Our Focus on Diversity

Female Pioneers from Ancient Egypt and the Middle East

When asked about female pioneers in science, most people recall famous physicists such as Lise Meitner and Marie Curie. "But few know about the women who played key roles in the evolution of science from the East," said Radwa Khalil, a neuroscientist at Jacobs University and postdoctoral fellow to professor Ben Godde. To contribute to a broader perception of the topic, which might even advance today's gender roles, scientists from Jacobs University and Australia's Western Sydney University cooperated on a recently published book – crossing various disciplines and geographical regions.

Attracting international scientific talent: Professor Isabel Wünsche appointed as Humboldt Scout

Using the networks of the scouts to recruit excellent junior researchers from abroad for joint research projects in Germany – that is the idea behind the Henriette Herz Scouting Program of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. Dr. Isabel Wünsche, Professor of Art and Art History at Jacobs University Bremen, has been appointed as one of these talent recruiters.

Key competence creativity and how it can be fostered in online teaching

Whether at universities or at schools – in the wake of the pandemic, e-learning has become the new normal. Even more than in face-to-face classes, the promotion of creativity is often neglected in digital teaching. An interdisciplinary research project led by Jacobs University Bremen wants to change this. It intends to develop digital solutions with which the creativity of students and other learners can be specifically supported, regardless of the subject studied or taught.

Emotion research: Better understanding what makes us tick

Joy at receiving the vaccine; anger, frustration, even rage at constantly changing rules and the restriction of personal freedom – in extreme situations like the pandemic, emotions run high. That emotions and moods are a key to understanding how people think and act is postulated in an article by 64 international scientists from a wide range of disciplines with the University of Geneva as lead institution. The article has now been published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour. Professor Arvid Kappas, emotion researcher and psychologist at Jacobs University Bremen, contributed to the article.

Best Bachelor Thesis: OLB Science Award for Isabella Langen

The way we learn, the way we acquire knowledge, is in part culturally shaped. This is particularly noticeable at a university like Jacobs University Bremen, with students from over 110 nations. Psychology student Isabella Langen made the difference in learning behavior between Western- and Eastern-oriented students the subject of her bachelor's thesis. And she was awarded the OLB Science Prize 2020 for best thesis.

Autonomous learning: researchers develop Study Buddy for professional development

Digitalization is gaining speed. To keep up with it, lifelong learning is becoming increasingly important for professional success. But how do you find the right course for your needs and learning preferences among the many available options? Study Buddy, the virtual companion for professional development, aims to show the way through the jungle of options. The joint project with the participation of Jacobs University Bremen is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

How attached are we to our home? Jacobs University researchers develop a Heimat index

“Heimat”- the German term for “home” or “homeland” is defined in the Duden Dictionary as: “country, region, or city in which one is born and raised in, or where one feels most familiar.” In a study for the German Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community (Bundesministerium des Innnern, für Bau und Heimat), a team of researchers from Jacobs University led by Professor Klaus Boehnke has, for the first time, assessed people’s attachment to their homeland, or “Heimat,” in Germany as an indicator of successful integration. “Those who feel more connected to their homeland report greater happiness, satisfaction with life, and optimism,” said the Professor of Social Science Methodology.

Researchers introduce app for better obstetric communication

Good contact between all those involved is the be-all and end-all of a smooth, self-determined birth. But especially in times of the coronavirus with its distance rules and contact restrictions, trusting exchange can prove difficult. Researchers at Jacobs University Bremen have now developed a German language app that aims to improve communication in obstetrics. It addresses expectant mothers, their relatives, and medical staff – especially midwives, whose work will be honored on May 5, 2021, with the International Day of the Midwife.

Researchers at Jacobs University examine children’s trust in social robots

They are not intended to replace teachers, but to support them – for example, through personalized learning tasks tailored to the needs of each individual child. Social robots that communicate, interact, and build relationships with humans are increasingly being tested in school education, but what factors influence whether children actually trust these robots as teachers? That is what researchers at Jacobs University and at Uppsala University investigated in a joint meta-analysis.

Minority versus majority: research on the resource management dilemma

Who cleans the kitchen? Residents of shared apartments know the conflict: the kitchen is dirty, but no one feels responsible for cleaning it. In a new project at Jacobs University Bremen, psychologist Dora Simunovic is conducting research on conflicts and cooperation that arise when different groups share a physical space and a common resource. "How we regulate conflicts over shared resources helps determine how harmoniously we live together," said the scientist. Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, the German research funding organization, is supporting the project.

New Master's program at Jacobs University: Data Science for Society and Business

Digital data are a valuable resource for society and the economy. They are regarded by many as the oil of the 21st century. How they can be extracted, processed and used sustainably is the focus of a new Master's program at Jacobs University Bremen. Data Science for Society and Business (DSSB), as the interdisciplinary, English-language program is called, opens up excellent future prospects for graduates in many professional fields.

To Jacobs University Bremen with the Federal Chancellor Fellowship

It is awarded to future leaders from China, India, Russia, the United States and Brazil, to ten people per year and country: with the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation's Chancellor Fellowship, doctoral student Xiaowei Liao is conducting research at Jacobs University Bremen. Sven Voelpel, Professor of Business Administration at the English-speaking university, is supporting her research.

Research on corona: Volkswagen Foundation funds project at Jacobs University

It came suddenly, unexpectedly for most, but it has profound consequences not only for people’s health: What impact does the coronavirus pandemic have on moral values and social orientations in a society? Funded by the Volkswagen Foundation, an interdisciplinary team of researchers from the Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Jacobs University Bremen, the University of Edinburgh, and Leuphana University Lüneburg is investigating this question in cooperation with the think tank d|part as a practice partner.

Professor Klaus Boehnke new member of the Board of Directors of international psychologists' association

The International Association of Applied Psychology (IAAP) is the oldest and largest international organization of psychologists. Klaus Boehnke, Professor of Social Science Methodology at Jacobs University Bremen, has now been elected to its Board of Directors. Founded in 1920, the association is primarily committed to the international cooperation of psychologists.

Research project on the digitization of the energy system

The future of energy supply is decentralized. Millions of photovoltaic systems, heat pumps or electric vehicles will actively coordinate power supply and consumption. How can the safety and reliability of this process be guaranteed? This is the focus of a research project initiated by the Deutsche Energie-Agentur (dena), an agency for applied energy transition. The project involves 21 partners from industry and science, including Jacobs University Bremen. Marius Buchmann is leading the project on part of the international university.