Definitely a highlight of their time at university in Wuppertal: high up on the 19th floor of the Stadtsparkasse Wuppertal, the proud prizewinners presented their scientific work to the guests in attendance on Tuesday evening. They reported on their research topics with remarkable passion and took the audience on an entertaining ride through their projects and results.

For society and the next generations

Host Axel Jütz, CEO of Stadtsparkasse, welcomed the audience and paid tribute to the award winners. Even if they don't realise it themselves, he said, they are role models for the next generation and proof of the existing talent at the University of Wuppertal. "The BUW is existential for Wuppertal as a location. That's why the Sparkasse will also play its part and continue to invest in education and young careers," said Jütz.

Following on from this, City Director Matthias Nocke praised the numerous supporters of the university from the city, who have made many things possible. "The FABU award ceremony is a great organisation. Bringing it out of the lecture hall and into special places in the centre of the city was a good idea," said Nocke. Indeed, the public event is becoming increasingly popular. As in the previous year at the Barmenia Versicherungen premises, the record number of guests was broken once again.

The FABU Prize is all about making good achievements and the minds and research behind them visible. In front of a full hall, University Rector Prof Dr Birgitta Wolff revealed that she was deeply relaxed "when I look at the next generation". And a look at the range of topics shows that they are precisely the ones that many people in society are thinking about. "The award-winning works don't just complain, they show solutions to current challenges. This is precisely the hallmark of the University of Wuppertal," summarised Wolff.

Her honorary board colleague, Prof. Dr Johannes Köbberling, offered some sensitive words in memory of Dr Ingrid Henkels, who passed away last week and was the long-standing chair of FABU's predecessor association GFBU. He emphasised the great value of the deceased's legacy: For example, in addition to her general activity on behalf of the Friends of the University, it was her idea many years ago to award a prize for final theses.

In conclusion, FABU chairpersons Felicia Ullrich and Dr Jens Schmidt gave an insight into the preparations for the award ceremony. With 44 theses submitted, all of which were awarded top marks, it was not an easy decision for the jury. Special thanks went to the prize sponsors - the Sparkasse and the Thomas and Gabriele Meyer Foundation - who intend to increase their funding in the coming years. A strong sign of the value of the prize and once again an increase in its attractiveness in the interests of young academics and their promotion.

Young talent awards

Axel Jütz then presented three young talent awards for outstanding Bachelor's and Master's theses, sponsored by Stadtsparkasse Wuppertal, in the evening. Jacqueline Owczorz from the Faculty of Economics was honoured with the first prize of 2,000 euros. Two second prizes - each worth 1,500 euros - went to industrial engineer Antonin Königsfeld and Lisa Wunsch from the Department of Sociology.

Doctoral prizes

The four FABU doctoral prizes were financed by the Thomas and Gabriele Meyer Foundation and presented personally by the sponsoring couple. The first prize - endowed with 2,000 euros - went to food chemist Elisabeth Koch. Biologist Franziska Hörner, electrical engineer Max Julian Bondorf and literary scholar Annkathrin Sonder were awarded three second prizes, each worth 1,000 euros.