uni'alumni 2012_ENG

Dear Alumni of the University of Freiburg, As always, your alma mater is on the move: In our Institu- tional Strategy, which is at the heart of Freiburg’s proposal in the second round of the Excellence Initiative, we describe how we envisage our future development – as an exemplary, internationally competitive comprehensive university for the 21st century. The areas in which we are strongest are those in which various disciplines intersect. We thus want to bring research- ers from different fields together and give them the freedom they need to conduct their world-class research. The basis of our strategy is the idea of the “new universitas,” which inte- grates the faculties and disciplines into a network spanning the entire university. This approach is particularly evident at our research centers, at the Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies, and at the newly established University College Freiburg, whose purpose is to strengthen research-based teaching beyond the bounds of individual fields of study. Just as important are the areas in which the university in- tersects with society. This is happening, for instance, at the Humanities and Social Sciences Research Center and at the new Freiburg Academy of Science and Technology, which de- velops continuing education courses and forges links be- tween our researchers and private enterprises. In addition, the entire university has the task of presenting our research to the public – with new formats that don’t just explain re- search in a way in which the general public can understand it but also allow it to be experienced first hand. The cover story of this magazine will give you an example of how this can work. I hope you enjoy reading the magazine – and stay in contact! Sincerely, Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Hans-Jochen Schiewer Rector of the University of Freiburg CONTENTS Cover Story Research – Understandable and Entertaining 4 Alumni Network Culinary Capers: Marcus Flatten 9 My Flat: Peter Vollmer 9 Pictures: Same Place, Different Times 10 Georg Gänswein on His Work in the Vatican 12 Historical Greats: Hannah Arendt 13 Alumni Prize: Jan Draheim 14 STAY Scholarship: Katharina Herrmann 14 Campaign: A Lounge for Young Researchers 15 New Alumni Club in the USA 16 Between the Lines: Martin Koschorke 16 Dorothea Rüland Travels for the DAAD 17 From the Heart: Alumni Couples 18 Alumni Freiburg in Russia 20 Christina Obergföll Is Training for the Olympics 21 University New Heidi Petarus Tends to the Botanical Gardens 22 Burkart Knospe is Chair of the University Council 23 Professors of the Past: Josef Honerkamp 24 Academic Society Marks 100-Year Anniversary 24 Ulrich Egert Studies Nerve Cells 25 Continuing Education: Opening Hearts and Minds 26 My Podcast: Ralf Poscher 26 aka-Filmclub Shows Films in the Lecture Hall 27 Campus Bulletin 28 Survey: Welcome to Freiburg 30 City Life Development at the Old Freight Terminal 31 The Best of the Wurst 32 Photo:Schilling Dorothea Rüland Ulrich Egert 3