Oldenburg physicist and physician Prof Dr Dr Birger Kollmeier was elected Secretary General at this year's international conference of the European Federation of Audiological Societies (EFAS) in Warsaw. EFAS is the umbrella organisation for audiologists in Europe.

Audiology, which deals with hearing research and the causes, diagnosis and treatment of hearing disorders, is a young interdisciplinary science. As Secretary General, Kollmeier's aims include promoting the development of uniform European standards for university training in audiology. The central aim of EFAS is to establish a uniform and internationally recognised professional profile for audiologists in the field of tension between medical, technical and educational audiology. Kollmeier emphasised that he also sees his election as confirmation of Germany's - and Oldenburg's - leading role in European audiology. With the degree programme in hearing technology and audiology, the University of Oldenburg and the Jade University of Applied Sciences have created a model from which the entire European scene benefits and in which high expectations are placed.

The hearing researcher is Head of the Department of Medical Physics and the Centre for Hearing Research at the university. He is also the founder and director of the "Hörzentrum Oldenburg", Scientific Director of The Haus des Hörens and spokesperson for the "HörTech Center of Competence". Kollmeier has been honoured with numerous awards, including the Karl Küpfmüller Ring.