Our Focus on Diversity

Jacobs Professor is heading international association of psychologists

Dr. Klaus Boehnke, Professor of Social Science Methodology at Jacobs University Bremen, took up his post as President of the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology (IACCP) during this year's international congress of the organization in Guelph, Canada. This well-known organization, founded in 1972, brings together psychologists from about 80 countries. Their work focuses particularly on the question of how cultural context determines human behavior. Like Jacobs University, the IACCP stands for a cosmopolitan approach and for cooperation across the boundaries of individual nations and disciplines.

“It’s a dream come true for a professor"

When she found out the result, she was very proud. In the latest CHE ranking, the most important university ranking in the German-speaking world, “her” course of study “International Relations: Politics and History” achieved excellent results. “That was fantastic, an incredible confirmation,” says the political scientist Prof. Dr. Karen Smith Stegen, who not only teaches the course at Jacobs University Bremen, but also designs and coordinates it.

Professor at Jacobs University becomes president at international association of psychologists

It is the oldest association of psychologists in the world: the International Association of Applied Psychology (IAAP) was founded in 1920. At its international conference, which takes place just once every four years, health psychologist Professor Dr. Sonia Lippke from Jacobs University Bremen took office as President of the Health Psychology Division a few days ago.

EY ALTER exhibition now in Berlin

Another reason to visit the capital city: after exhibitions at the Universum Bremen and the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, the interactive exhibition "EY ALTER - Find out about yourself" can now be seen until 19 January 2019 at the Gasometer in Berlin-Schöneberg. Heino Niederhausen, Head of Human Resources at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Bremen, and Sven Voelpel, Professor of Business Administration at Jacobs University Bremen, came up with ideas for the entertaining and instructive discussion of aging.

How fear is changing societies: Humboldt Research Award winner to conduct research at Jacobs University

He is considered to be one of the world's leading scientists in the field of comparative cultural psychology. Prof. Dr. Shinobu Kitayama has now received the Humboldt Research Award for his work. The prize money of 60,000 euros is linked to a research collaboration with a German scientist. Kitayama is joining this project with Dr. Ulrich Kühnen, Professor of Psychology and Head of the Master's program in Psychology at Jacobs University Bremen.

Studie: Schlafqualität beeinflusst Leistungsfähigkeit stärker als Schlafdauer

Um tagsüber fit und leistungsfähig zu sein, spielen eine gesunde, fettarme Ernährung sowie ungestörter Schlaf eine wichtige Rolle. Von geringerer Bedeutung ist dagegen die Dauer des Schlafes. Das ist das Ergebnis einer jetzt in der Zeitschrift „Health Behavior & Policy Review“ veröffentlichten Studie, die an der Jacobs University Bremen entstanden ist.

Jacobs student Andrew Fiocco represents Germany at bench pressing world championship

His back rests on a bench, his feet support him and his hands clasp the barbell. For some two seconds, the weights are on his chest. Then comes the hard part - lifting the weight high into the air with straight arms. Andrew Fiocco, himself weighing 66.9 kilograms, mastered 150 kilograms in March - his personal best and a German record in bench pressing. This success garnered him a nomination for the world championship. In November Andrew, who is studying “International Relations: Politics and History” at Jacobs University Bremen, will represent Germany in the US, his native country.

From Shanghai to Bremen to study

She says it was one of the best decisions she has ever made, but what attracts a young Chinese student from Shanghai to study at a university 8,600 kilometers away from home? In the case of Shuqing Zhao, it was the international orientation of Jacobs University that was the deciding factor – as well as her love of the multiplicity of German music.

Adele Diederich: strict, fair, successful

Long, drawn-out meetings are not her thing. Adele Diederich values clear, quick decisions; her manner of communication is equally clear and unambiguous. “I love straight talk,” says the Professor of Psychology who has high expectations of herself and others. And her approach has been exceptionally successful, as evidenced by her fundraising achievements. Adele Diederich’s expertise in cognitive and mathematical psychology is in high demand.

Addressing current questions in Life Course Research

Between March 12 and 18, seventeen young Social Scientists from thirteen countries are coming to Bremen to devote themselves to current questions in Life Course Research. Methodological, theoretical and empirical considerations will be at the center of a Winter School organized by the Bremen International Graduate School of Social Sciences (BIGSSS) and the Swiss National Center of Competence in Research – LIVES.

A citizen of the world who builds bridges to art

She grew up in Dresden, studied in Moscow and taught in California. She speaks five languages and her research has an international focus. “I am at home in the world. This is why Jacobs University is such a great place for me,” says Dr. Isabel Wünsche, Professor in Art and Art History and one of the first researchers to join the campus in Bremen North.

Members and guests of the Ostasiatischer Verein Bremen are visiting Jacobs University prior to the Foundation Festival

On the evening before the official Foundation Festival of the Ostasiatischer Verein Bremen e.V. (OAV), Jacobs University invites to a reception for members and guests of the OAV, the East Asian Association of Bremen. This reception will take place on Thursday, February 22, at 6.30 pm at the Campus Center’s Conference Hall. Expected at the international university are round about 100 high-ranking representatives from politics and diplomacy, academics and business.

Beyond the ivory tower

No, she does not view research and science as disciplines to be carried out in isolation from the rest of the world. She wants to be in close contact with people and their lives and shape society – for the better. “Our research,” says Dr. Regina Arant, “is meant to reach the real world and help people directly”. This applies equally to her work on social cohesion, as well as her PhD thesis, for which the 33-year-old was awarded the Bremer Studienpreis for excellent dissertations by the Unifreunde Bremen this week.

What is equitable distribution? Jacobs University participates in DFG research project

“The cake is freshly baked, it smells tempting - and everyone has an appetite. Should each guest receive a piece of cake that is the same size, i.e. should the principle of equality be applied? When handing out the cake does hunger, i.e. need, play a role? Or do those who have baked the cake get the biggest piece, i.e. are the earnings received for the creation of the cake decisive for the distribution? “Needs-based fairness and distribution procedures” („Bedarfsgerechtigkeit und Verteilungsprozeduren“) is the subject of a research project with the participation of psychology professor Dr. Adele Diederich from Jacobs University. Of the total budget of 2.4 million euros, around 370,000 euros have been allocated to Jacobs University – a very high funding rate for a psychological research project.

Katja Windt leaving Jacobs University

After heading Jacobs University for four years, President Katja Windt is about to tackle a new set of challenges. From January 15, she will be in charge of the Electric and Automation Division, as well as of digitalization, at the SMS Group. SMS is a family-managed company for plant and mechanical engineering, responsible for the finishing of steel and nonferrous metals. The SMS Group had a turnover of about three billion euros in 2016 and employs approximately 13,500 employees worldwide.

What holds Asian societies together?

Economic development supports social cohesion, poverty weakens it. For the first time, a team of scientists headed by Prof. Dr. Klaus Boehnke from Jacobs University and Prof. Dr. Jan Delhey from Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg measured cohesion in 22 countries in South, Southeast and East Asia (SSEA). According to the study on behalf of Bertelsmann Stiftung social cohesion is the strongest in Hong Kong and Singapore, followed by Thailand and Bhutan.

Dissertation prize for graduate of Jacobs University

The working world is characterized by technological developments that allow employees to work anywhere and at any time - and also allow an increasingly older workforce. How do these trends affect the interface between employees’ working and private lives? This is essentially what Dr. Ines Spieler explored in her dissertation, which has now been awarded the dissertation prize by the German Academic Society for Work and Industrial Organization [Wissenschaftlichen Gesellschaft für Arbeits- und Betriebsorganisation (WGAB)].

"Actively studying – Studying moves!" Jacobs University receives project grant

The positive impact of physical activity and recreation on overall health and performance is evidenced by various studies. Based on these findings, the Jacobs University will now become a health promoting university. For this purpose, the learning and working environment and the behavior of students and employees of the JU will be improved with regard to health, satisfaction, and efficiency. As part of the initiative “actively studying – studying moves” the respective concept is now supported by the German university sports federation (ADH) and the health insurance Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) with a project subsidy of 15,000 €.

Cliché and reality: new findings on the generational debate

When promoting their employees, companies should consider age less and the individual person more. The reason for this is that the generations are more similar in terms of their needs than previously thought, although they see themselves as being vastly different. This is the key finding of a study conducted by scientists at Jacobs University recently published in the German HR and management magazine “Wirtschaftspsychologie aktuell”.

Halting the aging process - and defining it

At the latest at the age of 30, everything starts to go downhill. For most people, this is when their brain starts to shrink in volume. That’s the bad news, the good news is that this aging process can be stopped by means of targeted training, movement and physical activity. “Everyone has the capability of maintaining their brain function as long as they are physically healthy,” says Dr. Ben Godde, Professor of Neuroscience at Jacobs University in Bremen.