Welcome Reception for Newly Appointed Faculty: A Catalyst for Networking
Welcome to the university community: In July, RPTU President Malte Drescher welcomed the newly appointed professors from both campuses to the GFD building (Georg-Friedrich-Dentzel-Straße) at Südpark in Landau. The summer evening was all about networking.
“With this event, I’m offering the newly appointed faculty members at RPTU the opportunity to get to know one another in a relaxed atmosphere and to initiate dialogue among themselves. At a university with 16 departments and two campuses, this is a meaningful and effective way to help them get started,” says Malte Drescher, describing the format. To fully promote networking, the newly appointed junior professors also took part.
Thirteen researchers accepted the invitation in mid-July. A summer evening awaited them in the GFD building, featuring a welcome glass of sparkling wine, a barbecue buffet, non-alcoholic cocktails, and a festively set table.
Making Research Tangible
A special moment was the round of introductions: For this, each participant had brought an object that symbolized their field of research. Among the items were an hourglass symbolizing the finiteness of life, a programmable off-road model car, and a test tube filled with (invisible) greenhouse gas—thus making research tangible in the truest sense of the word.
The colorful mix of expert knowledge and personal insights provided plenty of topics for conversation throughout the evening. The newly appointed faculty members had the opportunity not only to get to know one another but also to exchange ideas with the Chancellor, Vice Chancellor, and Vice Presidents, who had also taken the time to attend. Malte Drescher remarked: “I am impressed by the passion and creativity with which you all represent your research topics here. It is precisely this enthusiasm and spirit of innovation that we need to develop into a top-tier university. You are the generation that will play a decisive role in shaping this future.”
Viola Küßner, Career Development and Appointments Advisor and co-organizer of the evening, added: “The diversity of academic topics and perspectives is what makes research and the university community at RPTU so special.” In closing, she presented each of the newly appointed faculty members with a gift certificate to support the organization of their own academic event at Villa Denis.
The following newly appointed faculty members attended the fireside evening:
- JProf. Dr. Yury Bykov, Biology
- Prof. Dr. Stefanie Golke, Educational Sciences
- Prof. Dr. Fabian Jirasek, Mechanical and Process Engineering
- Prof. Dr. Akashdeep Kamra, Physics
- JProf. Dr. Engin Kardas, Natural and Environmental Sciences
- Prof. Dr. Antje Matern, Spatial and Environmental Planning
- Prof. Dr. Florence Metz, Social Sciences
- JProf. Dr. Peter Müller, Natural and Environmental Sciences
- Prof. Dr. Hatice Mutlu, Chemistry
- JProf. Dr. Fiona Rupprecht, Psychology
- JProf. Dr. Leonie Steckermeier, Social Sciences
- Prof. Dr. Ulrich Thiel, Mathematics
- JProf. Dr. Patrick Wolf, Computer Science