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A moraine-dammed lake below the Finger Glacier in Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska, in 2023.

Growing meltwater reservoirs – glacial lakes are both a resource and a habitat worthy of protection

Media Information 28-01-2026 / Nr. 013

Should growing glacial lakes be used for energy production and water supply – or remain protected as ecologically valuable systems? A research team …
Jürgen Lewerenz in portrait.

Bequeathing Meaningfully – But How? – Founder and Eastern Europe expert Jürgen Lewrenz has named the University of Potsdam as his sole heir

When looking at his will, Jürgen Lewerenz has come full circle in a way. The Königsberg-born pensioner has named the University of Potsdam as his heir …
Nina Burau in conversation in the courtyard on the Griebnitzsee campus.

“We Can Draw Meaning, Self-Esteem, and Hope from Religion” – Psychologist Nina Burau on spirituality and mental health

Faith can move mountains, according to an old saying, but are religious people really better able to overcome challenges? And how does spirituality …
Theoretical illustration of gold nanorods surrounded by water and ethanol molecules.

Charging gold nanorods with light energy

Media Information 15-01-2026 / Nr. 005

For the first time, a research group at the University of Potsdam has succeeded in tracking and quantifying the light-induced accumulation of charge …
Man in a suit talking.

Navigating the Bureaucratic Jungle with Artificial Intelligence? – Björn Steinrötter on Legal AI Tools for Public Authorities

Professor of Law Björn Steinrötter knows how “legal tech” can speed up lengthy planning and approval procedures. Together with Honorary Professor …
German-Indian cooperation in science sealed.

Brandenburg strengthens cooperation with India

On 8 January 2026, Minister of Science Dr Manja Schüle and Dr Ranjit Kumar Sinha, Secretary of State for Technical Education of the Government of …
Kathleen Plötner in portrait.

“Through Language We Get to Know Other Cultures” – Romance languages and literature expert Kathleen Plötner on the future of teaching foreign languages at school

There are already reliable translation tools, and with the help of artificial intelligence, it will soon be possible to communicate in any language in …
Jakob Runge in portrait

Recognizing Patterns, Finding Causes – Jakob Runge explains why artificial intelligence (still) has its limits

It is used in spam filters and translation tools, in voice and brake assistants, and of course in search engines. Artificial intelligence is no longer …
Nicole Waller in portrait.

Repairing the Future – A newly emerging field is dealing with the heritage of colonialism

Postcolonial studies have been on everyone’s lips for a number of years. Collectives organize walks that retell the history of places from a …
Zoran Nikoloski in conversation.

“If I could, I would … produce the fuel of the future from single-cell organisms” – With bioinformatics expert Zoran Nikoloski

If I had unlimited funds, I would invest in the design of synthetic enzymes. This would allow me to create any “Frankenstein” I need for chemical …