IUB celebrates its opening!

[ Sep 22, 2001]  More than 1400 invited guests were present for the official opening of IUB, which was held in a large festival tent on the campus grounds. Student volunteers from Alfried Krupp College escorted arriving guests to the tent, where they were entertained by music from the NDR-Bigband, under the direction of Joe Gallardo.

Special guest speakers included Dr. Malcom Gillis, president of Rice University; Dr. Henning Scherf, mayor and president of the Senate in Bremen; Senator Josef Hattig, Bremen; and Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Jürgen Timm, rector of University Bremen. These speakers were also joined by two IUB students: Tuhina Chugh, born in India and resident of Hamburg; and Paul Avenati, born in Rome.

Dr. Theo Sommer, longtime editor-in-chief and now editor-at-large of the weekly newspaper "Die Zeit," served as replacement program host for television moderator Ulrich Wickert, who due to the world situation, was unable to attend.

Guests were welcomed to the opening by IUB president, Dr. Fritz Schaumann, who told guests, "we view IUB's opening today with pride, but we of course recognize the great responsibility we have taken on, to make our work a success."

The keynote address by former Chancellor Helmut Schmidt (see right) was followed by a scientific dialogue between Dr. Neal Lane, professor at Rice University, and Prof. Dr. Ernst-Ludwig Winnacker, president of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.

Prof. Dr. Reimar Lüst, chairman of the IUB Board of Governors, gave the closing remarks and characterized the opening of IUB as a dream fulfilled.

Festrede des Bundeskanzlers a.D. Helmut Schmidt Helmut Schmidts Festrede zur Eröffnung der IUB am 20. September 2001, in der er neben der Notwendigkeit einer Hochschulreform, auch auf die Gefahren des Terrorismus nach dem Anschlag in Amerika einging. more info »