New Rector Also Another RWTH Alumnus

Professor Ulrich Rüdiger will become rector of RWTH Aachen University and succeed Professor Ernst Schmachtenberg, whose term in office will end on July 31, 2018. On March 5, 2018, Rüdiger, who has been rector of the University of Konstanz since 2009, was elected for a six-year term by the University Election Assembly, which consists of the University Senate and the Board of Governors. As the 51-year old physicist commented, “I am excited to contribute to the further development of a leading university of technology that develops solutions to the global technological and societal challenges within an interdisciplinary research culture.” Just like his predecessor, Professor Ernst Schmachtenberg, for Rüdiger, the new role in Aachen is also a return to his professional roots – between 1988 and 1994, the scientist from Helmstedt studied physics at RWTH. In 1997, he completed his doctorate on magnetic-optical storage media at RWTH’s Institute of Physics II under the supervision of Professor Gernot Güntherodt. The 51-year old scientist, currently rector of the University of Konstanz, has been named to succeed Professor Ernst Schmachtenberg from August 1, 2018.

Reminder: RWTH Alumni Meet-Up USA and Canada in Lexington, Kentucky

This year’s RWTH Alumni Alumni Meet-Up USA and Canada will be held in Lexington, Kentucky from April 19 to 22, 2018. The alumni will visit the Kentucky Horse park, venture on the Bourbon Trail and more. You can still register for the event. You can find the program including information on hotel accommodation here.

Reminder: Second Campuslauf

Following a successful start last year with around 900 participants, the RWTH Campuslauf will take place in a friendly atmosphere of competition at Campus Melaten once again on April 20. In addition to the popular Lousberglauf, the Campuslauf is intended to become another classic offer from the University Sports Center.
Both running enthusiasts, occasional joggers, and ambitious participants are invited to attend the event. The FunRun lives up to its name with a total distance of 4.6 km, while those looking to test their endurance can try it it out on the 9 km run. There will also be a relay race of 4 x 2.3 km.

Important

If you are interested in taking part, please contact the organizers directly. Late registrations are still possible on April 19 while the bibs are given out and also on the day of the event itself.

"Printing a World to Our Liking…?"

On Thursday, April 19, 2018, in Munich, professional experts will share with you their fascination for an exciting production technology – 3D printing:

• How does 3D printing even work? A very short introduction into the technology.
• What is it already being used for – and for which applications is it not suitable? "Grasp" the potential of 3D printing with the help of demonstration pieces showing their use in diverse applications.
• What are the entrepreneurial consequences and legal aspects of 3D printing that will need to be considered in the future? Will we be able to simply "copy" and print technological inventions in the future? Will we even need patents or engineers?

Two experts from the field of 3D printing will give you insight into the topic by giving short presentations. This will be followed by a discussion, during which you will have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have about the future of this technology. At 8pm, you will have the opportunity to continue these discussions about 3D printing – or other topics – over dinner in a somewhat more relaxing atmosphere. Register by April 10.

Federal President Steinmeier Visits RWTH Aachen Campus

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, accompanied by his wife Elke Büdenbender, came to North Rhine-Westphalia on March 12, 2018 for his official inaugural visit. Alongside NRW Minister President Armin Laschet and his wife Susanne Laschet, as well as RWTH Rector Ernst Schmachtenberg and Professor Günther Schuh, Managing Director of WZL, they visited the RWTH Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering and the electric car developer e.GO Mobile AG in the Production Engineering Cluster on RWTH Aachen Campus.

RWTH Vice-Rector Doris Klee to Lead CESAER Task Force

Delft University of Technology has now officially handed over the management of the CESAER Task Force Human Resources to RWTH Aachen University. The task force is now led by Professor Doris Klee, RWTH’s Vice-Rector for Human Resources Management and Development, and managed by the University’s Integration Team – Human Resources, Gender and Diversity Management, IGaD for short. CESAER, the Conference of European Schools for Advanced Engineering and Research, is an association of more than 50 European universities of technology and engineering schools. It promotes scientific excellence in engineering education and research and fosters innovation through close cooperation with business and industry.

Award for RWTH Professor Gabriele Pradel

The German Society for Hygiene and Microbiology awarded RWTH professor Gabriele Pradel with the Senior Scientist Prize for her work on the parasite Plasmodium falciparum, which causes malaria. The aim of her research is to investigate molecular mechanisms during the sexual phase of the malaria parasite, as these play a crucial role in the transmission of the parasite. There is particular potential here to block this phase and thus fight malaria.

RWTH Alumni Job Portal Online

Companies have the opportunity to post job openings for management positions or employees with experience on our RWTH Alumni Job Portal. This platform is also specifically oriented towards alumni, as RWTH graduates, particularly those with experience, are greatly sought after in science, business, and industry. You can find interesting offers here. If you would like to publish a job posting, please send an email to alumni@rwth-aachen.de.

The following job openings are currently posted:

• M.Sc./Dipl.-Ing. Metallurgy at Fels Vertriebs und Service GmbH&Co.KG
• three open positions at ingenhoven architects
• two open positions at kadawittfeldarchitektur

More offers can be found on our Alumni Job Portal.

International Academy Offers: Reduced Participation Fees for Members of the RWTH Alumni Network

As a member of the RWTH Alumni Network you receive a discount for continuing education courses at RWTH International Academy. When booking a course of study, you receive a 10 percent discount, and for certificate courses and seminars a 15 percent discount. You can book your course with the discount by using your RWTH email address on the RWTH Weiterbildungsplattform. This discount cannot be combined with other offers from RWTH International Academy.

Continuing education trainings from WZLforum

RWTH Among the Top in International Ranking

RWTH has once again achieved excellent results in the internationally respected QS Ranking by Subject. Using citations as a mark of scientific performance and universities' reputations, a ranking of the best universities worldwide is published each year in five scientific disciplines and individual subjects. RWTH performed particularly well in the category Engineering & Technology, being placed 31st worldwide, and 2nd among German universities. It was placed 36th internationally and 3rd in Germany in the Natural Sciences category.

Novel Types of Bits

The research team of Professor Markus Morgenstern, chair of experimental physics (solid state physics) at RWTH Aachen University, discovered new possibilities for quantum electronics, with the support of colleagues from the Technical University of Vienna and the University of Manchester. The physicists combined two ultrathin materials, namely graphene and Boron-Nitride, in a way which makes it possible to switch individual electrons between two states. For the first time, this allowed them to invert the so-called valley degree of freedom of the electron. The new discovery could be useful for advanced information processing. The research results have now been published in the scientific journal ‟Nature Nanotechnology”.

Eco-friendly Plant Protection

Within a collaborative project, researchers from RWTH contributed to the development of a process reducing the use of copper in plant protection products. The research consortium was led by Professor Ulrich Schaffrath from the RWTH Department of Plant Physiology. Project partners included the Institute of Plant Diseases of the University of Bonn, the Julius-Kühn-Institute for Biological Control, Darmstadt, the “Dienstleistungszentrum für den ländlichen Raum Rheinpfalz,” Neustadt (Services Center for the Rural Areas in the Rheinpfalz), and the private companies ARGUS monitoring and aquagroup AG.

Future Lab Aachen - The Gala

Future Lab Aachen - the Gala! kicked off Future Lab Aachen in 2016. Now, two years later, on Tuesday, April 17, 7:30 pm, the second edition will take place in the Grand House of the Main Theatre in Aachen. The audience will be enthralled by the rich world of science, research, and innovation that is "made in Aachen". In the evening program, researchers will explain in vivid and easily comprehensible terms where many a journey into the future is heading.