Karlsruhe Institute of Technology: Cutting-edge research on the big questions of the universe
The mass of neutrinos, the origin of cosmic radiation or the nature of dark matter and dark energy in space – the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) researches many fundamental questions about the nature of our universe. With huge experiments that elucidate the smallest structures of matter or take a special look at cosmic events. “Our Universe” is also the title of the Science Year 2023 of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The 2023 annual celebration of KIT provided insights into various facets of this topic.
“As the research university in the Helmholtz Association, the KIT has unique large research infrastructures. Among them are those that deal with the exciting questions of astrophysics, high-energy physics, and related disciplines,” said the President of KIT, Professor Holger Hanselka , at the annual celebration. “With the large-scale experiment KATRIN, we operate the most sensitive balance in the world to determine the mass of the neutrinos. At the Pierre Auger Observatory in Argentina, the world’s largest experiment for measuring cosmic rays, the project management is in the lead of the KIT.”
In view of growing geopolitical uncertainties, the connecting element of science is becoming increasingly important. “The fascination for the respective research object and the joint scientific work build bridges between the nations – not only in astrophysics, cosmology or research on elementary particles, but in all research fields and disciplines,” says Hanselka. “For example, 150 researchers from 20 institutions in seven countries are involved in the KATRIN collaboration and more than 400 researchers from 17 countries are involved in the Pierre Auger collaboration.”
Second KIT Further Development Act strengthens cutting-edge research, teaching and transfer
The full entry into force of the second KIT Further Development Act on January 1, 2023 was of greatest importance for the development of KIT in the past twelve months. Instead of the previous division into two areas, the KIT now has two tasks of equal priority: “With the two tasks of equal priority, the university and the large-scale research task, new possibilities and more autonomy for decisions and the control of the KIT open up – with this, cutting-edge research, teaching and Transfer strengthened even further. In this way, the KIT offers an even more attractive research environment for researchers from all over the world,” Hanselka summarizes the new potential for the KIT. “Here, together with the federal and state governments, we have opened a whole new chapter in the further development of KIT.”
Video “Annual Celebration of KIT 2023: Highlights from Research, Teaching and Innovation (Part 1)”
Video “Annual Celebration of KIT 2023 : Highlights from Research, Teaching and Innovation (Part 2)” State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Professor Sabine Döring,said: “Like the Year of Science, the annual celebration of KIT has the heading ‘Universe’. This is a topic that fascinates us all. We’ve always been trying to decipher the universe. The KIT makes a valuable contribution to this: For example, it is in charge of the direct measurement of the neutrino mass with the KATRIN experiment. In addition, the KIT is involved in the investigation of cosmic rays and the search for dark matter, which is one of the biggest open questions in astrophysics. This will help us to understand the universe and its history even better. I wish KIT every success for this and for the future!”
The Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the KIT, Professor Michael Kaschke , emphasized the new opportunities for the KIT: “With the entry into force of the second KIT Further Development Act, the KIT gains greater creative freedom compared to other scientific institutions in Germany, which must be used. We must all succeed in making KIT even more visible internationally as a special beacon of the German science system and in permanently placing ourselves among the top 30 in the world.”
Mayor Dr. Albert Käuflein, Head of Department 2 of the City of Karlsruhe , said: “The City of Karlsruhe and the KIT have been working closely and successfully together on scientific events for many years. We are pleased that the KIT is making many contributions to the Karlsruhe Science Festival ‘EFFEKTE’ this year, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary in June. In October, we as a city will take part in the second KIT Science Week, which emerged from the successful application for excellence by KIT.”
Discussion round: View into the universe – Finding answers to human questions with high technologies
The big questions of basic physical research, which are also the focus of the Science Year 2023 – Our Universe – were discussed with moderator Nicole Krüger by three researchers from KIT: Professor Markus Klute, Head of the Institute for Experimental Particle Physics, Professor Milada M. Mühlleitner, Director of the Institute for Theoretical Physics and Professor Anke-Susanne Müller, head of the Institute for Accelerator Physics and Technology and spokesperson for the KIT Center for Elementary Particles and Astroparticle Physics.
KIT Faculty Teaching Awards 2022: Award for research- and application-oriented teaching
With the faculty teaching awards, the Presidential Board of the KIT honors individuals, working groups or organizational units of the KIT faculties responsible for teaching, whose courses are characterized in particular by research- and application-oriented teaching modules as well as new forms of teaching and learning, interdisciplinarity or high topicality of the specialist knowledge imparted.
Professor Alexander Wanner, Vice President Teaching and Academic Affairs of the KIT, awarded the prize to 14 lecturers at the annual celebration for their special commitment. It is endowed with 10,000 euros each and is awarded annually in the eleven KIT faculties.