Pressemitteilungen 2026

1 July 2026|Press release

F. Laeisz Award for Maritime Innovation: Award for an Innovative Hydrogen Fuel Cell

F. Laeisz Award for Maritime Innovation Ceremony

Photo: Martha-Theresa Koch/F. Laeisz GmbH

With the F. Laeisz Award for Maritime Innovation, the University of Hamburg and F. Laeisz GmbH are recognizing, for the first time, promising scientific and practice-oriented projects, initiatives, and startups that make a demonstrable contribution to the sustainable transformation of the maritime...

22 June 2026|Press release

International Funding Success: Early Career Researchers Are Launching Projects at the University of Hamburg

Dr. Andrey Klebanov, Dr. Dimitra Spathara und Dr. Marcel Camprubí

Photo: privat (2), Princeton University

Music theory, Indology, and physics: Three outstanding researchers have been accepted into the European “Postdoctoral Fellowships” funding program with their research projects. They will be conducting research at the Universität Hamburg—University of Excellence in the coming months. This success...

11 June 2026|Press release

Exhibition „Untenrum verhandelt“: Gynecological knowledge, from caring to controlling

Eine gezeichnete Illustration von nackten Frauenkörpern vor orangefarbenem Hintergrund

Photo: Maya Freiesleben

Female bodies are the focus of countless debates, whether in medical, societal, or political contexts. In the exhibition Untenrum verhandelt, students at the University of Hamburg illustrate who has knowledge about what and the role that power plays. The exhibition runs from 17 June to 8 July at the...

4 June 2026|Press release

Fossils Provide New Insights into the Evolution of Life

Living bryozoan Electra pilosa, Baltic Sea.

Photo: UHH/Ernst

An international research team, including scientists from the University of Hamburg, has identified fossils of bryozoans from the Early Cambrian period for the first time. The exceptionally well-preserved specimens demonstrate that this group of animals existed as early as 520 million years ago—and...

3 June 2026|Press release

Pharmacological study: New antibiotics discovered to treat multi-resistant germs

Photo: Adobe Stock/Elnur

A research team involving the University of Hamburg has discovered a new active substance in a soil bacterium that has already been extensively studied. The antibiotic identified, ‘manikomycin’, has been shown to be effective against multi-drug-resistant bacteria. Initial preclinical studies point...

1 June 2026|Press release

Limited Connections: How Stress Affects Our Brain

Eine 3D-Illustration eines menschlichen Kopfes, wobei im Gehirn der Hippocampus gelb hervorgehoben ist.

Photo: AdobeStock/Sebastian Kaulitzki

Our brain automatically compares new information with existing memories and links them together. Through this integration into our memory, we build knowledge. An international research team led by Prof. Dr. Lars Schwabe from the Department of Cognitive Psychology at the University of Hamburg has now...

31 May 2026|Press release

Olympic Referendum in Hamburg: Economic Factors Are Key to Voting Behavior

Photo: AdobeStock/M. Claushallmann

Should the 2036, 2040, or 2044 Olympic Games be held in Hamburg? All Hamburg residents will have the opportunity to decide on this question in a referendum by 31 May 2026. A recent panel survey conducted by the team led by Prof. Arndt Leininger of the University of Hamburg indicates growing...

20 May 2026|Press release

A first for Science on Tap: two Nights, double the fun in Hamburg’s pubs

Photo: DESY/University of Hamburg

How do you store the sun? Will AI take away my job? And how rough is water, actually? These are just a few of the many questions that experts entertain at Hamburg pubs for the Science on Tap event. On 3 and 4 June, researchers from DESY and the University of Hamburg will take over bars and pubs...

6 May 2026|Press release

Exhibition Showcases Research on Current Health Issues

Photo: HCHE/Claudia Höhne

For the past 15 years, economists and medical professionals from the University of Hamburg and the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf have been conducting joint research at the Hamburg Center for Health Economics (HCHE) on the current challenges facing healthcare. To mark this anniversary...

28 April 2026|Press release

The Impact of Data Retention on Crime

Photo: UHH/Sebastian Engels

An empirical study by the University of Hamburg provides, for the first time, reliable evidence on the effectiveness of the highly controversial data retention in Europe. It concludes that the measure can reduce the number of property crimes by seven to eight percent, but not the number of violent...

27 April 2026|Press release

In short: Research News from the University of Hamburg

Das Hauptgebäude der UHH mit einem roten Uni-Würfel davor

Photo: UHH/von Wieding

Climate-resilient reforestation, the Earth’s rotation, international talents in climate science, academic career paths, and two Humboldt Research Fellowships: In this update, we provide a brief overview of newly funded projects and individuals at the University of Hamburg.

21 April 2026|Press release

New Emmy Noether independent junior research group investigates properties of quantum materials

Photo: UHH/Krüger

The German Research Foundation (DFG) is providing 1.3 million euros in funding to establish a new Emmy Noether independent junior research group at the University of Hamburg, led by Dr. Johannes Tölle from the Department of Chemistry. The goal of the research project is to develop innovative...

20 April 2026|Press release

Comparative study shows: Modern climate models are more accurate than ever

Grafische Visualisierung von Windgeschwindigkeiten über Skandinavien

Photo: DKRZ/MPI-M

The latest generation of climate models matches reality so closely that the models themselves are no longer the limiting factor for climate calculations – the observational data is. This is the finding of Dr. Lukas Brunner from the Cluster of Excellence CLICCS at the University of Hamburg. The study...

26 March 2026|Press release

Study using climate simulations Human-caused climate change fuels mega-fires in the Arctic

North in flames: Satellite image of a large-scale fire in western Greenland.

Photo: NASA Earth Observatory

The Arctic has been experiencing record wildfires for years. Lukas Fiedler, a researcher at the Earth and Society Research Hub (ESRAH) at the University of Hamburg, has now been able to demonstrate: the extreme fire years 2019 to 2021 can be attributed to human-caused climate change. His study was...

25 March 2026|Press release

Well-fed penguins live longer but age faster—much like modern humans

Photo: Zoo Zürich/F. Süss

The consequences of a sedentary lifestyle are difficult to study in human trials. That is why an international research team, including the University of Hamburg, has now investigated them in king penguins. The result: While an abundant food supply in protected living conditions promotes rapid...

24 March 2026|Press release

Public lectures at the University of Hamburg kick off the summer semester

Blick in einen voll besetzten Hörsaal der Uni Hamburg

Photo: UHH/Schell

If you’re interested in current topics in science and research, politics, culture, and society, the University of Hamburg’s “General Lecture Series” is the perfect place for you. In the summer semester of 2026, the program will offer around 160 public lectures. The lectures begin on 7 April 2026.

11 March 2026|Press release

University of Hamburg Reawarded University of Excellence Title

Golden balloons form the lettering Excellent squared.

Photo: UHH

Great success for the University and the city of Hamburg as a hub of scientific pursuit: The University of Hamburg will continue to carry the University of Excellence title for the next 7 years. As such, it remains one of only a few universities in Germany to receive this significant funding. The...

10 March 2026|Press release

Are All Coasts Tsunami-Safe?

Part of comprehensive preparedness: a tsunami evacuation sign, shown here on the beach in Arica, Chile.

Photo: UHH/Jörn Behrens

UNESCO aims to make all vulnerable coastlines worldwide “tsunami-ready” by 2030. This goal remains urgent, even 15 years after the tsunami in Japan that claimed over 18,000 lives on March 11, 2011, and led to a meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Twelve criteria must be met to achieve...

26 February 2026|Press release

Sustainability Transformation Monitor 2026: Sustainability remains a top priority—but the momentum is gone

Photo: STM

In 73 percent of companies, responsibility for the sustainability transformation is still anchored at board or management level. The climate targets we have set ourselves remain largely unchanged. However, the topic is noticeably losing priority and momentum. This is shown by the fourth...

18 February 2026|Press release

Information on the University of Hamburg’s Open Study Program

Long exposure shot of people walking in front of the main university building.

Photo: Jens Torsten Miller

The Center for Continuing Education will provide information about the University of Hamburg’s Open Study Program on 25 February 2026. The Open Study Program has a long tradition of welcoming people of all ages interested in learning. The information event will include talks about the courses and...

16 February 2026|Press release

The University of Hamburg and F. Laeisz GmbH present the inaugural F. Laeisz Award for Maritime Innovation

Photo: Lena Buth/Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI)

The F. Laeisz Award for Maritime Innovation will be the first time that the University of Hamburg and F. Laeisz GmbH present a joint prize to honor innovative scientific and practical projects for the sustainable transformation of the maritime industry. The award will be presented as part of Hamburg...

4 February 2026|Press release

Unitag 2026: the University of Hamburg invites prospective students to get to know us!

Prospective students at the Unitag 2025 in front of the Audimax. A group of other visitors in the background.

Photo: UHH / Esfandiari

More than 180 degree programs, cooperation with universities worldwide, and an exciting campus life: prospective students can find out for themselves what the University of Hamburg has to offer at the Unitag on 24 February 2026. There are lectures, information stands, and many other formats that...

6 January 2026|Press release

New Emmy Noether independent junior research group

Portrait of research leader Dr. Max Wiesner

Photo: University of Hamburg / Esfandiari

The German Research Foundation is funding a new Emmy Noether independent junior research group at the University of Hamburg. Led by Dr. Max Wiesner, the project team is investigating how to better describe fundamental phenomena of the Universe, such as dark energy, based on new insights into quantum...