The University of Göttingen is an internationally renowned research university. Founded in 1737 in the Age of Enlightenment, the University is committed to the values of social responsibility of science, democracy, tolerance and justice. It offers a comprehensive range of subjects across 13 faculties: in the natural sciences, humanities, social sciences and medicine. With about 28,000 students and more than 210 degree programmes, the University is one of the largest in Germany.
New press releases
Frontiers Planet Prize: Göttingen biodiversity researcher named „National Champion“
Ecologist and biodiversity researcher Dr Gustavo B. Paterno from the University of Göttingen is entering the global final of the Frontiers Planet Prize 2026 as Germany’s ‘National Champion’. The Frontiers Planet Prize awards three scientists one million US dollars each to scale up transformative research and is the most lucrative scientific award in the field of planetary health.
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Award for wood scientist
Professor Holger Militz has been awarded the 2026 Marcus Wallenberg Prize. This honour recognises Militz for his ground-breaking contributions to the research and industrial application of wood modification technologies. Considered the world’s most prestigious research award in this area, it recognizes scientific achievements which significantly broaden knowledge and technical development in forestry and wood industries.
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Double-slit experiment reveals hidden details between light and matter
A similar effect to that of light being refracted by raindrops to create rainbows, underlies many everyday technologies, like LCD screens and broadband connections based on fibre-optic cables. Light refraction is caused by an interaction between light and the atoms of matter. This brings the light waves slightly out of sync. “X-ray light” is “refracted”, too. But the effect is difficult to measure. A miniature device now offers a novel approach: the world's smallest X-ray interferometer.
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From cells to smart gels: momentum in motion
Professor Timo Betz at Göttingen University’s Faculty of Physics has been awarded Momentum funding by the Volkswagen Foundation for his project “From Cells to Smart Gels: Momentum in Motion”. The award is worth just under 950,000 Euros over 4 years with a possible extension of 2 years. It will enable the transla-tion of biological processes to synthetic materials that mimic key behaviours of living cells.
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Elephant meat aplenty for Neanderthals 125,000 years ago
In 1948, a group of amateurs led by a local headmaster uncovered the skeleton of a straight-tusked elephant – the largest land mammal known to have roamed Europe – in 125,000-year-old sediments. There was an important surprise in this find: between the ribs, was a complete wooden spear belonging to Neanderthal hunters: but what this find represented has been the subject of much debate. This led a team to carry out the first detailed analysis of what really happened here.
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Rethinking Europe’s nature reserves
Natura 2000 is a milestone in nature conservation: this network of around 27,000 protected areas across the EU is designed to preserve wild plant and animal species and their habitats. However, experts say that many of the species and habitats protected there are not in a favourable conservation status, and sometimes there is a lack of public support. Researchers are now demonstrating how a “biocultural approach” can open up new opportunities by incorporating local traditions, values and knowledge.
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