The University of Oldenburg and the University Society Oldenburg (UGO) kicked off the winter semester and thus the academic year with a joint ceremony and numerous guests. The keynote speaker at the "Auftakt 18/19" was the renowned economist Hans-Werner Sinn.
The evening in the lecture theatre centre got off to a rousing start even before the actual event: students from the Trombastik trombone quartet played for the reception in the foyer. A percussion ensemble then led the way into the festively lit Audimax for around 800 guests from the city, region and university. As soon as the guests were seated, the evening continued with the "Nicest kids in town" - a piece from the student musical theatre project "Alias Alice".
The highlight of the evening, after the speeches by University President Prof. Dr Dr Hans Michael Piper and UGO Chair Hon. Prof. Dr Werner Brinker, was the keynote speech by Prof. Dr Hans-Werner Sinn. The former President of the ifo Institute in Munich addressed the question of the development of the global economy: "Trump, Brexit, Euro crisis. What will happen to Germany?" Sinn: "Times are turbulent again. Political decisions that are beyond our control are threatening Europe's economic equilibrium." Europe must now stick together in order to finally get its economy back on track. This cannot be achieved through wishful thinking, but only through a policy that faces up to economic realities, Sinn continued. The economist concluded his lecture with a quote from Carl von Ossietzky, which in his view is once again very topical: "There is only one alliance that would have grown well and organically: the Franco-German alliance. That would be the first and only one of all old and new alliances that is not directed against a third party. It would be the alliance for Europe."
In his speech, President Piper looked back on the great successes of the university over the past year and the tasks that lie ahead. "These undoubtedly include continuing to conduct innovative research with fresh approaches, establishing the still young School of Medicine and training our students to become knowledgeable, critical and responsible members of our society," explained Piper. In doing so, he raised the question of how excellence in science is achieved in the first place. He emphasised that solutions to unresolved issues are not found by building consensus between social groups - they are almost always based on the courage to throw out outdated doctrines.
In his speech, UGO Chair Brinker emphasised the importance of scientific discourse. "As a university society, we want an open, critical dialogue, a professional exchange of ideas between scientists from different disciplines, and we want to give scientists the opportunity to present their work to the public," said Brinker.
Once again this year, the opening event provided the stage for honouring outstanding personalities. Piper honoured the long-standing President of the University of Groningen, Prof. Dr Sibrand Poppema, with the University Medal. In his laudatory speech, he emphasised Poppema's achievements, who had been instrumental in promoting the joint European degree programme in human medicine. This year, the UGO awarded the "Prize for Excellent Research", endowed with 5,000 euros, twice: to physicist Dr Antonietta De Sio and biologist Dr Maren Striebel. The cultural scientist Dr Stefanie Mallon received the "Prize for Outstanding Doctorate", endowed with 2,000 euros.
The musical framework was provided by students under the direction of Axel Fries, Peter Janßen and Volker Schindel from the Institute of Music. In addition to the trombone quartet and excerpts from "Alias Alice", the university's soul band also provided entertainment later in the evening - when the ceremony closed with a reception in the foyer of the lecture hall centre. Young entrepreneurs also presented their business ideas to the guests.