On 17 November, Friedrich Schiller University Jena celebrated the 15th anniversary of the Jena Center for Soft Matter (JCSM) with a festive event at the Centre for Applied Research (ZAF). More than 120 guests and members, including representatives from HIPOLE Jena, gathered to reflect on the centre’s development and to look ahead to future prospects for soft matter research in Jena.
The event began with a welcoming address by Dr. Bernd Uwe Althaus, State Secretary in the Thuringian Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, followed by an inspiring talk by Prof. Dr. Andreas Marx, President of Friedrich Schiller University Jena.
While Prof. Dr. Michael Bauer from Uniklinikum Jena (UKJ) emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary cooperation, Prof. Dr. Stefan Leible, President of the University of Bayreuth, and Prof. Dr. Holger Ruckdäschel (University of Bayreuth) highlighted successful collaborations using examples from joint projects between Jena and Bayreuth.
Prof. Dr. Ulrich S. Schubert, spokesman of the JCSM Board of Directors, outlined the centre’s development since its foundation.
After the poster session and scientific talks, Prof. Dr. Rainer Haag (Free University of Berlin) delivered a keynote lecture offering insights into interdisciplinary polymer research in Berlin.
The event concluded with further talks, a continuation of the poster session, and guided tours, underscoring the lively and interconnected research landscape that the JCSM has shaped over the past 15 years. HIPOLE Jena was delighted to be part of this celebration and to continue its close exchange with the JCSM community.
