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New Year’s Reception: Second Mayor Honours CUI Achievements

With the foyer of Universität Hamburg’s main building and an adjoining lecture hall, CUI had chosen a particularly festive frame for its first new year’s reception. DSCF4481kleinAs a highlight of the evening, Dr. Dorothee Stapelfeldt, Second Mayor and Minister of Science and Research of Hamburg, presented the prize certificate to the Mildred Dresselhaus Awardees 2013: Prof. Dr. Rosario González Férez of Universidad de Granada, Spain, and Prof. Dr. Tamar Seideman, Northwestern University, Chicago, USA.

Approximately 80 guests from science, ministry, and administration – among them representatives from the Joachim Hertz Stiftung and the DESY-Directorate – had accepted the invitation and got some unexpected insights into CUI’s research. IMG_0102hellAfter the classical “Duo Shinandra” (flute and harp) had opened the ceremony, Dr. Dorothee Stapelfeldt began her speech alluding to the exhibition “Kleine Welten” (Small Worlds) in the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe. Those who are involved in smallest particles could certainly be inspired by the microsculptures of the English sculptor Willard Wigan, said the Minister thus recommending the exhibition warmly to the audience. Dr. Dorothee Stapelfeldt then emphasized CUI’s scientific results during its first year and assured the scientists of the city’s support.

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CUI-spokesperson Prof. Horst Weller gave a lively account of the very complex research.

Following Prof. Heinrich Graener’s welcoming speech (Dean of the School of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences), Prof. Horst Weller, Spokesperson of CUI, gave a lively lecture, explaining the highly complex research in a way that non-specialists could follow.

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Dr. Dorothee Stapelfeldt and Prof. Klaus Sengstock congratulated Prof. Rosario Gomzález Férez (left).

As a highlight of the evening, CUI then honoured the two Mildred Dresselhaus Awardees of the year 2013. Prof. Jochen Küpper emphasized the outstanding achievements of Prof. Rosario González Férez and the positive energy she had spread during her first four months at the Centre for Free-Electron Laser Science.

The Mildred Dresselhaus Programme enables internationally outstanding female researchers, to spend six months with CUI as a role model and to develop new co-operations. Prof. Rosario González Férez will continue her research stay in spring – probably at the same time when Prof. Tamar Seideman will start her work with CUI.

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Prof. R. J. Dwayne Miller, Prof. Tamar Seideman, and Dr. Dorothee Stapelfeldt (right).

CUI-spokesperson Prof. R. J. Dwayne summarized his colleague’s impressive scientific achievements in simple words: “She is not shy of complexity”. Looking at her long list of publications and at the points in time, when she had already started working on certain topics, one should actually call her “the mother of many new scientific approaches”.

DSCF4476After the ceremony, CUI-spokesperson Prof. Klaus Sengstock invited the guests to join at the buffet in the foyer – and many used the opportunity to socialize and to hear more about research in the various areas.