS-Alumna Johnson receives Heldt Prize

The Heldt Prize 2022 goes to former FRIAS Marie S. Curie FCFP Fellow Janet E. Johnson and her colleagues.

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Portrait of Bernd Kortmann

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Langjähriger FRIAS-Direktor Kortmann übergibt sein Amt

Zum 1. Oktober 2022 scheidet Bernd Kortmann als Direktor des Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies aus. Er übergibt das Amt an den Archäologen Ralf von den Hoff. Ein Rückblick auf zehn erfolgreiche Jahre am FRIAS.

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