contact.bauhaus 5 | 2025

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Dear alumni,
Welcome to the latest issue of our contact.bauhaus newsletter. In this issue, we take a look at current developments with you, highlight research projects, share insights into innovative processes on campus, and show how our graduates are at the forefront of progress, such as at the first Innovators Homecoming. Discover what has been happening at our University and how you can get involved. Visit us at our popular Bauhaus Christmas market »Buy Yourself a Piece of Bauhaus« on 6 December in the Mensa am Park and chat with students and graduates. Have fun discovering!

Have a wonderful Advent season,
Yours, Silvia Riedel

Bauhaus-Universität Weimar Joins Nationwide Campaign. With the launch of the »HOCHSCHULEN ZEIGEN HALTUNG« on 13 October 2025, universities and networks across Germany are making a commitment to a democratic, diverse, and open society. The Bauhaus-Universität Weimar is also taking part in the initiative and standing up for academic freedom and respectful communication. > more

During her inaugural visit to Thuringia, Federal Minister for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, Karin Prien, visited the University’s Science Discovery Centre, which was established in 2024. Numerous representatives from politics, science, and the city of Weimar learned about how science, research, and school education are becoming increasingly interconnected to pave the way for students to pursue careers and studies in STEM fields. > more

The Bauhaus-Universität Weimar and the Materials Research and Testing Laboratory (MFPA) Weimar are again inviting young talent from Central Thuringia to take part in Germany’s biggest competition for young scientists and engineers. With the theme of »Maximum Perspectives«, the 31st Central Thuringian regional competition will take place on 25 February 2026 in the Main Building of the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar. > more

The ten state universities in Thuringia have launched the Thuringian University Network for Sustainability. Through this strategic alliance, the universities are actively tackling global challenges such as climate change, the loss of biodiversity, and social inequalities. In July, the presidents will sign a declaration of intent at Schloss Tinz in Gera, in which they commit to the long-term protection of natural resources, creating humane living conditions for present and future generations, and achieving global justice. > more

In September, the BAUHAUS4EU (B4EU) University Alliance invited its partners from across Thuringia to a workshop at the Startup Hub »neudeli«. The Thuringian »B4EU-Regional Council« kicked off its work with the constituent meeting. The goal is to strengthen the relationship between the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar and regional partners and to initiate collaborative projects. The approval of the EU-funded BAUHAUS4EU project signifies not only an important step towards internationalisation at the University, but also a major opportunity for the Thuringian region. > more

The Bauhaus-Universität Weimar’s 15th International Bauhaus-Colloquium is scheduled to take place from 4 to 7 November 2026. In 2026, the Colloquium will, for the first time, open up for interdisciplinary dialogue between architecture, the arts, and the humanities. Dedicated to the topic of »Politics of Research«, the Colloquium aims to contribute to research on historical and current approaches to power relations, institutional structures, funding systems, epistemologies, sociocultural contexts, and dynamic publics. The International Bauhaus-Colloquium is a renowned international conference that takes place every three years or so. Up until 2019, it was dedicated to current history and theory of architecture-related issues with a special focus on the Bauhaus and its historical impact. Further information, including the call for contributions, can be found here: bauhaus-kolloquium.de. Abstracts can be submitted to ibhk2026[at]uni-weimar.de. The deadline is 15 December 2025. > more

All four of the University’s faculties elected new faculty heads in October 2025. The new Deans, at the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism: Prof. Sigrun Langner as Dean, Prof. Mona Mahall as Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Daniela Spiegel as Vice Dean of Research and Transfer | At the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Prof. Tom Lahmer as Dean, Prof. Silvio Beier as Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Matthias Kraus as Vice Dean of Research | At the Faculty of Art and Design: Prof. Burkhart von Scheven as Dean, Prof. Andrea Dreyer as Vice Dean of Student and Academic Affairs, Prof. Jana Gunstheimer as Vice Dean of Artistic Practice and the Public, Prof. Marcus Weisbeck as Vice Dean of International Transfer and Research | At the Faculty of Media: Prof. Jan Oliver Ringert as Dean, Prof. Reinhard Kunz as Vice Dean of Research and Interfaculty Cooperation, Dr. Irina Kaldreck as Dean of Student Affairs. > more

On 24 November 2025, representatives of the Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Building (BMWSB) and the three federal states of Thuringia, Saxony and Baden-Württemberg signed a key points paper that seals the founding of a Federal Research Centre for Climate-Neutral and Resource-Efficient Building (BFZ). The federal government will invest a total of 52.5 million euros in this centre over the next few years. The research centre aims to bring together basic research and application-oriented research in the construction industry in a structured way and should enable results to be put into practice in a shorter time. > more

Bauhaus-Universität Weimar presents four inventions at the »Ideen – Erfindungen – Neuheiten« fair iENA 2025. The Bauhaus-Universität Weimar has submitted four inventions from the Professorship of Construction Design and Structural Design for resource-efficient masonry and construction methods for patent approval. The developments enable low-CO₂production and open up new possibilities for sustainable construction. At the international »Ideen – Erfindungen – Neuheiten« (iENA) trade fair in Nürnberg, the professorship team presented their innovative inventions (concepts, research results, and primary designs) on a specially designed exhibition wall. > more

How do design processes change when it is not individuals who decide what to do, but when the material itself, the body in motion, and collaborative action play a role? This is the starting point for the new »IN TUNE« research project, which is being funded by the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar as part of the 2025 research workshop. > more

The Bauhaus-Universität Weimar is continuing to support for Open Access and will receive 118,600 euros in funding from the DFG for the period of 2026 to 2028. Support from the »Open-Access-Publikationskosten« programme provides researchers with the means to publish articles in Open Access journals. > more

A Transatlantic Cooperation Between Weimar and Baltimore | In the summer of 2025, scientists from the Faculty of Media at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar and the Department of Comparative Thought and Literature at Johns-Hopkins University in Baltimore will be organising their first Summer Lab in Weimar. The event marks the beginning of an ongoing cooperation between the two institutions, which is aiming to bring researchers from both countries together to explore the concept of nature from philosophical, media, political, and literary perspectives. > more

With the relocation of the »TeleVisionale – Film- und Serienfestival« from Baden-Baden to Weimar, a dynamic connection is being forged between festival practice and Media Studies research at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar. The Faculty of Media is opening up the seminar room together with the Deutschen Akademie der Darstellenden Künste, which organises the festival, and ARD Kultur. The television festival will be held in Weimar from 1 to 5 December 2025 for the first time in Weimar. > more

Imagine if photonics engineers, artists, designers, and other creatives were locked in a room for 24 hours and left to their creative work. What would you see once they opened the doors? The Abbe Center of Photonics at the Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena is inviting interested and committed individuals from both disciplines to immerse themselves in current photonics research and to be inspired for future art and science communication projects. The collaborative event is being organised by the Professorship of Interface Design at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar and the Open Photonics Makerspace at Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena. > more

From 6 to 8 February, the ninth edition of the student-organised »Winterwerkschau« will take place at the University. Students, primarily from the Faculty of Art and Design, will present projects and study results on campus. Portfolio consultations will be offered for prospective students interested in the artistic degree programmes. Prior registration is not required. > more

From 13 to 16 February 2026, the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar will be opening its doors for their semester exhibition. Projects on various topics that were developed during the current semester will be exhibited. The exhibition is an important part of academic exchange and provides students with a platform to present their work to the public. It invites visitors to learn about creative processes at the Faculty and provides new perspectives on architectural and urban topics. The exhibition also offers a tour of three University campus buildings. > more

Students show their everyday student life | 12 students | 5 semester projects | live in-progress | far from perfection | from draft to prototype | weekly updates > more

The »Zwischen Magie und Handwerk« podcast is a series of conversations about teaching and learning based on practical experience. The format is not a traditional interview, but rather a conversation that unfolds over time. For 45 minutes, the same length as a teaching hour, a discussion takes place in search of language for teaching. In each episode, Simon Frisch, Vice President of Student and Academic Affairs at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, speaks with someone who teaches or studies at the Bauhaus-Universität. > more

On 14 November 2025, the neudeli start-up workshop hosted an "Innovators Homecoming" for the first time. The aim was to bring successful alumni from different years and disciplines from the fields of founding and innovation to the university, to make their diverse career paths visible and to strengthen the exchange between alumni, students and staff. The format was aimed at Alumni who are now active worldwide and have made significant contributions to business, design, technology or society. The event clearly showed how diverse and formative studies at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar were for the Alumni present. > more

The Startup Hub »neudeli« Fellowship Workshop honours students, graduates, and researchers at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar who are working on their own start-up ideas with courage, curiosity, and creative drive. In the winter semester, the Startup Hub »neudeli« Workshop will once again support teams and individuals who want to develop their initial concepts and turn them into successful start-ups. > more

Together in conversation with Library Director Frank Simon-Ritz, Winfried Simmat will be speaking about his eventful life. He began his career as a sports instructor at the University of Architecture and Civil Engineering (HAB) in the fall of 1959. For over 40 years, until his retirement in 2001, he worked as a sports instructor and coach. Starting in 1991, he was the director of the HAB University’s sports centre. Winfried Simmat openly discusses how the role of sports has evolved due to social changes during his long career. > more

The »Deutschlandstipendium« is an excellent way for companies, foundations and private individuals to directly support talented students. In recognition of their outstanding achievements, students receive a financial grant and active support. The University will issue a receipt for your donation. > more

STAFF | Dr. Ulrike Kuch Appointed Rector at the University of Applied Arts »die Angewandte« in Vienna | Prof. Dr. Hans-Rudolf Meier to give lecture on »(M)Ein halbes Jahrhundert ›Zukunft unserer Vergangenheit‹« at the end of the summer semester | Obituary: Mourning the loss of Prof. Jochen Stark | Prof. Peter Benz, President of the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, elected as Chair of the Studierendenwerk Thüringen Board of Directors for a two-year term.

AWARDS | Alumni Alexander Stahr receives Leipziger Wissenschaftspreis 2025 | Stiftung Jung AWARD 2025 goes to alumni Sarah Spitzer | Three Art and Design final projects shortlisted for the VDID Newcomer Awards - Felix Stockhausen awarded first prize for his »Velocity« mobility concept, which redefines getting on and off trains with a bicycle. | Jakob Nickels, Freie Kunst graduate, receivesLyonel Kunstpreis 2025 for »Gentle Strength« final project | Einhundertvier documentary film by Design student Jonathan Schörnig awarded Grimme Prize. The film documents the rescue of 104 individuals in the Mediterranean Sea. | »Junge Kunst« sponsorship prize from the VerbundVolksbank OWL Stiftung for Freie-Kunst alumni Laura Wiemers work »Kartografie summender Rückstände – Im Schlick wühlen« | »BeiStand« Bachelor's thesis by Product Design graduate Louise Richter awarded with Universal Design Award | Christian Rothe, Visual Communication alumni, wins »Preis der Stiftung Buchkunst« 2025 for »Buchenwald« publication | »Wissenschaftspreis der Gesellschaft für interdisziplinäre Bildwissenschaft 2025« awarded to Tobias Held | Architecture graduate Andreas Stanzel awarded with the Eumies Young Talent Award 2025 for »Hotel Interim« Master's thesis | Fourfold success at the Konrad Wachsmann Prize 2025 for final theses from the Faculty of Architecture and Urban Studies | Weimar-based entrepreneur and MediaArchitecture graduate Zeinab Rahimi wins StarTH Pitch Contest with »iACT« project, which uses virtual reality technology to overcome language barriers. | German-Polish Emerging Talent Award for Architecture graduate Selina Klaus | Architecture graduates Henrike Gosda and Felix Iburg awarded 3rd place in the nation-wide JOANES-Preis 2025. Their Master's thesis, »Ein genossenschaftliches Haus an der Fliegersiedlung«, impressed the jury with its consistent focus on cooperative living ideas. | Success at Campus Masters for Architecture student Werner Thäsler for Bachelor's thesis on the conversion and repurposing of a former industrial site in Oberlungwitz, Saxony.

IN A NUTSHELL| A look back at summaery2025 and the Alumni Reunion that took place there | Impressions from the Faculty of Civil and Environment Engineerings graduation ceremony | Award-winning final projects from the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism on display until 18 December | 20 years of the University Library Building - a Retrospective | Living on the moon: Bauhaus-Universität Weimar presents concepts at at »DGLR-Mitmachtag 2025« | United Against Sexism: Exhibition by the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar's Equal Opportunities Office in the foyer of the University Library until 14 December 2025 | Horizonte lecture series begins this semester | Online lecture series »Gesellschaft ohne Brandmauer« | »Gewohnter Wandel« lecture series: »Zerstörung - Zuflucht - Zukunft. Wohnen im und nach dem Krieg« | News from the Association of Friends of Civil Engineering and Building Materials Engineering | Bauhaus-Weiterbildungsakademie Weimar e.V.: Start your further education now – Your chance for new inspiration! | Save the Date: Open Campus Day (HIT) 30 May 2026

EVENT TIP | Exhibition opening: The »Urzelle« of the Bauhaus - Karl Peter Röhl and his circle of friends on 28 November at 6 pm; the special exhibition in the Bauhaus-Museum Weimar together with the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar | Karen Farisai Mukwasi from Zimbabwe will be awarded the Human Rights Prize of the City of Weimar for her many years of outstanding commitment to women's rights on 6 December 2025, 3 pm, Maurice-Wachsmann-Auditorium, with the premiere of a documentary by filmmaker and alumnus Marius Böttcher | In Focus 02 - Women Art Weimar Gallery Exhibit until 10 January 2026

The University invites you to the »Buy Yourself a Piece of Bauhaus« Christmas Market on Saturday, 6 December from 10 am to 6 pm at the Mensa am Park. Students, alumni, and staff of the university offer a variety of unique pieces, limited edition goods and handcrafted items. The Alumni Office will be hosting the popular fairy tale screening from 12 am to 4 pm with film adaptations of »Weihnachtsgans Auguste«.

For those who graduated, completed their habilitation, or were a Bauhäusler in 96, a date has been set: Saturday, 2 May 2026 - be sure to mark your calendars and start getting excited! The plan is to arrive early for the Soapbox Race on 1 May and have a get-together in the evening. On Saturday, 2 May, a reception is planned at the University at 2 pm with a lecture hall experience and, of course, a proper party in the evening at e-Werk. Further details regarding the programme and logistics will be made available at the end of the year. Please register here as soon as possible so that we can plan accordingly. We are looking forward to seeing you! Please spread the word! Best regards on behalf of the Reunion Organisation Team: Cornelia, Katrin, Jakob, Jürgen, Hanno

It’s been 20 years since we started our studies in Weimar – time for a reunion! On Saturday, 11 July 2026, the class of 06 from the Medienkultur degree programme will have their class reunion at the Bauhaus-Uni. Those interested can help plan additional activities on 10 and/or 12 July. We, Laura Trager and Susanne Wagner, are looking forward to seeing you! Registration and further information can be found at: medienkultur2006[at]posteo.de

ALUMNI REUNION | Planning a class reunion? We can help you find your fellow students and assist in planning your reunions. We will publish your information and links to your pages. Take advantage of our services. Get in touch with the Alumni Office. ALUMNI REUNION 2026 News

We want to hear your success stories. We look forward to hearing about your impressive successes and the paths you’ve taken that continue to connect you to the University. Send us an e-mail at alumni[at]uni-weimar.de

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