News
Are trees exchanging carbon via a wood wide web?
The idea of trees "talking" to one another through underground fungal networks – the so-called "wood wide web" – has captured the imagination of the public. This concept, where trees supposedly share nutrients with each other via these networks, has been popularized by books and documentaries. But a new study, led by the University of Göttingen, suggests the reality might be more nuanced and this latest research raises questions about how much actual sharing is going on. more…
DFG Funding Atlas: Göttingen University in 15th place in Germany
Göttingen University is one of the 15 best universities in Germany according to the DFG Funding Atlas 2024. From 2020 to 2022, it acquired a total of 232.5 million euros in research funding from the German Research Foundation (DFG). The life sciences were once again particularly successful, taking fifth place in Germany. The subjects with the highest DFG ratings at the University of Göttingen include Agricultural Sciences, Forest Sciences, and Veterinary MedicineThe DFG Funding Atlas is regarded as the most important ranking for universities in Germany. more…
Building climate resilient cocoa farming in West Africa
Agroforestry systems, which integrate trees and shrubs into farming, are vital to achieving sustainable cocoa production in West Africa where 70 percent of the world cocoa is produced. Climate change induced drought means that it is ever more critical to adapt farming practices and find new approaches. Research led by scientists from the University of Göttingen sheds light on a promising new approach to improve climate resilience in cocoa agroforestry across West Africa. more…
Senate confirms its original decision to vote President Professor Metin Tolan out of office
The Senate's proposal to vote out the President of the University of Göttingen on 21 October 2024 had been very clearly rejected by the University’s highest supervisory body, the University Foundation Committee, due to incomprehensible reasoning. The ensuing joint meeting of the two bodies took place on 20 November 2024, as it is anchored in the University's constitution. At the end of the joint meeting, no agreement could be reached between the committees. As a result, the Senate confirmed its decision to vote Professor Metin Tolan out of office in a session held immediately afterwards. more…
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Further news
Next steps taken after President Tolan voted out of office
On 25 November 2024, the next steps after President Metin Tolan has been voted out of office were discussed at a meeting at the Ministry of Science and Culture of Lower Saxony to which Minister Falko Mohrs had invited the Senate, the Deans, the University Foundation Committee and the Presidential Board of the University of Göttingen. A working group will hold confidential talks to find a timely solution to the question of who should lead the University until a regular election of a new President. Until then, Vice-President Dr Valérie Schüller will assume the duties of the President. more…
Lower Saxony against antisemitism
The University of Göttingen has joined the ‘Niedersachsen gegen Antisemitismus’ (Lower Saxony against antisemitism) campaign. The aim of the campaign is to recognise antisemitism in everyday life, to confront it and to robustly argue against it. The campaign, launched by Professor Gerhard Wegner, is supported by a broad network of state institutions and initiatives. more…