Rector Prof. Dr Birgitta Wolff welcomed the newly appointed academics and emphasised the importance of fresh academic impetus for the university’s development: “With every new appointment, we gain not only academic expertise, but also new ideas, experiences and perspectives. Our professors shape the future of the University of Wuppertal – in research and teaching, but also through their personalities and their willingness to work together to shape the future.”

The focus of the reception was on the people behind the professorships. Instead of traditional academic presentations, there were four moderated discussion sessions, in which the newly appointed professors discovered common ground that, at first glance, might not necessarily be related to their academic work.

Among other things, the discussion centred on the question of how much of a playful spirit good science requires. Another session revealed that several of the newly appointed professors are passionate musicians – ranging from electric guitar to drums. The participants were also united across faculty boundaries by their enjoyment of good questions, academic exchange and curiosity about unfamiliar topics.

The professors from the University of Wuppertal present at the reception, alongside Rector Birgitta Wolff (pictured from left): Prof. Dr Birgitta Wolff, Prof. Dr Josef Guggemos, Prof. Dr Jan Barowski, Prof. Dr Jules Bündgens, Prof. Dr Frank Biedermann, Prof. Dr Anna S. Reiffer, Prof. Dr Antoine Tordeux, Prof. Dr David Sanio, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Nicole Steinmetz, Prof. Dr Stefan Hinterwimmer, Prof. Dr Melanie Huth, Prof. Dr Stefan Nemirovski, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Marwan Hassani, Prof. Dr Matthias Herrle, Prof. Dr Karsten Damerau, Prof. Dr Janka Goldan.

Not pictured: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Clemens Rohde and Prof. Dr. Mario Wenzel