The Oldenburg State Theatre was well filled at the traditional New Year's reception of the University and the University Society (UGO) on Thursday evening. Three stylistically diverse ballet performances, entertaining speeches and the "chat afterwards" provided the almost 550 guests with an atmospheric evening.
Before the audience immersed themselves in the varied dance performances, General Director Christian Firmbach welcomed the guests to the theatre, which has provided the setting for the New Year's reception for over 20 years. Oldenburg's Lord Mayor Jürgen Krogmann emphasised that the university was a decisive factor in revitalising the city. The increase in population in the past year can be attributed not least to the rise in student numbers. UGO Chair Michael Wefers brought membership forms to the stage and used them to charmingly recruit new members for the UGO.
For University President Prof Dr Dr Hans Michael Piper, the New Year's reception in Oldenburg was a first. "The Oldenburg State Theatre is a great venue and I am very impressed by the tradition that exists here in Oldenburg," he said. In his speech, he emphasised the similarities between art and science: both are an expression of a special kind of human and intellectual creativity. Both could only unfold where they encountered a certain degree of social freedom. And both are based on education.
Piper praised the commitment of the Oldenburg scientists and highlighted the success of two young researchers as examples: hearing researcher Prof. Dr Sarah Verhulst has received millions in funding as part of the EU's ERC Starting Grant; musicologist Dr Anna Langenbruch has been able to set up a research group with the help of the DFG's Emmy Noether Programme. He thanked all employees as well as the friends and sponsors of the university, whose commitment has made the university what it is today: a motor of development in the north-west.
