Universities in the "Leonardo World"

RWTH Rector Ulrich Rüdiger and President of the Technical University of Munich, Thomas Hofmann, discuss their perspectives on the technical universities of the future.  

RWTH’s Faculty of Arts and Humanities is hosting a commemorative colloquium, Leonardo Worlds: Yesterday – Today – Tomorrow. A Key Concept for Technical Universities, in honor of Leonardo da Vinci on May 2 and 3, 2019. The first day of the event marks 500 years since da Vinci’s death. The master truly symbolizes the unity of art, science, and technology like no other.

Following the concept of the Leonardo World, the colloquium takes you on a journey of historical reflection – looking back at the time da Vinci was living in and the effect he had then, right up to the present day and beyond, pondering the potential scientific and technological developments of the future. This also involves considering the societal responsibility that technical universities have today and will have in the future.

RWTH Rector Ulrich Rüdiger and Professor Thomas Hofmann, President of the Technical University of Munich, will delve into these topics in a discussion as part of the colloquium on May 3 at 5pm at Super C, Templergraben 57, Aachen. The interview will be moderated by academic journalist Dr. Jan-Martin Wiarda.

Prior to the discussion, different representatives of the subjects will give talks from 10 am to 5 pm, looking back on the world at the time of da Vinci and systematically exploring the Leonardo world we live in today. These talks form the basis for the discussion on the Leonardo world of the future.

The commemorative colloquium will also honor Professor Jürgen Mittelstraß, member of the executive board of the Konstanz Science Forum. The philosopher considers the term "Leonardo World" particularly fitting: "The world we live in is an expression of scientific and technical understanding with its structures and life forms. Science is everywhere today, and technology too. This is a Leonardo world."

On May 2, 2019 at 5pm, the Faculty of Arts and Humanities will honor Mittelstraß for his groundbreaking ideas on remodeling the Faculty. "During an important stage of our transformation process, Jürgen Mittelstraß encouraged us to think more outside the box and be more daring – this led to us creating our expert group People, Technology, Society," explains Dean and Professor Christine Roll, adding: "The expert group takes on the responsibility for the Human Technology Center (HumTec) in a special way."

The five professors at HumTec have used their skills in scientific and technological research, academic theory, ethics, human-machine interaction, and computer-based social sciences to create a space where solutions to global challenges relevant to technology, science, and society can be worked on in interdisciplinary cooperations.

The commemorative ceremony on May 2 and 3 is open to all. If you would like to attend, please register via the online form. Media representatives are warmly invited to attend both days of the event.