Prof. Dr. Martin Sauerwein is a Professor of Geography at the University of Hildesheim's Institute of Geography, part of the Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Economics & Computer Science. His research spans soil geography, urban ecology, geoarchaeology, and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), with regional focuses on Mediterranean landscapes and Central Germany. He holds a doctorate (1998) and habilitation (2005) from the University of Halle and has held academic positions at Jena and Leipzig universities. Research Interests: Sauerwein investigates anthropogenic impacts on soil systems, landscape evolution, and sustainability education. His work integrates field-based geoecology with applied solutions for soil protection, cultural landscape conservation, and climate-adaptive land use. Key themes include urban soil functions, geoarchaeological material balances, and transformative pedagogies for ESD. Administrative Roles: He served as Dean of Faculty 4 (2011–2019), is currently Deputy Dean of Studies, and joined the University Senate in 2023. He edits the Hildesheimer Geographische Studien journal and oversees projects like the Junior Research Group 'CULTURAL LANDSCAPES'. Awards: Martin Luther Medal (1999) for doctoral research on urban soils Science Prize for Geography from the Prof. Dr. Frithjof Voss Foundation (2005)
Dr. Felix Carl Schultz is a Postdoctoral Researcher and Lecturer at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg's Faculty of Law, Economics and Business. He currently serves as Deputy Head of the Center for Economics of Materials (CEM) at the Institute for Technologies and Economics of Lithium (ITEL) in Halle, bringing practical industry experience from his previous role as a consultant at A.T. Kearney to his academic work. Dr. Schultz earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (2010-2013) and Master of Science in Accounting, Taxation and Finance (2013-2016) from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, with exchange semesters at EWHA Womans University in Seoul (with DAAD full scholarship) and the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland (with DAAD scholarship). His research focuses on the intersection of sustainability, circular economy, and business strategy, developing an "ordonomic" framework to analyze business model innovation for sustainability. His work examines governance structures that enable systemic change in industries like chemicals and plastics, addressing tensions between economic growth and environmental sustainability. He has published extensively in leading journals including Resources, Conservation & Recycling; Journal of Industrial Ecology; and Business Strategy and the Environment. Dr. Schultz's publication portfolio shows a clear trajectory from theoretical frameworks to industry-specific applications, with recent work addressing plastics valorization, stakeholder governance, and the relationship between circular economy and economic growth across environmental science, business strategy, and industrial ecology domains. His notable achievement includes: Summa Cum Laude Dissertation (1.0 grade) on "Paving the way for a functional circular economy: An ordonomic approach to facilitate systemic innovation" As Deputy Head of CEM, Dr. Schultz leads research initiatives focused on the economic dimensions of material flows and circularity. His industry experience at A.T. Kearney informs his practical approach to academic research, bridging theory and practice in sustainability transitions through collaborations with researchers including Prof. Dr. Immanuel Pies and Dr. Rainer J. Reinhardt.
Weierstrass Institute for Applied Analysis and StochasticsGermany
Adrian Röllin is a Professor at the Department of Statistics and Data Science, National University of Singapore. He leads research in distributional approximations, Stein’s method, and infectious disease modeling. The department is actively recruiting tenure-track faculty and postdocs in statistics and data science. Current affiliation: National University of Singapore Department: Statistics and Data Science Research interests span probability theory, stochastic modeling of epidemics, and machine learning applications to active matter systems. His recent work involves Lévy-type processes and transition path theory. Key methodologies: Stein’s method, Score-based algorithms, Dynamical network modeling Application areas: Neuroscience, Epidemiology, Statistical physics Scientific contributions include serving as Chair of the Scientific Programme Committee for the 65th ISI World Statistics Congress (2025). He co-supervises PhD students and visiting researchers, with recent graduates working on SIR epidemic models and Lévy noise dynamics. PhD advisees: Ryo Imai, Shang Li, Wai Hoh Tang Postdocs: Francesca Cottini, Yuanfei Huang, Tianshu Cong His GitHub projects include csgc for subgraph statistics, RSTISim for STI simulations, and a residual convolutional neural network for Reversi game AI. He also co-authored a humorous whiskey tasting study.
Simona Pekarek Doehler is a Professor at the University of Neuchâtel, specializing in interactional linguistics and multimodal communication. She is affiliated with the Leibniz Institute for the German Language (IDS) in Mannheim, where she has delivered lectures on topics such as the systematic interplay between grammar, body language, and social interaction. Her research focuses on how participants in face-to-face interactions deploy grammatical structures, turn-taking positions, and embodied conduct in systematic ways to achieve specific communicative goals. Presented at the IDS Linguistic Research Colloquium in May 2024 and December 2023. Explores French expressions like 'comment on dit' and 'je sais pas' in relation to embodied conduct and sequential environment. Advocates for analyzing 'grammar-body interface' regularities to differentiate functional uses of linguistic constructions. Her work bridges theoretical linguistics with empirical studies of interaction, emphasizing the methodological value of observing recurrent patterns in multimodal communication.
Professor Hubert Motschmann is a distinguished academic in the Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy at the University of Regensburg, where he leads the Solution Chemistry Group focusing on Nonlinear Optics and the Chemistry of Interfaces within the Department of Physical Chemistry. His research group investigates liquid-air and liquid-liquid interfaces at the molecular scale and relates this knowledge to colloidal systems characterized by unusual surface/volume ratios. Professor Motschmann's educational background includes Chemistry studies at the Friedrich Alexander University in Erlangen-Nürnberg. He completed his diploma thesis titled "Numerical and analytical studies of the quantum dynamical equation of Davidov solititons" at the chair of Theoretical Chemistry, followed by PhD research at the Max-Planck-Institute of Polymer Research in Mainz under Prof. Dr. E.W. Fischer, where he explored scaling laws of end-adsorbed polymers in good solvent conditions. After a post-doctoral position at Eastman Kodak in Rochester, New York, he spent nearly two decades as a staff scientist at the Max-Planck-Institute of Colloids and Interfaces in Potsdam, where he established the research group "Molecular Organization in Soluble Monolayers and Functional Films" and taught Physical Chemistry at the University of Potsdam. Professor Motschmann's primary research interests focus on understanding the self-organization of molecules at interfaces and their corresponding static and dynamic properties, which define a central theme of Colloid and Interface Science. His group aims to contribute to a better understanding of interface-dominated systems such as foams or emulsions, exploring the relationship between the microscopic structure of an adsorption layer and the molecular structure of its constituent molecules. They employ a suite of sophisticated techniques including Infrared-Visible Sum-Frequency Spectroscopy, Second Harmonic Generation, and pump-probe experiments, alongside traditional techniques like ellipsometry and Brewster angle microscopy applied in novel ways. An analysis of Professor Motschmann's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on surface and interfacial phenomena, particularly examining the rheological properties of interfaces and their relationship to macroscopic behaviors. His work spans fundamental investigations of ion distributions at air-water interfaces to practical applications in foam stability and biopharmaceutical endotoxin detection. The research demonstrates a strong interdisciplinary approach, bridging physical chemistry with materials science, biology, and engineering principles. Professor Motschmann has also established the company Optrel, located in the Greater Berlin area, which focuses on designing instrumentation for investigating interfaces and thin films. This entrepreneurial venture complements his academic research by translating fundamental insights into practical measurement technologies.
Prof. Dr. Matthias Reményi serves as Professor of Fundamental Theology and Comparative Religious Studies at the Julius-Maximilians-University of Würzburg, a position he has held since July 2017. Since October 2021, he has additionally served as Dean of the Catholic Theological Faculty at the university. Prior to his current appointment, he was Junior Professor of Systematic Theology at the Free University of Berlin from 2010 to 2017 and held a temporary professorship at the University of Siegen in 2015-2016. His academic journey began with studies in Catholic Theology (1991-1998) and Education (1994-1999) at institutions in Freiburg. He earned his doctorate in theology in 2005 with summa cum laude distinction and received the Bernhard-Welte Prize for his dissertation. He completed his habilitation in 2016 at the University of Innsbruck, qualifying him for full professorship. Reményi's scholarly work centers on Theological Anthropology, Eschatology, Thanatology, ethical questions surrounding death and dying, Ecclesiology, and the relationship between God and the world. His research often explores how theological concepts can address contemporary challenges, particularly regarding hope in difficult times, the meaning of death, and church authority. He has made significant contributions to understanding eschatological theology, particularly through his habilitation work 'Auferstehung denken' (Thinking Resurrection), which examines pathways, limits, and models for personal eschatological theory formation. His recent publications reveal a consistent engagement with contemporary theological debates, including church reform through the Synodal Way in Germany, women's ordination, the relationship between theology and church authority (magisterium), and theological responses to the sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church. His 2024 book 'Damit wir das Leben haben' (So That We May Have Life) offers sermons of hope for challenging times, reflecting his ongoing concern with practical theological application. Among his notable recognitions are the Bernhard-Welte Prize for his doctoral work and a promotion scholarship from Cusanuswerk, the Episcopal Study Support organization. His academic memberships include the European Society for Catholic Theology (German Section), the Working Group on Catholic Dogmatics and Fundamental Theology in German-speaking regions, and the Association of German-speaking philosophy lecturers in Catholic theology. As Dean, Reményi oversees the academic and administrative functions of the Faculty of Catholic Theology, guiding its response to contemporary challenges while maintaining theological rigor. He has been particularly active in addressing the sexual abuse crisis within the Church, co-editing the 2019 volume 'Nicht ausweichen. Theologie angesichts der Missbrauchskrise' (Don't Evade: Theology in the Face of the Abuse Crisis). His leadership emphasizes the importance of theological engagement with modern societal issues while remaining rooted in Catholic tradition. Reményi maintains an active presence in public theological discourse, frequently contributing to media discussions on religious topics, including interviews with major publications like Die Welt regarding afterlife beliefs and the meaning of resurrection. His work demonstrates a commitment to making theological insights accessible to broader audiences while maintaining scholarly depth.
