Press releases – 2025
Highest levels of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) in Europe – German hotspot identified near Heilbronn
24,000 times more harmful to the climate than CO2: Goethe University measurements reveal SF6 gas emissions in Germany
Using measurements and advanced computer models, an international team led by researchers from Goethe University Frankfurt has pinpointed an emission source for the climate-damaging gas sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) in southern Germany. This regional source of SF6 has not yet been taken into account in Germany's climate balance sheet.
FRANKFURT. Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) is a chemically stable, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic gas. It is used all over the world, primarily as an insulating and protective gas in electrical switchgear within medium- and high-voltage engineering. In the past, it was also used in Germany as a filling gas for sports shoes and as an insulating gas in soundproof windows until this application was banned in 2006.
SF6 is the most potent greenhouse gas known to date: One kilogram of it contributes as much to global warming as about 24 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2). Due to its extreme climate impact, the United Nations requires all its member states to regularly report their SF6 emissions. To date, Germany's greenhouse gas emissions inventory assumed that the majority of SF6 emissions today stem from the disposal of old soundproof windows, during which the gas escapes into the atmosphere.
Researchers at Goethe University Frankfurt, in collaboration with European partners, have now demonstrated for the first time that actual emissions from a source in southwestern Germany are likely to be significantly higher than previously estimated. The team led by Professor Andreas Engel from Goethe University's Institute for Atmosphere and Environment has been operating the measurement station at the Taunus Observatory for several years. Since 2023, the observatory has been part of the international measurement network AGAGE (Advanced Global Atmospheric Gas Experiment). “Of all the European measurement stations in the network, we record the highest SF6 concentrations at the Taunus Observatory," Engel reports. “We found this puzzling – especially because the highest values occur during southern airflow." As part of a study initiated and funded by the German Environment Agency to verify the emissions profile using new data and methods, the phenomenon has now been investigated in greater detail.
Researchers subsequently found even higher concentrations in air samples from the ICOS network (Integrated Carbon Observation System) in Karlsruhe. Using atmospheric transport models and a method known as inverse modeling, they were able to apply this top-down approach to spatially pinpoint the emissions. The results showed that the highest emissions come from the Heilbronn region in southwestern Germany, amounting to approximately 30 tons per year or about one-third of Germany's total SF6 emissions. However, the scientists emphasize that these amounts are relatively small compared to global SF6 emissions of around 8,000 tons, of which China alone contributes some 5,000 tons annually.
“This kind of regional distribution of emissions does not align with previous assumptions that emissions primarily stem from the disposal of old soundproof windows," explains Katharina Meixner, lead author of the study published in the journal ACS Environmental Science & Technology – Air. “What stands out, however, is that this region is home to the only SF6 production and recycling facility in Europe that we are aware of." Meixner emphasizes that “only by understanding where emissions in Germany originate can they be properly accounted for and effectively addressed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions." Andreas Engel explains: “Previous scientific studies have already shown that emissions during the production, use, and recycling of highly volatile substances are often harder to avoid and therefore higher than previously assumed."
Through its research, the Frankfurt-based group contributes to validating and complementing bottom-up assessments of emissions, which have so far been primarily based on theoretical assumptions, with top-down emission estimates derived from atmospheric measurements. In addition to SF6, the research group also measures many other halogenated greenhouse gases and ozone-depleting substances.
Publication: Katharina Meixner, Thomas Wagenhäuser, Tanja J. Schuck, Sascha Alber, Alistair J. Manning, Alison L. Redington, Kieran M. Stanley, Simon O'Doherty, Dickon Young, Joseph Pitt, Angelina Wenger, Arnoud Frumau, Ann R. Stavert, Christopher Rennick, Martin K. Vollmer, Michela Maione, Jgor Arduini, Chris R. Lunder, Cedric Couret, Armin Jordan, Xochilt Gutiérrez Gutiérrez, Dagmar Kubistin, Jennifer Müller-Williams, Matthias Lindauer, Martin Vojta, Andreas Stohl, Andreas Engel: Characterisation of German SF6 emissions. ACS Environmental Science & Technology – Air (2025) https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestair.5c00234
Images for download: https://www.uni-frankfurt.de/140750923
Caption: Measurements of the greenhouse gas SF6 at the Taunus Observatory run by Goethe University Frankfurt on Kleiner Feldberg pointed to an emission source in Germany. Photo: Markus Bernards for Goethe University
Further Information
Professor Andreas Engel
Institute for Atmosphere and Environment
Goethe University Frankfurt
Tel: +49 (0)69 798-40259
an.engel@iau.uni-frankfurt.de
https://www.goethe-university-frankfurt.de/171477419/Apl__Prof__Dr__Andreas_Engel
Bluesky: @goetheuni.bsky.social @icos-ri.eu
Linkedin: @Goethe-Universität Frankfurt @ICOS – Integrated Carbon Observation System
Editor: Dr. Markus Bernards, Science Editor, PR & Communications Office, Theodor-W.-Adorno-Platz 1, 60323 Frankfurt, Tel: +49 (0) 69 798-12498, bernards@em.uni-frankfurt.de
Collaboration set within Goethe University’s affiliation with the ATHENE National Research Center for Applied Cybersecurity seeks to develop solutions for emerging digital threats.
Goethe University and the Initiative for CryptoCurrencies and Contracts Partner to Advance Transatlantic Cybersecurity Research
Goethe University Frankfurt and the Initiative for CryptoCurrencies and Contracts have signed a Memorandum of Understanding strengthening transatlantic cybersecurity research by accelerating breakthrough research and developing solutions for emerging digital threats affecting European and North American security. Set within the context of Goethe University’s affiliation with the National Research Center for Applied Cybersecurity ATHENE, the cooperation focuses on areas like joint research on AI security, privacy-enhancing technologies, and policy development for responsible technology governance, among others.
FRANKFURT / NEW YORK. Goethe University and the Initiative for CryptoCurrencies and Contracts (IC3) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish closer research cooperation between the Frankfurt-based university and the blockchain research consortium based at the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute at Cornell Tech. The new strategic partnership marks a significant step in advancing transatlantic academic collaboration on critical cybersecurity research.
The MoU lays the foundation for closer institutional ties between IC3 and the National Research Center for Applied Cybersecurity ATHENE – Europe’s largest cybersecurity research center, of which Goethe University is a member. The collaboration will focus on several key areas, including joint research initiatives in cryptography and trusted hardware, AI security, privacy-enhancing technologies, web3 infrastructure development and interfaces with web2, and policy development for responsible technology governance. The partnership also foresees coordinated approaches to European and international cybersecurity standards, facilitating researcher mobility, and identifying opportunities for collaborative funding through European, German, and U.S. research programs.
The MoU aligns with ATHENE’s and Goethe University’s broader strategy to coordinate cybersecurity research across leading European and international institutions, and complements ongoing efforts within Germany’s cybersecurity policy framework, European digital independence initiatives, and transatlantic research coordination. To that end, the MoU will help position ATHENE as a central hub for connecting with leading North American research institutions. Whereas ATHENE and its contributing organizations bring extensive expertise in applied cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and digital infrastructure protection, IC3 contributes significant strength in cybersecurity innovation, policy research, and emerging technology governance. Together, the two institutions aim to accelerate breakthrough research and develop solutions for emerging digital threats affecting transatlantic security. The first joint research activities are planned for early 2026.
Prof. Enrico Schleiff, President of Goethe University Frankfurt: “This agreement underscores our commitment to building strong international research networks to address complex security challenges. Our partnership with IC3 establishes a vital transatlantic bridge for cybersecurity research and policy development. Such collaborations enhance our ability to protect critical infrastructure, promote responsible AI, and sustain open scientific exchange across borders.”
Prof. Greg Morrisett, Jack and Rilla Neafsey Dean and Vice Provost of Cornell Tech: “This partnership exemplifies Cornell Tech’s mission to bridge leading research institutions and foster collaborative innovation on critical global challenges. By establishing these connections with IC3, ATHENE, and Goethe University, we create a transatlantic network that accelerates research on cybersecurity and AI governance – challenges that transcend borders and demand the best minds working together across continents. This collaboration strengthens IC3 and Cornell Tech’s role as a hub for international scientific cooperation grounded in merit and shared values.”
Prof. Michael Waidner, CEO of ATHENE, Professor at TU Darmstadt and Director of Fraunhofer SIT: “This Memorandum of Understanding links Europe’s leading center for applied cybersecurity and AI with one of North America’s most dynamic innovation ecosystems. Together with Goethe University and IC3, we will advance research that strengthens the security and resilience of digital infrastructures on both sides of the Atlantic. This partnership unites complementary strengths in research, application, and policy to deliver practical solutions to today’s and tomorrow’s cyber threats.”
Prof. Haya Schulmann, ATHENE Board Member and Professor at Goethe University’s Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science: “This partnership with Cornell is a strategic step to strengthen ATHENE’s international engagement and position European cybersecurity research within key North American networks. IC3’s expertise in technology and policy complements our applied research strengths. By launching this collaboration now, we’re laying the groundwork for deeper transatlantic cooperation on shared security challenges.”
Prof. Ari Juels, Weill Family Foundation and Joan and Sanford I. Weill Professor at the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute and Co-Director of IC3: “This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to advancing cutting-edge research in cybersecurity and AI. By connecting European and North American research communities, we’re strengthening transatlantic scientific cooperation and exploring global security challenges together. The combination of ATHENE’s applied research expertise and IC3’s innovation ecosystem creates exceptional opportunities in areas like cryptography, blockchain security, and responsible AI.”
The Initiative for CryptoCurrencies and Contracts (IC3) is the leading academic research consortium advancing the science and real-world applications of blockchain technology. Based at the Jacobs Institute at Cornell Tech in New York City, IC3 brings together interdisciplinary faculty and students from over a dozen top universities, with expertise spanning cryptography, AI, distributed systems, programming languages, game theory, economics, and technology policy. IC3 has pioneered foundational research in smart contract security, high-performance blockchain protocols, trusted execution environments (TEEs), Maximal Extractable Value (MEV), and decentralized finance (DeFi). IC3 researchers and alumni have created influential tools and foundational concepts, spawned blockchain unicorns, and published research that shapes scientific research, industry practice, and responsible technology governance. For more information, visit initc3.org.
ATHENE is Germany’s National Research Center for Applied Cybersecurity. Established in 2019 by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) and the Hessian Ministry of Science and Research, Arts and Culture (HMWK), ATHENE is a research center of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft with its institutes SIT and IGD and with participation of Technical University of Darmstadt, Goethe University Frankfurt and Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences. Today, ATHENE is Europe’s largest and leading research center for cybersecurity, conducting mission-driven, cutting-edge research that delivers measurable impact for government, industry and society.
Further information
Prof. Dr. Haya Schulmann
Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science
Goethe University Frankfurt
Robert-Mayer-Str. 10
60486 Frankfurt
shulman@em.uni-frankfurt.de
https://www.athene-center.de
Editor: Leonie Schultens, International Communications and PR, PR & Communications Office, Theodor-W.-Adorno-Platz 1, 60323 Frankfurt, Tel. +49 (0)69 798- 12473, schultens@em.uni-frankfurt.de
DFG approves new Collaborative Research Centre on educational equity / Funding for three natural science CRC Transregios at Goethe University extended
First Collaborative Research Centre in Educational Sciences
Goethe University is proud to announce a truly unique new Collaborative Research Centre: The first-ever educational sciences Collaborative Research Centre (CRC 1750) is launching under the name [in:just]. Its focus will be on exploring justice and participation within the German education and upbringing system. The German Research Foundation (DFG) also approved the continuation of three CRC Transregios (TRR), in which Goethe University researchers play a key role. These projects involve the mathematical description of complex geometric structures (TRR 326), the study of matter under extreme conditions (TRR 211), and research into the tropopause region of the atmosphere at altitudes between seven and 17 kilometers (TRR 301).
FRANKFURT. Goethe University President Prof. Enrico Schleiff congratulated the researchers on their successful proposal: “A new Collaborative Research Centre is fantastic news for Goethe University – and in this particular case, for educational equity in Germany. I am fully aware of how much energy, creativity, and perseverance are required to prepare such a major project, and the result shows that the effort was definitely worth it. There is an urgent need to explore why educational opportunities in Germany are still not distributed fairly. I wish everyone involved continued success with their exciting and important research. The fact that three extensions for our Transregios have been approved confirms the quality of our research in the natural sciences and mathematics and strengthens our research capabilities within the Rhine-Main Universities alliance."
For the past 50 years, opportunities to participate in education have continued to expand. At the same time, significant inequalities persist in terms of who benefits from these opportunities and how. Children and young people from families with limited educational resources, from migrant backgrounds, and those with disabilities and/or special educational needs are still not adequately reached. This inconsistency within the democratic promise of equal opportunity continues to erode trust in educational institutions.
The new Collaborative Research Center [in:just] 1750 at Goethe University Frankfurt will investigate the causes and contexts behind the persistent inequality in Germany's educational system. To support this work, the CRC will receive a total of €14 million over the next three years and nine months. 31 researchers from diverse disciplines including the educational sciences, sociology, philosophy, political science, law, human geography, and computer science have come together to form an interdisciplinary consortium led by the educational sciences. The spokespersons for the project are Prof. Merle Hummrich and Prof. Vera Moser, both from Goethe University's Faculty of Educational Sciences. Prof. Merle Hummrich focuses on youth and schools, while Prof. Vera Moser, holding the Kathrin and Stefan Quandt Foundation Professorship, works in the field of inclusion research.
The center will adopt multiple perspectives to examine institutionalized processes of participation and recognition involving children, adolescents, and young adults within the German education system. Research topics include teaching in multilingual contexts or addressing students perceived having “behavioral disorders," procedures of caretaking of children and adolescents as well as unaccompanied minor refugees by youth welfare, the impact of gentrification on the quality of regional educational opportunities, the influence of parents' advocacy power, and computer-based decision-making to be analyzed comparatively in education and legal systems. The program also encompasses international comparative research on the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and on children's rights, also within intersectional perspectives.
“Within significant societal crises and challenges that we are facing today, we are deeply grateful for this tremendous opportunity to study the upbringing of children and young people in our education system" says Prof. Merle Hummrich. “I find it particularly important to examine how human rights norms impact the daily lives of young people," emphasizes inclusion expert Prof. Vera Moser.
Collaborative Research Centres-Transregios Extended
The DFG also announced the continuation of the following CRC-Transregios, in which researchers from Goethe University play a significant role:
How can highly complex geometric and arithmetic structures be described using simpler spaces? This question is the focus of TRR 326 “Geometry and Arithmetic of Uniformized Structures (GAUS)," which is now entering its second funding phase with a budget of €13.7 million. Mathematicians are applying the principle of mathematical “uniformization," which creates order within complexity: Hard-to-grasp spaces from modern geometry and arithmetic are replaced by simpler models without altering their essential form. A clear example is the surface of a life ring (an elliptic curve): An ant living on this surface can travel either lengthwise or crosswise in a loop, always returning to its starting point. This behavior is reflected in uniformization, represented by a plane covered with a grid – the grid lines illustrate the ant's travel routes extended infinitely. This transformation reveals hidden symmetries, making questions at the intersection of geometry and numbers theory manageable and answerable.
Participating institutions include Goethe University Frankfurt as the lead university, Technical University Darmstadt, and Heidelberg University. Partners include Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz – which, along with Frankfurt and Darmstadt, forms the Rhine-Main Universities (RMU) alliance – as well as Leibniz University Hannover and the University of Münster.
Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Jakob Stix (Goethe University Frankfurt)
Co-Spokespersons: Prof. Jan Hendrik Bruinier (TU Darmstadt), Prof. Alexander Schmidt (Heidelberg University)
Website: https://crc326gaus.de/
Matter under such extreme conditions that even protons and neutrons break apart – this is the focus of TRR 211 “Strong-Interaction Matter under Extreme Conditions," which has been approved for its third funding phase. The participating researchers are investigating what happens when matter is heated and compressed to such an extent that its fundamental building blocks – quarks and gluons – are released. These states can be created for fractions of a second in particle accelerators and occur in space, for example, during the merger of neutron stars. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the strong nuclear force, which holds everything together at its core. Alongside Goethe University Frankfurt, TU Darmstadt and Bielefeld University are also involved.
Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Sören Schlichting (Bielefeld University)
Co-Spokespersons: Prof. Dr. Hannah Elfner (Goethe University Frankfurt), Prof. Dr. Guy Moore (TU Darmstadt)
Website: https://crc-tr211.org/
The study of a zone in the atmosphere that separates the lower “weather layer" (troposphere) from the stratosphere above, known as the tropopause region, is the research topic of TRR 301 “The Tropopause Region in a Changing Atmosphere." The research focuses on the physical and chemical processes in this region and their influence on planetary circulation and climate. As part of TRR 301, researchers from Goethe University participated in the aircraft measurement campaign on oxidation processes in the atmosphere (CAFE), which helped explain how the Amazon rainforest functions as a “cloud machine." The main locations of TRR 301 are Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and Goethe University Frankfurt. Additional partners include Technical University Darmstadt, LMU Munich, the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in Mainz, Forschungszentrum Jülich, and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Weßling.
Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Peter Hoor, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, hoor@uni-mainz.de
Co-Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Joachim Curtius, Goethe University Frankfurt, curtius@iau.uni-frankfurt.de
Website: https://tpchange.de/
The Amazon rainforest as a cloud machine: How thunderstorms and plant transpiration produce condensation nuclei: https://aktuelles.uni-frankfurt.de/english/the-amazon-rainforest-as-a-cloud-machine-how-thunderstorms-and-plant-transpiration-produce-condensation-nuclei/
DFG press release (in German):
https://www.dfg.de/de/service/presse/pressemitteilungen/2025/pressemitteilung-nr-37
Further Information
Prof. Dr. Merle Hummrich (CRC 1750)
Institute of Secondary Education
Goethe University Frankfurt
Tel.: +49 (0)69 798 -36323
E-Mail: m.hummrich@em.uni-frankfurt.de
Prof. Dr. Vera Moser (CRC 1750)
Institute of Special Education
Goethe University Frankfurt
Tel.: +49 (0)69 798 - 36394
E-Mail: v.moser@em.uni-frankfurt.de
Prof. Dr. Jakob Stix (TRR 326)
Institute of Mathematics
Goethe University Frankfurt
Tel.: +49 (0)69 798 - 22309
E-Mail: stix@math.uni-frankfurt.de
Prof. Dr. Hannah Elfner (TRR 211)
Institute for Theoretical Physics
Goethe University Frankfurt
Tel.: +49 (0)69 798 - 47652
E-Mail: elfner@itp.uni-frankfurt.de
Prof. Dr. Joachim Curtius (TRR 301)
Institute for Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences
Goethe University Frankfurt
Tel.: +49 (0)69 798 - 40258
E-Mail: curtius@iau.uni-frankfurt.de
Editor: Dr. Anke Sauter, Science Communication, PR & Communications Office, Theodor-W.-Adorno-Platz 1, 60323 Frankfurt, Tel. +49 (0)69 798-13066, sauter@pvw.uni-frankfurt.de
This year, 620 scholarship recipients will receive funding as part of the program that recognizes outstanding academic performance and social commitment.
Goethe University Sets New Record in Deutschlandstipendium Scholarship Recipients
After surpassing the 600-scholarship milestone last year, this year the remarkable generosity of private individuals, companies, and institutions enabled Goethe University to set a new participant record. A total of 280 private individuals, 45 companies, and 52 nonprofit organizations donated a €1,116,000 to Goethe University in 2025, which according to the matching principle was doubled by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR). This translates into a total of €2,232,000 raised for scholarship recipients.
FRANKFURT. The Deutschlandstipendium is an excellent opportunity for students to receive financial support while focusing on their academic career. This year, 620 talented Goethe University students have the chance to benefit from the government-funded scholarship program. For the first time, the annual maximum limit based on student numbers, as stipulated by the Scholarship Program Act – which foresees 617 scholarships for Goethe University in 2025 – has been exceeded. Scholarships beyond this quota come from the unused scholarship quota of other universities in Hesse and must be applied for through the state.
Scholarship recipients are selected, among others, by jurors from the Goethe University’s 16 faculties. One of the key eligibility requirements is strong academic performance and students’ social engagement and commitment also receive significant consideration. In addition to being of great value to society, such commitment also helps cultivate essential skills like teamwork, a sense of responsibility and empathy, which are highly important in professional life.
Equal opportunities are a cornerstone of the Deutschlandstipendium: 32 percent of scholarship recipients have a migration background; 16 percent hold a foreign passport. Fourteen percent receive support through the Federal Students Assistance Act (BAföG), and 41 percent are first-generation college students. Beyond financial support, the scholarship offers recipients the opportunity to grow personally and professionally through the Young Leadership Program. In addition to individualized mentoring in project teams, this includes extracurricular programs and offerings, such as seminars, workshops, best-practice lectures, and networking opportunities. Together with fellow students from various disciplines and degree programs and guided by mentors from outside the university, scholarship recipients collaborate in project teams to develop innovative ideas.
This year’s award ceremony featured a diverse and engaging program. Goethe University’s Vice President for Study and Teaching, Prof. Viera Pirker, welcomed the guests and thanked all Deutschlandstipendium sponsors and supporters. In her speech, Pirker addressed the new scholarship recipients, emphasizing: “You are building the future of our society.” She shared her enthusiasm that the university can accompany students on their journey toward this goal.
Goethe University alumnus and stand-up comedian Jakob Schwerdtfeger delivered an entertaining and unique keynote on the topic “Masterpiece.” Schwerdtfeger, who studied art history, captivated the audience, including by performing an impromptu rap song based on words spontaneously suggested by the crowd.
Art was a major theme at this year’s Deutschlandstipendium Awards, whose vernissage format gave attendees the opportunity to view artworks available for auction through an online platform provided by the Wilhelm Döbritz Art and Auction House (Frankfurt). The auction runs until December 1, and all proceeds will be donated to the Deutschlandstipendium. Among the pieces are six created by students from the Institute for Art Education, two by Dr. Manfred Fuchs, and Ottmar Hörl's “White Rose”, acquired during the pandemic thanks to funding by Biotest AG.
A total of 7,972 scholarships have been awarded at Goethe University Frankfurt since 2011. According to the matching principle, the amount raised by the university for Deutschlandstipendium recipients is doubled each year by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR). In 2025, 280 private individuals, 45 companies, and 52 nonprofit organizations donated a total of €1,116,000 to Goethe University Frankfurt. Including the federal funds, this means a total of €2,232,000 has been raised for scholarship recipients.
Image for download: https://www.uni-frankfurt.de/180582545
Caption: This year, a record 620 students at Goethe University have received a Deutschlandstipendium. A total of 280 private individuals, 45 companies, and 52 nonprofit organizations donated an amount of €1,116,000. Photo: Uwe Dettmar
Editor: Dr. Dirk Frank, Press Officer/ Deputy Press Spokesperson, PR & Communications Office, Theodor-W.-Adorno-Platz 1, 60323 Frankfurt , Tel.: +49 (0)69/798-13753, frank@pvw.uni-frankfurt.de
Goethe University, the Jesuit Order, and the Diocese of Limburg sign letter of intent for collaboration
A Campus with a Strong Connection to Society
The Jesuit Order, as the carrier of the Sankt Georgen Graduate School of Philosophy and Theology (PTH), the Diocese of Limburg, and Goethe University Frankfurt aim to collaborate more closely in the future. A newly signed letter of intent outlines the goal of deepening the cooperation between the university and the higher education institution, as well as jointly strengthening teaching and research offerings. This initiative seeks to secure the future of the Catholic Theology field of study as well as the Sankt Georgen campus.
FRANKFURT. The letter of intent focuses on an inter-institutional cooperation between Goethe University’s Faculty of Catholic Theology and PTH Sankt Georgen, forming an inter-institutional faculty as permitted under the Hessian Higher Education Act. Students will be enrolled at both institutions, with faculty members from both available to them. Joint research projects will also be intensified. A cooperation council will address fundamental questions related to the inter-institutional faculty.
The university is also considering the acquisition of the Sankt Georgen campus using funds from the foundational assets of its endowment to specifically utilize the site for research, teaching, and international exchange. These funds come from endowment earnings and foundational assets, which must generally be preserved in their original form during such an acquisition. The purchase will not draw on financial resources from the university’s current budget. From Goethe University’s perspective, this investment not only offers opportunities for academic work and student housing but also provides a chance to relocate units currently housed in rented spaces to Sankt Georgen, thereby reducing expenses – an important goal in light of the budgetary constraints set by the state of Hesse.
“The future of smaller academic fields – among them Catholic Theology – is a matter of great importance to us, and this cooperation can make a significant contribution,” explains Goethe University President Prof. Enrico Schleiff. “At the same time, the Oberrad Campus has the potential to become a site where the humanities, social sciences, and liberal arts take center stage in societal debates with renewed vigor. As a complement to Westend Campus, this location offers the opportunity to conduct research and teach in a different environment, whether through flexible shared-office solutions, uninterrupted masterclasses, or international conferences. The available space also offers opportunities for the development of much-needed student housing – a strategic step that positions Goethe University as an active partner in addressing pressing urban and societal challenges."
Speaking on behalf of the Jesuit order, Provincial Father Thomas Hollweck SJ states: “We Jesuits aim to enhance our global network of around 200 universities and colleges by collaborating with Goethe University to establish a theology site in Germany that strengthens Catholic theology’s engagement with neighboring disciplines and in public discourse. Additionally, we seek to provide high-quality education for various professional fields that have emerged and continue to evolve within Germany’s dioceses. The campus will continue to serve research and teaching as well as global church networking. It will offer education that enables young people to engage existentially and spiritually with questions of worldview and faith.”
Bishop Dr. Georg Bätzing of Limburg, speaking on behalf of the dioceses supporting Hochschule Sankt Georgen (Hamburg, Osnabrück, Hildesheim, and Aachen), stated: “Frankfurt’s strength as a hub for theological research and teaching, deeply shaped by interreligious and intercultural connections, is further enhanced by the strengthened cooperation between Goethe University’s Faculty of Catholic Theology and Sankt Georgen Graduate School of Philosophy and Theology. This collaboration not only raises the profile of theology in Hessen and across Germany but also internationally, thanks to the Jesuits’ commitment. It provides significant momentum for a theology that is both academically robust and globally engaged.”
Following the signing of the Letter of Intent, the specific goals of this partnership will now be refined, and a detailed agreement will be developed to outline the intended structural collaboration. This agreement will be reviewed by the Jesuit committees, the diocese, and the university.
The two Frankfurt-based higher education institutions already maintain numerous connections, including a joint dual master’s program in Social Ethics in Healthcare, as well as several other collaborations between Sankt Georgen, the Faculty of Catholic Theology as well as other Goethe University faculties.
Editor: Dr. Dirk Frank, Press Officer/ Deputy Press Spokesperson, PR & Communications Office, Theodor-W.-Adorno-Platz 1, 60323 Frankfurt, Tel.: +49 (0)69/798-13753, frank@pvw.uni-frankfurt.de
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