Wie entstehen Innovationen? Welche Bedingungen brauchen Wissenschaft und Forschung, um neue Ideen zu entwickeln? Mit diesen Fragen beschäftigte sich die Netzwerkveranstaltung »CZSvorOrt« der Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung, welche am 2. Juli 2026 an der Bauhaus-Universität Weimar stattfand. Im nachempfunden »Wohnzimmer« ihres Namensgebers Carl Zeiss präsentierte die Stiftung gemeinsam mit Akteur*innen aus ihrem Netzwerk erfolgreiche Praxisbeispiele und bot Raum für Austausch.

Two photography projects from the Faculty of Art and Design at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar (by Mai Do and Teresa Fischer) are among the eight works selected for the new »Expanded Horizons« international funding programme. The »Körber-Stiftung« and the »Haus der Photographie der Deichtorhallen Hamburg« are awarding 1,000 euros in prize money and production funding to each project for further development. Starting in November 2026, the »PHOXXI – Haus der Photographie« in Hamburg will be showcasing the projects in an exhibition.

Rural regions in particular benefit from self-driving and on-demand bus systems when it comes to making mobility services more flexible, better adapted to demand, and more cost-effective. Pilot projects in Saalfeld-Rudolstadt, Bad Berka, Ilmenau, and Weimar are testing and scientifically evaluating how these systems could be deployed in Thuringia and beyond. This work is being coordinated by the newly established »Kompetenzzentrum für automatisiertes und vernetztes Fahren (AVF)« led by the Professorship of Transport System Planning at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar.

Wie können Innovationen entstehen, Fachkräfte gewonnen und die großen Herausforderungen unserer Zeit bewältigt werden? Antworten auf diese Fragen suchte der Tag der Ingenieurwissenschaften Thüringen am 17. Juni 2026 an der Bauhaus-Universität Weimar. Unter dem Motto »Future FormING« kamen rund 250 Schüler*innen, Wissenschaftler*innen aus den Thüringer Hochschulen sowie zahlreiche Vertreter*innen aus Wirtschaft, Politik und Bildung zusammen, um über die Zukunft des Innovations- und Bildungsstandorts Thüringen zu diskutieren.

From 9 to 12 July 2026, the University campus will once again transform into a venue for exhibitions, discussions, and encounters. Students and instructors from all departments will be presenting over 150 projects and research findings from the past academic year during the »summaery2026« annual exhibition. This year’s theme, selected by the Faculty of Media, is: »prompt‽«, a term that alludes to artificial intelligence and can also be understood as a catalyst for new ideas and a starting point for creative processes.

25.–26. Juni 2026 | Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena

On Wednesday, 17 June 2026, the city of Weimar and the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar are hosting the Thuringian »Tag der Ingenieurwissenschaften (Engineering Day)« together with the »Allianz Thüringer Ingenieurwissenschaften« universities, businesses, research institutions, and political representatives. From 9 am to 6 pm, the event will be highlighting the importance of engineering and STEM disciplines for Thuringia’s economic, technological, and social development. In attendance at the event were Thuringian Minister of Economic Affairs Colette Boos-John and star civil engineer Werner Sobek.

Mit einer traditionellen Sektdusche und einer erfolgreichen Jungfernfahrt im Schwanseebad haben die Studierenden der Bauhaus-Universität Weimar ihre Betonkanus »Schalotta« und »la Reine« offiziell getauft. Nun richten sich die Blicke auf die Deutsche Betonkanu-Regatta, die vom 19. bis 21. Juni in Brandenburg an der Havel stattfindet.

Solidarity is a term on everyone’s lips – but what does the word even mean when social media exacerbates division and democratic structures find themselves under pressure? These are among the questions being examined by the new »Infrastructuring Solidarity: Towards Careful Abolition – A Post-Digital Media Theory of Solidarity« research project led by Jr. Prof. Jasmin Degeling from the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar and Dr. Maja Figge from the mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. The VolkswagenStiftung is currently funding projects as part of its »Aufbruch – Neue Forschungsräume für die Geistes- und Kulturwissenschaften« programme for a period of 18 months with a total of 332,321 euros.

Alle zwei Jahre ruft die Deutsche Zement- und Betonindustrie zur Betonkanu-Regatta auf. Der 20. Wettbewerb für Sportbegeisterte aus berufsbildenden Schulen, Fachhochschulen, Hochschulen und anderen Institutionen, an denen Betontechnik gelehrt wird, findet vom 19. bis 20. Juni 2026 in Brandenburg an der Havel statt. Auch Studierende der Bauhaus-Universität Weimar sind wieder dabei. Am Mittwoch, den 10. Juni 2026 laden sie Interessierte ein, bei der öffentlichen Taufe und anschließenden Testfahrt der Betonboote um 13.30 Uhr im Schwanseebad Weimar dabei zu sein.

Joint media release from the Thüringer Staatskanzlei (Thuringian State Chancellery), Thüringen Ministry of »Wirtschaft, Landwirtschaft und Ländlichen Raum«, and the »Thüringer Innovationszentrum für die Zukunft des Bauens« (ThIZ-BAU)) on 20 April 2026: New building for the ThIZ-BAU in Weimar boosts innovation, generates value and technology transfer in the construction industry – and receives over 10.6 million euros in funding

The modernisation of key infrastructure – from electricity and heating to public transportation – requires investments that amount to billions of euros in the coming years. Municipal utility companies are particularly affected by these challenges. Within this context, the Professorship of Infrastructure Economics and Management at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, together with the »Thüringer Aufbaubank« and the »Landesgruppe Thüringen des Verbandes kommunaler Unternehmen«, is organising the »Infrastruktur- und Daseinsvorsorge-Politik in Thüringen« Conference in Erfurt on 28 April 2026 from 10 am to 5 pm. Academics and professionals will be participating in the conference in talks and panel discussions. Finance Minister Katja Wolf will be joining the event as keynote speaker.

On 20 April, a new chapter at Weimar's Construction Research Centre will begin: A modern technical centre for sustainable construction will be built on a 4,300 square metre site in the Tröbsdorf area. The »Innovationszentrum-Bau« is being developed by the »IAB – Institut für Angewandte Bauforschung Weimar gGmbH«. The centre will intensify collaboration between the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar and the Materials Research and Testing Laboratory (MFPA) Weimar. The goal is to pool existing expertise and increase the transfer of research findings into industrial practice. High profile guests, including Elisabeth Kaiser, Ostbeauftragte for the Federal Government, Thuringian Minister President Mario Voigt, and Minister of Economic Affairs Colette Boos-John, are expected to attend the ground-breaking ceremony.

The dress on the screen has several sizes to choose from and can be added to the basket with a click – but there is a moment of hesitation: Will it actually fit? Will I feel good in it? Will it look the same as it does in the picture? Online fashion platforms affect women’s self-image more strongly than previously thought. A recent study at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar has shown that digital shopping experiences have a profound impact on body perception with consequences that affect users, the economy, and the environment. The research will be presented and awarded at the prestigious CHI Conference in Barcelona from 13 to 17 April 2026.

The ivory tower, once a symbol of academic thought and research, is a thing of the past. For years, progressive universities have opened their doors to a broader public through events such as open houses and science nights. The Bauhaus-Universität Weimar also sees itself as more than just an educational and research institution and is an active participant in society. The University influences public discourse and takes responsibility that extends beyond campus. Visibility and connections to other spheres are essential to this: Research and teaching should not occur in isolation but instead should engage in productive dialogue with society.

On 31 March, the six-year project period of the DFG-funded Media Anthropology research training group (GRAMA) at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar’s Faculty of Media came to an end. Last Friday, members of the research training group gathered to celebrate an emotional farewell together with representatives from the University at the site of the former tram depot (Lichthaus Kino).

Die Transformation von Mobilität und Energieversorgung gehört zu den zentralen Herausforderungen der Gegenwart. Kommunale Unternehmen wie die Stadtwirtschaft Weimar GmbH übernehmen hierbei eine Vorreiterrolle, indem sie innovative Technologien mit wissenschaftlicher Begleitung, unter anderem durch die Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, unter realen Bedingungeneinsetzen. Erlebbar wird die enge Verbindung von Wissenschaft, Lehre und kommunaler Praxis am Beispiel des Wasserstoffbusses »Walter Gropius«, welcher ab 8. April 2026 mit neuer Gestaltung durch Weimar fährt.

The »Tilia Awards« were presented for the first time on 20 March 2026 for scientific and practice-based projects that take new approaches to urban spaces. Out of over 150 entries, 24 winners were selected, including the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar and the IAB-Institut für angewandte Bauforschung Weimar for their work in the »Akademische Arbeiten und Forschung« (academic work and research) category. The interdisciplinary »GrayToGreen« research project was honoured for its integration of vertical greening and grey water treatment.

Democratic societies depend on reliable information. But the rapid spread of misinformation through digital platforms is overwhelming for both users and current verification systems. Individuals who want to combat disinformation effectively need tools that can detect increasingly sophisticated technical forgeries and allow users to critically evaluate content. The ClaimGuard and PADSE research projects at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar’s Faculty of Media are involved in the in the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space’s current funding programme and developing new solutions for dealing with digital misinformation.