The transfer of academic knowledge to business, politics, culture and civil society is one of the central tasks of our university. With the programme “Science Meets…” , Leipzig University would like to support students, teaching staff and researchers in transfer projects with non-university partners and is making a total of €15,000 available for this purpose in 2025.
Funded projects in 2024/25
Slippings: Shaping democracy in Upper Lusatia
How can democratic cohesion be strengthened in regions that are particularly affected by societal change? This question is being explored in the collaborative project "Rutschungen. Lifeworld and Democracy on the Periphery" by Junior Professor Dr Bernadett Bigalke (Institute for the Study of Religion), Dr Michael Braun (Institute for Theatre Studies) and Lydia Wilinski (Centre of Competence for Theatre).
The focus is on Upper Lusatia - a region undergoing profound economic, social and cultural upheaval. Together with local civil society activists, the team wants to make processes visible, create spaces for dialogue and encourage locals to get actively involved. Among other things, interviews, public talks and the testing of theatrical practices as a means of participation are planned.
With the “Science meets...” funding programme, Leipzig University is supporting the development of a sustainable network and the preparation of a comprehensive follow-up funding application to the Volkswagen Foundation. The aim is a long-term project for democratic participation in peripheral areas - initiated by academia and sustained by civil society in the region.
Energy-Efficient Chemistry: Plasma Meets Industry
How can new chemical processes be developed to be both energy-efficient and close to industrial application? Dr. Michael Goepel from the Institute of Chemical Technology is tackling precisely this challenge in his project “Kat4PlasC2 – Plasma Catalytic Methane Coupling”. Together with Leipzig-based company enaDyne GmbH and the Working Group of Heterogeneous Catalysis, he is investigating how plasma can be used efficiently for chemical value creation – with minimal energy input.
At the heart of the project is the coupling of methane molecules to form higher-value hydrocarbons – a process with great potential for sustainable chemistry. Michael Goepel and his team combine experimental catalysis research with cutting-edge plasma technology. Their close cooperation with an innovative industrial partner, and the growing interest from major chemical companies, reflect the project’s high practical relevance.
Supported through the “Science meets…” funding programme, Leipzig University is helping to build bridges between basic research and industrial application – demonstrating how scientific transfer can contribute to sustainable transformation in the chemical sector.
Funded projects
Project: Event Series “Now in Saxony!”
Social conflicts do not only unfold at the national level – they also become visible locally, often tied to specific issues. In small and medium-sized towns in particular, such conflicts are frequently experienced more directly and personally than in major cities. On the one hand, they can polarise communities; on the other, they can also inspire democratic action. In the run-up to the 2024 state elections, the Else-Frenkel-Brunswik Institute for Democracy Research at Leipzig University held discussions with people in various parts of Saxony about threats to democracy and the role of conflict in democratic processes. The events were primarily organised by Dr Piotr Kocyba and Dr Fiona Kalkstein, in cooperation with the association “Netzwerk Tolerantes Sachsen e.V.”, and were moderated by freelance journalists Anna Vosgerau and Eva-Josephine Weber.
- Wurzen, 08/04/2024: “What defines a democratic civil society?”
The town of Wurzen in the Leipzig district is a stronghold of Saxony’s neo-Nazi scene. At the same time, it is also home to vibrant and diverse civic engagement. What does civil society commitment look like in a context that at times feels “mined” by far-right mobilisation? This question was discussed by Prof Dr Oliver Decker (EFBI), Martina Glass from the “Network for Democratic Culture” in Wurzen, Hartwig Kasten, founder of the “Round Table for Democracy, Tolerance and the Rule of Law Wurzen”, and SPD state parliament member Franziska Maschek. The discussion focused on the difficulties and contradictions faced by Wurzen’s multifaceted civil society.
Watch the recording - Annaberg-Buchholz, 15/05/2024: “How does anti-feminism threaten democracy?”
The extent to which people can participate in and contribute to society is a key measure of the health of a democracy – particularly regarding women’s rights. In the Erzgebirge region, the issue of abortion rights, among others, has provoked significant polarisation and protest. As part of the democracy conference “Democratic Values in Transition”, Dr Fiona Kalkstein (EFBI) held discussions with representatives of local politics and civil society to explore how people in the region perceive these debates, how they are involved, and what challenges and opportunities they see.
Watch the recording - Zittau, 11/06/2024: “What are the limits of democratic protest?”
The right to protest is a fundamental democratic freedom, yet debates often arise about which forms of protest are legitimate. For some time now, the Upper Lusatia region has seen protests against restrictions on civil liberties, including those that explicitly oppose the state. At the same time, Saxony has also witnessed radical climate protests by the Last Generation movement. Dr Piotr Kocyba (EFBI) discussed whether current protest movements are endangering social cohesion with CDU District Administrator Dr Stephan Meyer and Dorothea Schneider from the association “Augen auf”.
Watch the recording - Leipzig, 04/07/2024: “What responsibility does the legacy of 1989 place upon us?”
Leipzig is known as the city of the Peaceful Revolution. But what does this legacy mean for our everyday democratic life? What can we still learn today from the experience of the fall of the GDR, particularly for civic engagement? And how does this engagement differ between the city of Leipzig and its surrounding areas? At the Forum of Contemporary History, Prof Dr Oliver Decker (EFBI) discussed the past and present of the Peaceful Revolution with Mayor Burkhard Jung (SPD), civil rights activist Gesine Oltmanns (Peaceful Revolution Foundation), Henry Lewkowitz (Chair of the Erich Zeigner House) and Alex Müller (Colorido e.V., Plauen).
Watch the recording - Riesa, 06/08/2024: “What do labour struggles contribute to democracy?”
In recent years, workers in East German companies have begun to organise more actively. Participants report a renewed sense of agency and practical experience of democracy – in a working environment previously considered politically dormant. Dr Johannes Kiess (EFBI) explored this democratic potential in conversation with Martin Dulig, Saxony’s Minister for Economic Affairs, Labour and Transport, and Martin Tritschler from the association Sprungbrett.
Watch the recording
Project: Justice and Urban Transformation in Times of Accelerating Climate Change (GuTes Klima)
Project lead: Dr Karsten Haustein (Institute for Meteorology)
Project partners: City of Leipzig, Changing Cities e.V.
The project is based on the observation that climate-just urban transformation often faces resistance from citizens, businesses and administrations, and that concrete measures are rarely implemented in full. Together with the “Verkehrswende Leipzig” initiative (part of Changing Cities e.V.) and the Knowledge Policy Division of the City of Leipzig, Karsten Haustein’s team is analysing communicative reasons for the hesitant action in Leipzig’s transport sector and is developing concrete strategies for improving communication between academia, local authorities, citizens and businesses. The result will be a straightforward communication guide for municipal decision-makers, civil society actors and researchers, which can also be applied by other cities.
Project: A Trail of Knowledge through Leipzig
Project leads: Prof Dr Jürgen Vollmer (Institute for Theoretical Physics), Prof Dr Andreas Huth (Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ), Dr Veit Heller (Musical Instrument Museum at Leipzig University)
Project partner: INSPIRATA – Centre for Mathematics and Science Education e.V.
As a science- and history-focused counterpart to the Leipzig Music Trail, the Leipzig Knowledge Trail aims to weave together the many facets of the city’s knowledge culture in the public consciousness:
- Acquiring and imparting knowledge in schools and universities
- Preserving and discovering knowledge in libraries, museums and archives
- Questioning and expanding knowledge in universities and research institutes
Selected sites across the city will showcase both Leipzig’s history of science and education as well as its current areas of focus in research and teaching, making them accessible and tangible.
Project: “When Algorithms Are Biased”. Developing Inclusive and Non-Discriminatory AI Together (KI-Kids)
Project lead: Dr Anne Goldbach (Institute of Special Needs Education)
Project partner: GEW Saxony
This project explores new participatory approaches for developing non-discriminatory artificial intelligence (AI). Researchers from education science and computer science will work together with pupils with cognitive impairments to develop ideas on how AI tools can support them in overcoming challenges. The project not only breaks new methodological ground, but also focuses on a target group that has thus far been overlooked in AI development. The goal is to design small-scale practices and structures that allow students with disabilities to take part in AI development processes. These structures will be refined and institutionalised through subsequent research projects.
Project: Practical history lessons: Children experience history in a lively and tangible way
Project director: Professor Dietrich Raue (Egyptian Museum)
Project partner: Anhaltischer Förderverein für Naturkunde und Geschichte e. V. (Pfaffendorf)
Project: Biodiversity in Leipzig – A regional utilisation and potential analysis of the interactive web application LifeGate
Project director: Dr Martin Freiberg (Botanical Garden)
Project partner: Natural History Museum Leipzig
Project: Reduction of Listeria monocytogenes on stainless steel surfaces using nanocoating (ListRed)
Project directors: Dr Martin Köthe and Professor Peggy Braun (Institute of Food Hygiene)
Project partner: nanopool GmbH (Schwalbach, Saarland)
Project: Strengthening the social integration of international students in Leipzig through the development of the digital platform Hallo.City
Project director: Professor Utz Dornberger (International SEPT Program, Institute of Service and Relationship Management)
Project partner: Deutsch-Spanische Freundschaft e.V. and wunderbar - Raum für Interdisziplinäre Zukunftsforschung (Leipzig)
Project: Children experience history: Understanding through hearing, seeing, touching and doing it yourself
Project director: Professor Dietrich Raue (Egyptian Museum)
Project partner: Anhaltischer Förderverein für Naturkunde und Geschichte e. V. (Pfaffendorf)
Project: Ways of organisational development in the cultural sector
Project director: Dr Ringo Rösener and Dr Uta Karstein (Institute for the Study of Culture)
Project partner: Netzwerk für Kinder- und Jugendarbeit e.V. (Chemnitz)
Project: Discover the zoo world through a child’s eyes
Project director: Professor Katja Liebal (Leipzig Lab, Institute of Biology)
Project partner: Zoo Leipzig
Project: Process evaluation and development of a software module for Leipzig University Hospital to optimise patient management in sports and physiotherapeutic care during inpatient hospitalisation as well as in the transition to follow-up treatment
Project director: Professor Gregor Hovemann (Institute of Sport Psychology and Physical Education)
Project partner: science on field GmbH (Leipzig)
Project: The LSI.J language test tablet for young people: Establishing long-term R&D cooperation in product development and collaborative research
Project director: Professor Christian Glück (Institute of Special and Inclusive Education)
Project partner: Berufbildungswerk Leipzig gGmbH
Project: Development of a voice-based telephone assistant with the help of artificial intelligence
Project director: Professor Rainer Alt (Information Systems Institute, IWI)
Project partner: we-do.ai GmbH (Leipzig)