News in research and teaching

How can digital twins support the energy infrastructure of the future? What role do new materials play in sustainable energy storage? How do AI, hydrogen technologies and new concepts contribute to the energy transition in Saarland? These are the questions addressed by the EnFoSaar project, which focuses on energy research. On 21 October, the Annual Conference will bring together representatives from academia, industry, politics and broader society to present and discuss research findings. [...]

The Hydrogen Technologies certificate programme at Saarland University covers the essential scientific and technical fundamentals of hydrogen, focusing on its production, uses and associated technological processes. The programme is aimed at students in the Faculty of Science and Technology, as well as participants from industry and the public sector. The modules will take place every Friday from 1.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. and the course begins on 30 October 2026. [...]

During the winter semester, Saarland University is once again hosting public lectures. The lectures for the upcoming week will be announced here. The planned lecture dates can also be found in the event calendar on the university's homepage. [...]

On 28 October, the Department of Romance Linguistics, headed by Professor Claudia Polzin-Haumann, is organizing its first-ever careers day on the topic 'Studying Languages and Cultures: What Next?', running from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. School students from year 10 onwards, prospective students and current students of social science subjects relating to languages and cultures will find information on a wide range of career paths at the Innovation Center (A2 1) on the Saarbrücken campus. [...]

Am 15. und 22. Oktober wird es an den Zu- und Ausfahrten des Saarbrücker Campus sowie an den Parkhäusern und -flächen im Umfeld Verkehrs- und Parkraumerhebungen geben. Die Erhebungen finden im Zuge der Entwicklung des Mobilitätskonzeptes für den Campus Saarbrücken statt. [...]

The number of students at Saarland University has fallen only slightly for the winter semester compared with last year. Currently, 15,834 students are enrolled. Based on past years, this number can be expected to rise to just over 16,000 by the official enrolment closing date on 30 November 2026. Last year, a total of 16,114 young people were planning to study at Saarland University at this stage. [...]

With the start of the winter semester on Monday 12 October, Saarland University's public lecture series will also resume. The lectures are open to the public and the following lectures will take place in the week of 12 October: [...]

Thirteen researchers have been selected from nearly 400 applications for the new Käte Hamburger Research Centre cohort. They will spend up to twelve months conducting research in Saarbrücken on cultural practices of reparation, focusing on everything from philosophy and history to literary, cultural, media, dance and museum studies. On Wednesday, 21 October 2026, at 6.30 pm, the fellows will present their research to the public at the Käte Hamburger reception in the Innovation Centre. [...]

On 21 October, the Centre for Franco-German Relations at Saarland University will celebrate its 30th anniversary as part of this year's Rentrée francophone, a French-style kick-off to the winter semester. The anniversary celebration will begin at 4 p.m. in the 'Aula' assembly hall. The Centre for Franco-German Relations cordially invites all university members, cooperation partners and key figures in Franco-German cooperation in the region to join the celebration. [...]

Wie finanziere ich mein Studium? In welchem Studiengang lerne ich etwas über Europa oder zum Thema Nachhaltigkeit? Und wann ist der Einsatz von KI im Studium sinnvoll? Antworten auf diese Fragen gibt das Uni-Magazin „campus extra“, das heute als Printversion der Saarbrücker Zeitung beiliegt. Die Universität des Saarlandes informiert darin über einzelne Studiengänge und Forschungsprojekte. Außerdem werden neue Gebäude auf dem Campus in Saarbrücken und Homburg vorgestellt. [...]

Was hilft gegen den weltweiten Bewegungsmangel? Gibt es ein Grundrecht auf Umweltschutz? Wie verhalten sich Risse im Mikrokosmos? Insgesamt vierzehn herausragende Doktorarbeiten zeichnet die Universitätsgesellschaft des Saarlandes am Donnerstag, dem 8. Oktober, um 18 Uhr in der Aula auf dem Saarbrücker Campus mit Promotionspreisen aus. [...]

Treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics often leads to side effects, as it affects not only the pathogens but also the beneficial bacteria in the gut. An interdisciplinary research team demonstrated that the natural compound argyrin B is highly effective in fighting the pathogen Clostridioides difficile while largely sparing the beneficial gut microbiome. [...]

The Department of Protestant Theology at Saarland University has organized an interdisciplinary lecture series during the winter semester entitled 'What happens to us when we die? – Cultures of the End of Life'. The lectures will provide insights into historical and contemporary conceptions of death and the afterlife, from antiquity to pastoral care to crime fiction. The lectures will take place every Wednesday from 6.15 pm to 7.45 pm in building B3 1, room 0.11 and are open to the public. [...]

Professor of Chemistry Tanja Gulder's team at Saarland University draws inspiration from nature to develop new approaches to drug discovery. Their findings are attracting outstanding young researchers from all over the world – such as Joscha Meiers. The PhD pharmaceutical scientist is working on incorporating halogens into organic compounds in an environmentally friendly and energy-efficient manner. [...]

Paul Motzki has been appointed Professor of Smart Materials & Systems at Saarland University. The professorship will receive funding from the ME Saar Foundation, which is supported by the Saarland metal and electrical engineering industry, for a period of four years. Paul Motzki's research focuses primarily on sensors, drive systems and refrigeration machines, which he optimizes using innovative materials. [...]

Graduates and students from all departments can apply for the one-semester continuing education programme in consulting at Saarland University through 16 October. This programme is geared towards real-world consulting and prepares those starting their careers for the demands of strategy, process and IT consulting. [...]

Heisenberg Professor Anneli Peters will take up the Klaus Faber Endowed Professorship in Neuroimmunology at Saarland University on 1 October. At the same time, she is taking over as head of the newly established Klaus Faber Institute of Neuroimmunology. The institute will play a key role in advancing this dynamic field of research at the Homburg campus. Peters' research focuses on inflammatory autoimmune diseases of the central nervous system, with a particular focus on multiple sclerosis… [...]

On 8 October, the Saarland University Society will honour young academics from all faculties for their exceptional achievements. Beginning at 6 p.m., the prize-winners will provide an engaging look into their award-winning research in the 'Aula' assembly hall on the Saarbrücken campus (A3 3). The managing director of the Saarland University Society, Professor Frank Mücklich, will give a keynote speech in German on the topic 'Circular economy – it sounds good, but what does it actually mean?'. [...]

Niklas Bender has been named Professor of French and Italian Literature at Saarland University. Bender focuses the literatures of France and Italy across various periods, examining topics such as the interplay between literature and science, the mechanics of humour, literary portrayal of Old Testament figures and the influence of drugs on literature. [...]

Die europäische Kulturgeschichte ist voller Leerstellen: Wo materielle Zeugnisse fehlen, Künstlerinnen und Künstler aus dem Kanon fallen, Wissensbestände vergessen oder zerstört und soziale Gruppen ausgeschlossen werden. Doch was nicht sichtbar ist, kann dennoch anwesend sein, denn jene systemischen Un/Sichtbarkeiten werden stets von institutionalisierten Kontrollmechanismen, ordnenden Überwachungsregimes oder (kultur-)politischen Institutionen hergestellt und reguliert. [...]

In industrial production, getting the sequence right is crucial. What sounds trivial at first poses a considerable challenge for sectors with complex planning processes. The automotive industry is just one of many examples. Parts from suppliers must arrive on time and a wide variety of model configurations need to be mass-produced. At the same time, innovation cycles are becoming ever shorter. An AI-supported planning platform that optimally controls the production process has yet to be introduc [...]

Francesca Gilli is the new Professor of Neuroinflammation at Saarland University. She joins the university from the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth in the USA where she was most recently Associate Professor of Neurology. Her research focuses on how inflammatory processes in the central nervous system contribute to the development and progression of neurological diseases. [...]

To mark the conclusion of Saarland University’s first Startup Launchpad, Demo Day brought together around 150 guests from politics, business, academia and the Saarland start-up scene. At Innovation Center on the Saarbrücken Campus, eight selected teams presented the results of a three-month intensive start-up programme. The teams from Tello, Ascle, Chromamos, Carboslag and Griffi (n3tz) received awards. [...]

On 28 September, Dr. Rudolf Richter, Professor Emeritus of Economics will celebrate his 100th birthday. Professor Richter specialized in Economic Theory at Saarland University and was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Mannheim. [...]

Saarland University’s new discipline, Computational Social Science, is investigating how social science questions can be answered using methods from computer science and novel data sources. An English-language lecture series in the coming winter term will offer insights into this field of research at the interface between the social sciences and computer science. The lectures will take place every Friday from 12.15 pm to 1.45 pm (Building E1 7, Room 3.23). The series begins on 16 October. [...]

The Long Night of Industry on 4 November gives students an opportunity to discover the diversity of Saarland's industrial sector.
Saarland's 'Long Night of Industry' will take place on Wednesday 4 November. Students can visit companies free of charge and discover the huge breadth of Saarland's industrial base. Applications are now open for tours that include visits to one or two companies. [...]

Should the US surveillance software Palantir be classified as effective law enforcement or a threat to the rule of law? Roman Poseck, Interior Minister of the German state of Hesse, will discuss this question with experts on Wednesday 23 September. [...]

There is certainly no shortage of things to disagree and argue about. But which issues are worth debating? What tone should we adopt? Which arguments hit the mark, and which fall short? In her new role as Professor of Philosophy and Discourse Culture, Viktoria Knoll will conduct research and teach at Saarland University. Her research focuses on feminist debates surrounding gender. [...]

Valentin Lang has been appointed Professor of Economics, specializing in macroeconomics and economic policy, at Saarland University. His research examines the causes and consequences of globalization and deglobalization from a political-economic perspective. In particular, he explores the factors behind the rise of economic nationalism, analyses patterns of economic inequality and evaluates the economic policies of the European Union and other international organizations. [...]

Following the completion of the final work on the building's exterior and grounds, the new UNISPORT Centre building will be officially opened on 25 September. The modern sports and fitness centre has already been open to the university's students and staff for several months. During this time, it has played a key role in promoting fitness and health at the university. [...]

How can large AI language models be adapted to become more reliable, secure and customisable? How can we understand what is happening inside these language models? Marius Mosbach, new Professor of Language Science and Technology at Saarland University, seeks to address these questions in his research, shedding light on the crucial step that transforms a pre-trained language model into a specialized, reliable system. [...]

Saarland's universities will welcome guests to the yearly University Ball at E-Werk in Saarbrücken on 10 October, where local dance enthusiasts, students and university staff will come together to enjoy a festive evening. The Tobias Deutschmann Orchestra and DJ Moh will be playing everything from dance classics to international party music. Discounted tickets are available for students and trainees. [...]

Artificial intelligence can free up more time for legal professionals to focus on their core legal work. At the EDV-Gerichtstag (EDVGT) conference on 23–25 September on the Saarbrücken campus, the Institute for Legal Informatics at Saarland University will be presenting AI tools for research, teaching and university studies. [...]

On Monday 5 October at 9.00 am, the Faculty of Arts will host an information day for first-year Bachelor’s and teacher training programme students. The event will feature several presentations, useful tips for starting university studies, an information fair and a campus scavenger hunt. [...]

Light is making new, more efficient ways of producing molecules possible, but the underlying processes are not yet fully understood. This poses a major hurdle to employing these methods in industry. Chemist Jola Pospech is investigating how light-driven catalysis can be harnessed for the synthesis of active substances. Pospech, who was recently appointed Professor of Organic Chemistry at Saarland University, aims to understand the underlying mechanisms of these processes in detail. [...]

On Saturday 3 October, Saarland University will be taking part in 'Türen auf mit der Maus' ('Opening Doors with the Mouse') – the nationwide open day initiated by the team behind Germany's iconic children's programme 'Sendung mit der Maus' ('The Show with the Mouse'). In keeping with this year's theme, children aged five and over will have the chance to discover the 'little wonders' of science and research in four of the University's school labs. [...]

Christopher Nolan's film adaptation of Homer's The Odyssey had already grossed more than 1.5 billion US dollars at the box office by the end of August. Why does a story written over 2,500 years ago still generate such enthusiasm and spark debate? This question will be explored at a symposium on classical studies organized by Saarland University in collaboration with the Filmhaus cinema in Saarbrücken and the Freunden der Antike (Friends of Antiquity) on Saturday 26 September, starting at 10 a.m. [...]

Rund 1.000 Fachleute aus Wissenschaft, Justiz, Anwaltschaft, Verwaltung und Politik erörtern vom 23. bis 25. September auf dem EDV-Gerichtstag (EDVGT) wieder die Zukunft von Recht und Justiz in der digitalen Gesellschaft. Zum 35. Mal kommt der größte deutsche Fachkongress auf diesem Gebiet an der Rechtswissenschaftlichen Fakultät der Universität des Saarlandes zusammen. Das Motto lautet in diesem Jahr „Daten, KI und Recht“. [...]

The European Union is providing a further €4.6 million in funding for the Master's programme Advanced Materials Science and Engineering (AMASE). This latest award brings the total funding since 2005 to more than €20 million, making it one of the most successful programmes supported under the prestigious Erasmus Mundus scheme. [...]

The Joint Federal Committee, which oversees the German healthcare system, recently approved a screening appointment programme for children ages 9 and 10, known as the U10. This marks a turning point for vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV). For the first time, there is a regular screening appointment for all children covered by statutory health insurance, precisely at the age at which the HPV vaccination is recommended. [...]

For many years, the Water Monitoring Research Group at Saarland University has been investigating pollution in Saarland's streams and rivers with the ultimate aim of implementing measures to protect these bodies of water. A new five-year collaborative project undertaken in partnership with the Saarland Ministry for the Environment, Climate, Mobility, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (MUKMAV) was launched in July. [...]

Saarland University has held its Fairtrade University title since 2014 and has been recertified for the fifth time. Whenever possible, Fairtrade Universities prioritize Fairtrade products, such as coffee, tea, fruit, spreads, chocolate and rice, alongside taking other actions to support fair working conditions for all. [...]

Scarce resources and vulnerable supply chains pose enormous challenges for companies and policymakers. Value chains need to be reimagined the regional, European and global level. The CircularSaar initiative aims to transform the traditional economic system into a circular economy that preserves value and promotes a sustainable future. [...]

Large language models such as ChatGPT have become an integral part of everyday life for many people and businesses. They are being used, e.g., to gather information from multiple sources and to support complex planning processes. Yet these AI systems are not infallible and they continue to make mistakes – LLMs hallucinate and struggle to combine information in a logically rigorous manner. Computational linguist Michael Hahn has set out to strengthen the theoretical foundations of AI reasoning. [...]

Whether it's customer data, employee data, cloud applications or the use of artificial intelligence, ensuring personal data processing complies with regulations is one of the key responsibilities of businesses and public institutions. Saarland University is now offering two part-time professional development certificate programmes, the Data Protection Officer certificate and Data Protection Law certificate, tailored to different training needs. [...]

In a joint initiative, the Saarland state government, Saarland University and the Saarland Immigration Office are establishing a new support service for international students and researchers. The campus service point will begin operating with a soft launch on 1 September. In the initial phase, processes and workflows will be tested and refined so that everything is ready for full-service operations by the start of the 2026/2027 winter semester. [...]

Experiences of abuse, violence and rejection in childhood and adolescence can have serious consequences for mental health and increase the risk of self-perpetuating cycles of violence within families and societies. In his new role, Anselm Crombach will investigate the mechanisms that sustain these cycles, as well as the effects of experiencing and perpetrating violence. He will also develop and evaluate interventions for treating and preventing trauma-related disorders and aggressive behaviour. [...]

As part of the UniGR-ECHO series, Saarland University is hosting an academic symposium, ECHO 2026 – Sustainability and the Circular Future with UniGR-CIRKLA, on 14 and 15 September 2026. The symposium will cover a spectrum of topics ranging from technical and economic topics to the legal and social aspects of a sustainable circular economy. [...]

Pascal Kieren has been appointed to a professorship in business administration, specializing in financial services, at Saarland University. His research examines how financial market participants such as retail investors, fund managers and analysts, make decisions, and the consequences of their behaviour for financial markets and the wider economy. Kieren's work combines insights from behavioural science with research questions in finance and economic policy. [...]

On 31 August, Dr Heinz Engelhardt, Professor of Instrumental Analysis/Environmental Analysis at Saarland University and Honorary Doctor of the University of Aix-en-Provence, will celebrate his 90th birthday. [...]