Rhein-Main Universitäten

The digital event will start on 9 September with the public keynote by Jun. Prof. Dr. Amrei Bahr of University of Stuttgart on the topic “Auf dem Weg zur Gleichstellung: Wo steht das deutsche Wissenschaftssystem nach vier Jahren #ICHBINHANNA?“ (On the way to equality: where does the German science system stand four years after #ICHBINHANNA?”). For more information on the keynote and the Zoom link, please refer to the keynote poster (in German) available under “Downloads”. 

This will be followed by several workshops and an interactive lecture addressing topics such as inclusion and diversity, motherhood penalty and fatherhood bonus in academia, dealing with pressure, and more. 

The RMU Weeks of Equal Opportunities are aimed at scientists at the Rhine-Main Universities who are members of a research association (e.g. funded by DFG or LOEWE). 

Please note that some events require prior registration. Details and deadlines as well as the meeting links for the events are available in the program under “Downloads” and in our event calendar. 

The series centers on key questions such as: How can those affected be supported? What structural changes are needed, and how can they be initiated? And how can solidarity and collective action be strengthened?

The series begins with two introductory lectures—one in German and one in English—that offer an overview of the causes and manifestations of power abuse in academia, while exploring how universities can respond effectively and responsibly. Following these lectures, three target-group-specific workshops will be offered: for academics, for administrative and technical staff, and for students. These workshops will focus on the role of bystanders in situations involving abuse of power and explore how they can take meaningful and supportive action within the academic contexts.

The event series is open to all members of the Rhine-Main Universities (RMU)—students, academics, as well as administrative and technical staff—and encourages active engagement with a topic that concerns us all.

The RMU Winter Series is organized by the Gender Equality Office of TU Darmstadt, the Equality and Diversity Office at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, and the Equal Opportunities Office at Goethe University Frankfurt.

Please note: All events will take place via Zoom. Participation is free of charge. Events require prior registration.

Program overview

• Lecture „Abuse of Power in Academia: Forms, Causes, Proposed Solutions“ with Prof. Dr. Daniel Leising (TU Dresden) (in German): 5 November 2025 | 4:00–6:00 PM (CET) 
   
• Lecture „Academic Bullying 101: Impact on Individuals, Society, and the Progress of Science” with Morteza Mahmoudi PhD: 26 November 2025 | 4:00–6:00 PM (CET) 
   
• Workshop “See Something, Do Something – Challenging Power Abuse in Academia” (in German)
   
  • for Academics: 12 December 2025 | 4:00–6:00 PM (CET)
  • for Administrative and Technical Staff: 21 January 2026 | 10:00 AM–12:00 PM (CET)
  • for Students: 28 January 2026, 4:00–6:00 PM (CET)

The symposium is organized by CRC1552 together with several other DFG-funded consortia (CRC1551, CRC1361, 4R-RTG, GenEvo and RTG2516).

The one-day format addresses the role of sustainability in every-day laboratory life and at universities in general from various aspects. The aim is to increase awareness of sustainability measures and to present ways in which everyone can contribute to a more sustainable future.

In addition to talks by scientists, inter alia from Johannes Gutenberg University and Technical University of Darmstadt, there will also talks by the sustainability initiative of JGU Mainz and talks on sustainability in the funding activities of the DFG. 

Everyone from students to laboratory staff to group leaders is welcome to participate. Snacks will be provided and the entry is free. 

"Afrobeat", "K-Pop", "Nollywood" - terms such as these mark the significant changes in international cultural production and its reception in the digital age. Funded by the BMBF with 2.1 million euros for three years, representatives from economic sciences, African studies, Korean studies, sinology, cultural anthropology and film studies from Frankfurt and Mainz are addressing these fundamental shifts, which are creating a new global order of cultural production, in their joint research project "Cultural Entrepreneurship and Digital Transformation in Africa and Asia" - CEDITRAA. Studies and research within the RMU alliance likewise profit from CEDITRAA: The project's research results will be incorporated into the joint bachelor program "African Languages, Media and Communication" which is currently being established. 

More information is available in German on the websites of Goethe University Frankfurt, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and in English at Informationsdienst Wissenschaft (idw). 

By initiating a collaboration that is unique in its setup, the innovation platform Futury has mobilized a broad alliance to systematically establish entrepreneurship in research and teaching at universities. Furthermore, the aim is to accompany talents from science and business along their founder journey and to facilitate their access to capital. Over the next five years, Futury’s initiative is supported by 23 leading industry partners and three prestigious foundations with around 10 million euros, as well as by four universities and numerous stakeholders from politics, investor circles and civil society. The goal is clear: 1,000 new startups by 2030, with a focus on scientific spin-offs. In its approach, Futury takes into account the economic and scientific strengths of the region and focuses on the industry clusters Lifescience & Healthcare, Aviation Space, Banking & Finance as well as on the technology clusters Data & KI and Deep Tech & Green Tech.

“In research and development, Germany ranks among the best in the world – however, it happens too often that the results are not put into practice,” explains Charlie Müller, Founder and Managing Director of Futury. “Together with our partners, we want to change this. We will facilitate the structured transfer of research results into spin-offs – not only in theory, but with market relevance.”

The joint mission: transfer scientific excellence specifically into entrepreneurial effect through early startup support, access to practical experience and structured programs connecting students, researchers and startups with startup know-how, companies and investors. Today, for example, IP4Sshares already enables universities to connect excellent research with entrepreneurial drive and to realize practically relevant opportunities of utilization. Investors have access to strong, protected innovation projects. 

In this scenario, Futury is both platform and catalyst, it pools initiatives , develops strategic partnerships and programs tailored to specific target groups. Through it access to around 100,000 students, more than 12,000 scientists at the three Rhine-Main Universities (Goethe University Frankfurt, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and Technical University of Darmstadt) and Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, the strong alliance around Futury wants to establish entrepreneurship at the universities as an integral component of their DNA – across universities, practically relevant and internationally compatible.

„The Frankfurt Rhein-Main region has enormous potential – with excellent science, a diverse talent pool and relevant industries”, says Melissa Ott, Managing Director of Futury. “What we are building now is a structured process to transfer this potential into startups that benefits business partners, investors and the region, This is precisely what we are now implementing with our partners.”

With successful support to more than 120 startups and more than 100 cooperation partners from the industry, Futury has created a successful innovation platform over the last years that is now being extended to include scientific excellence. Industry partners profit from the connection to major players in the relevant fields and early access to forward-looking technologies, new ideas and entrepreneurial pioneering spirit.

Futury connects scalable startups with investors in order to develop national and international startups and scale-ups in and bind them to the Rhine-Main region.

The Futury III Fund by Futuy Capital provides an additional 40 million euros of venture capital to young companies in the region. “We believe in the region, we believe in the potential of the regional startups. And this is precisely why our capital is intended to make an impact here”, explains Jonas Stüdemann, Partner at Futury Capital.

Establishing venture education is another milestone for the startup location. In order to qualify new investors for the venture capital asset class and to thus strengthen the financing conditions for startups, Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, together with Futury and closely liaising with KfW Capital, is developing tailor-made, certificate programs in the field of venture education. The two new programs will start in the winter semester 2025/26. 

In addition to direct involvement of business and science, philanthropy is also gaining in importance. Three prestigious foundations are already supporting the initiative as funding partners. Together with Futury, they want to create the structural prerequisites to increase entrepreneurial thinking at universities, open up career paths to talents at an early stage and establish a professionally connected ecosystem as the basis for sustainable innovation with market relevance.

A physical hub for this transformation is currently being set up at Bertramshof in the middle of Frankfurt. On 2,000 m², a startup space with room for the startup community, offices, co-working spaces and event areas is created – a central hub of Futury to meet, share and implement in the startup ecosystem. Bertramshof, located in the heart of Germany, brings together science, industry, capital and talents. 

This initiative by Futury, with its strong regional roots and national and international compatibility, positions the Rhine-Main region as a pioneering startup space: connected, academically excellent, practice-oriented and focused on growth. 

About  Futury

Futury is an innovation and startup platform headquartered in Frankfurt am Main. In close cooperation with universities, companies, investors and politics, Futury supports entrepreneurial thinking, sustainable startups and the structured transfer of scientific excellence into the market. The aim is to establish a dynamic innovation ecosystem with a strong professional network. The minister-presidents of the states of Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate have jointly endorsed the initiative. Futury is currently participating in the Startup Factories lighthouse competition of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE), the winners of which will be announced in the second quarter of 2025.

The topic of the 2026 conference is “Lost in Translation? On the importance of transfer in empirical educational research”. The conference will be held at DIPF | Leibniz Institute for Research and Information in Education in Frankfurt am Main. 

What is the task of transfer in empirical educational research? What are the chances and challenges in this context? How can successful science communication support transfer? These and other questions will be discussed at the third conference of the PROM3THEUS series of events. The focus will thus be on the transfer task in empirical educational research, with research projects that are aimed at transfer or have transfer as their research subject being of particular interest.

The conference will offer keynotes, panel discussions, sessions with feedback on questions regarding the participants’ own research projects as well as workshops for researchers. There will also be plenty of time and numerous opportunities for scientists of all career stages to chat with each other, for example at the joint dinner.

The conference is aimed in particular at Early Career Researchers (ECRs) from different disciplines of empirical research from the Rhine-Main area and beyond.

PROM3THEUS is a series of events organized jointly by the Rhine-Main Universities Goethe University Frankfurt, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and Technical University of Darmstadt and DIPF | | Leibniz Institute for Research and Information in Education and funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) (reference no. 01JG2309A).

For additional information on the series of events and further offers, visit the project website at: https://www.zsbh.uni-mainz.de/prom3theus/

Registration will be open from 1 November 2025 to 31 December 2025. A reminder and additional information will be provided in due course.

Any questions can be addressed to the Prom3theus team at prom3theus@dipf.de.

The RTG "Aesthetics of Democracy"

The DFG will fund the RTG "Aesthetics of Democracy" with around 6 million euros in the first funding period. The RTG, with its spokespersons Professor Johannes Völz, American Studies at Goethe University Frankfurt and holder of the professorship for American Studies with a focus on "Democracy and Aesthetics", and philosopher Sophie Loidoldt of Technical University of Darmstadt, wants to make democracy research a bigger focus in the humanities, among other things. Two cohorts of 12 doctoral students each will work on relevant topics over the next five years. There will also be ten additional scientists from a broad spectrum of subjects in the humanities, from general and comparative literary studies to American studies, film and media studies, German studies, art history, modern history, philosophy, Scandinavian Studies and sinology.

The RTG "Technologies of Witnessing: Media and Cultural Practices"

With around 6.3 million euros, the DFG will fund the RTG "Technologies of Witnessing: Media and Cultural Practices" of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) over the next five years. JGU will contribute an additional 550,000 euros. The interdisciplinary group will explore, for example, how techniques of witnessing that are emerging in digitally networked environments change and what consequences these developments have on contemporary cultures. From 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031, the new research training group will offer a structured and interdisciplinary research and study program to 20 doctoral students and 1 postdoc that will also enable space for developing individual research profiles. 

Grants are a positive signal for the RMU

The granting of two RTGs at once from the humanities across the three Rhine-Main Universities is a sustainable contribution to strengthening the humanities at the Rhine-Main Universities and also shows the positive development of the RMU network.

Over 300 participants, more than ever before, from the Rhine-Main Universities (RMU) and guests came together for the 7th RMU Day which, this year, was held under the motto “Knowledge for the World of Tomorrow” on Campus Westend of Goethe University Frankfurt, where the RMU also celebrated its 10 anniversary at the traditional summer party of Goethe University. 

Lively discussions in the BarCamps 

With a view to the world of tomorrow, the program started with four parallel BarCamps on topics that were put to the vote beforehand on Instagram. More than 60 participants discussed how to cope with digital-analog realities of life, while around 50 participants attended a BarCamp on dimensions of sustainability. The topic of how to stay healthy in today’s achievement society attracted around 90 participants. The long-standing RMU assistants’ network also offered a well-attended BarCamp, where more than 60 participants discussed the evolution of the assistant professions in times of digitalization and AI. At the subsequent presentation of the results from the BarCamps, all presenters agreed that society and its members are faced with huge societal transformations that must be accompanied by science and addressed thoughtfully.

Panel discussion with the RMU Clusters of Excellence

As the RMU’s joint proposal in the Excellence Strategy of the German federal and state governments is shaping 2025 to a significant extent, this topic formed the second part of the day’s program. At a panel discussion with nine panelists, hosted by science journalist Julia Nestlen, the audience first learned about the so-called Clusters of Excellence, of which the RMU has five that will receive funding from 2026 onwards. Representatives from the clusters answered questions about their work and about the contribution of their research to the world of tomorrow. The presidents of Goethe University Frankfurt and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Prof. Dr. Enrico Schleiff and Prof. Dr. Georg Krausch, as well as the chancellor of TU Darmstadt, Dr. Martin Lommel, explained how this first success in the Excellence Strategy achieved with the future Clusters of Excellence will affect the various groups within the universities and how they – and also society as a whole – will profit from this success.

Prof. Dr. Ralf Brandes of the Cluster “Cardio-Pulmonary Institute (CPI)” explained that, already today, more than 50 percent of deaths in Germany can be attributed to cardiovascular or lung diseases. In the future, people will benefit directly from the research of disease mechanisms and the development of new therapeutic principles.

Future therapies are also a component of the work of Excellence Cluster “Subcellular Architecture of LiFe (SCALE)”. Co-spokesperson Prof. Dr. Inga Hänel explained that, of course, scientists must first understand how our body’s cells build their complex structures and how these structures change as we grow older or in the case of illness. A digital twin, which is to be developed in the long-term, could be used in the future to test therapeutic options.

Prof. Dr. Kristian Kersting, co-spokesperson for the Cluster “Reasonable AI (RAI)” explained how artificial intelligence systems are to be equipped with “common sense” in order to deal more effectively with the challenges of the times. This can include, for example, handling applications and enquiries in public administration, in order to be able to process requests quickly and correctly, even if there is a shortage of staff, and to thus foster trust in the government and society. 

The work of the Cluster “The Adaptive Mind (TAM)” also focuses on understanding and subsequently applying human adaptation strategies to artificial intelligence. Prof. Dr. Constantin Rothkopf, the cluster’s spokesperson for TU Darmstadt, promised that the results achieved by this project will not only answer fundamental questions of psychology and cognitive science, but will also open up new ways for individualized approaches to mental health and for establishing robust, adaptive artificial intelligence systems. 

Prof. Dr. Alfons Weber, co-spokesperson of "Precision Physics, Fundamental Interactions and Structure of Matter" (PRISMA++) explained that the Excellence Cluster wants nothing less than to understand what keeps the world together on the inside. The findings on what matter is made of or what the forces of the universe are will be used to generate the knowledge of tomorrow, on the basis of which new technologies and understandings of the world will be developed.

The RMU in the Excellence Strategy

Following the overview of the specific contributions of the five Clusters of Excellence to the world of tomorrow, the presidents and the chancellor spoke about the impact that a general funding of the RMU as a consortium of excellence in the Universities of Excellence funding line of the Excellence Strategy of the German federal and state governments could have on students, teachers, researchers and staff. For example, an excellent RMU offers an ideal environment for the (career) development of all its members where everyone can learn, also from each other, as has been practiced within the RMU for years. This is why the RMU cooperates across all areas – not only in research, but also on joint study programs that one university alone could not offer, in knowledge exchange with society and not least with regard to infrastructure and administration.  

Prof. Dr. Enrico Schleiff, President of Goethe University Frankfurt and current RMU spokesperson, said: “The universities have many tasks. And they all have one goal: making today’s world a bit better every day and enhancing tomorrow’s world through knowledge. For this, we have to become a bit better every day, because Germany and Europe are faced with competition on a global level: with regard to skilled professionals as well as with regard to knowledge resources, visibility and economic power. In order to be competitive as the Rhine-Main region, we must make an effort. Our contribution is to strengthen the Rhine-Main region of knowledge through our RMU as an alliance between Goethe University Frankfurt, TU Darmstadt and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. The Universities of Excellence funding line provides us with the opportunity to further expand our visions, strategic aims and our research excellence within the alliance. For us, the call for proposals comes at exactly the right time because we will continue to develop our RMU in the future, just as we have done in the past. The Excellence Strategy provides us with the opportunity to focus and to act more quickly.” 

The official program ended with a short closing round with insights into individual conclusions and findings from the day and a preview of the upcoming months. Afterwards, President Schleiff and his colleague from Darmstadt, President Prof. Tanja Brühl, welcomed guests to the summer party of Goethe University and the RMU anniversary celebration on Campus Westend to which, of course, all participants of the RMU Day were invited as well. 

Anniversay celebration at the summer party

At the summer party, guests could sample soft ice cream in the RMU colors, take pictures in the RMU photo box and visit a merch stall to browse a range of RMU merchandise that is now available for sale. Gym bags in the RMU design filled with everyday articles and t-shirts were also given out to the winners of a lottery among participants of the RMU Olympics, which were made up of four stations representing a cross section of the numerous cooperation projects within the RMU. 

At the station “Manga Hitster“ organized by project ANIMARET, prospective „RMU Olympians“ had to match anime and manga figures to their correct names and dates of creation. ANIMARET is a project at Johannes Gutenberg University and Goethe University Frankfurt that is funded by the RMU Initiative Funding for Research. 

The “Verbund Archäologie Rhein-Main (VARM)“ (Archaeology Network Rhine-Main) attracted antiquity fans and jigsaw buffs alike with its station “Jäger des Verlorenen Schatzes – Rätsel aus der Welt der Archäologie“. 

The joint study program Biomedical Engineering of TU Darmstadt and Goethe University Frankfurt challenged participants with “Serious Games für Bildung und Gesundheit”. Physical effort was required for the “Balance Fit” game. 

Futury GmbH, an innovation platform that supports prospective founders at the RMU of which all three Rhine-Main Universities have been shareholders for around three months now, focused on well-known startups: In a virtual quiz, accessible via QR code, participants were asked to match startups to their funding dates.

In the early evening, six lucky winners were selected among the numerous participants in two drawings. Everyone who participated in the RMU Olympics also received an RMU soft ice cream prepared by the Department of Physics of Goethe University.

The next RMU Day will be held at TU Darmstadt in fall 2026.

In its variety, the RMU Postdoc Career Weeks resemble “a very special kind of menu”, as Professor Franziska Lang, Vice President of TU Darmstadt and host university representative, said in her welcoming address: “Not one you’d find in a restaurant, but a rich and varied career menu inviting you to sample new skills, explore strategies, and sharpen your professional profile.”

This year’s program was thus carefully crafted to support early career researchers navigating the critical transition into the postdoc phase, to foster their professional development, and to create momentum. For doctoral candidates, the two weeks offered a unique opportunity to gain early insights into the demands and opportunities of postdoctoral life. Meanwhile, postdocs benefitted from comprehensive guidance on a wide spectrum of career paths, both within academia and beyond, helping them broaden their horizons and plan their next steps with clarity.

Organized by Ingenium – Young Researchers at TU Darmstadt, the event also placed a strong emphasis on practical, skill-oriented workshops tailored to the needs of emerging scientists. Sessions covered essential topics such as effective publishing strategies, securing third-party funding, mastering time management, and developing leadership and supervision skills. Moreover, the program provided targeted support for those aspiring to professorships, featuring workshops, digital toolkits, and personalized consultations designed to enhance career planning and application readiness. 

Beyond the workshops, the RMU Postdoc Career Weeks also fostered meaningful connections through networking opportunities. Participants especially valued the blend of virtual and in-person events, with social gatherings creating a welcoming space for informal exchange and community building. All in all, the attendees emphasized the “valuable mix of content, interaction, and reflection” as well as the “diversity of speakers and the supportive atmosphere throughout” as key highlights of the event.

Reflecting on the outcomes, the organizers likewise expressed their enthusiasm: “With its broad, practice-oriented content and the invaluable chance to connect, the RMU Postdoc Career Weeks have once again established themselves as a cornerstone event for early career researchers across the Rhine-Main Universities.”

Given its clear success, the RMU Postdoc Career Weeks are set to return in 2026, continuing to empower the next generation of academic leaders and innovators.

The YIAD aims to honour the outstanding accomplishments of junior research group leaders within the RMU, advanced postdoctoral researchers aspiring to a professorship, and interested doctoral candidates. It also serves as a platform for networking and exchange among early career researchers (ECRs).

A special highlight of the event was the ceremonial appointment of the three new Athene Young Investigators (AYI), who were included in April 2025 to the Athene Young Investigator Programme. The ceremonial appointment was carried out by Professor Franziska Lang, Vice President for Academic Careers at TU Darmstadt.

In her laudatory address, Professor Lang praised their outstanding academic achievements and their commitments to pursuing an academic career. She emphasized that the three researchers had convinced both the external reviewers and the selection committee that they are well prepared to take the next step towards a scientific career. By joining the Athene Young Investigator Programme, the researchers are now empowered to lead their own junior research groups, manage independent budgets, and develop their own research projects and academic profiles. The programme thus represents a strong vote of confidence in their future.

Following the ceremony, the event turned to a panel discussion addressing the key questions for ECRs regarding the topic of scientific independence: How can scientific independence be achieved? How does one gain visibility and recognition in the academic community? And what are the main challenges along the way?

The panel featured Prof. Dr. Jens Braun, DFG Liaison Officer at TU Darmstadt and Professor in the Department of Physics, as well as four junior research group leaders: Dr Jan-Yie Schnellbach (Department of Computer Science, TU Darmstadt), Dr Pelin Tozman (Department of Materials and Earth Sciences, TU Darmstadt), Dr Anna Wanka (Department of Education, Goethe University Frankfurt), and Dr Vanessa Zeller (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, TU Darmstadt).

Based on their own academic journeys, the panelists emphasized that independence in research often begins with writing one’s own grant proposal, securing third-party funding, and taking on increasing responsibility within research projects - particularly through the supervision of PhD candidates. The panelists currently lead or have led projects supported by prominent funding programmes, including BMBF, the Emmy Noether Programme, the Athene Young Investigator Programme, and the ERC Starting Grant. These programmes have enabled them to establish a distinct research profile, implement independent projects, and publish autonomously - thus increasing their visibility in the scientific community and gaining independence from supervisors and collaborators.

However, the path to academic independence is not without obstacles. The panelists highlighted the importance of resilience in the face of criticism, perseverance during setbacks, confidence in one’s research approach, and clear communication within research teams as essential traits for building an academic career.

In the concluding Q&A session, participants engaged actively by sharing their own perspectives, asking questions, and exchanging insights with the panel.

The event wrapped up with a reception, offering participants the opportunity to network across disciplines, connect with colleagues from the other Rhine Main Universities, and continue the conversation in an informal setting.

The annual Young Investigator Appreciation Day emphasizes the importance of promoting the ECRs within the RMU-Alliance.