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Three apparently unhappy examiners ask the test subject to solve difficult problems and pose uncomfortable questions.

Stress Fest at the Stress Test – A visit to Prof. Dr. Pia-Maria Wippert’s laboratory

A plain and white-painted room in the historic building no. 12 at Neues Palais, one table, three chairs. Nothing suggests that things are about to get …
Uni-Präsident Prof. Oliver Günther, Ph.D.

“Ambitious But Not Presumptuous” – President Oliver Günther about research excellence at the University of Potsdam

The University of Potsdam wants to establish itself in the top tier of international research universities. For this purpose, it has submitted three …
African antelopes seeking for shady places during phases of extreme heat

Keeping cool – how African antelopes respond to the climate crisis

The climate crisis is turning the temperature up all over the world, but in southern Africa, the rise has been particularly concerning. Scientists …
The walk-in sample chamber from the "DynaTrait" project.

Diversity Provides Stability – In the Priority Program “DynaTrait”, biologists combine mathematical models, field studies, and laboratory experiments to explore how nature works

It is comfortably warm and bright in the climate chamber. At first glance, you don’t see that the numerous glass flasks filling the illuminated …
Behavioral experiment with wild rodents.

“We Recognize Animals as Individuals” – Researchers of the University of Potsdam investigate the personalities of wild animals

Jana Anja Eccard knows her mice well. For 27 years, she has been researching the behavior of small rodents in numerous experiments, both in the …
“The three phases of exceptional dynamics: (1) Predation on the unprotected bacteria by predators, (2) toxin formation as cooperative defence and recovery of the bacterial population, (3) filament formation as individual defence through evolution and stabilisation of densities”.

In the end, it’s the individual advantage that counts – Bacteria rely on cooperation and evolution in order to defend themselves against predatory protists

Eating and being eaten is a normal process in nature. These predator–prey dynamics help to stabilise ecosystems. It ensures that individual species do …
Installation of a solar-powered telemetry base station.

With Kudu, Eland, and Springbok – How Wildlife Management Can Help the Savanna

The savanna: individual groups of trees stand picturesquely on wide plains, large herds of wild animals pass by, watched vigilantly by prides of lions …
Prof. Michael Lenhard in the Botanical Garden

To the left or to the right? – Geneticist Prof. Michael Lenhard investigates how plants can tell left from right

In the course of evolution, plants have developed various strategies to prevent self-pollination. The marsh butterfly lily, which originates from …
Data collection with a field spectrometer

Understanding Tipping Points in Savannas – Ecologist Prof. Anja Linstädter Researches How Humans Affect the Development of African Savannas and Grassland

 

Since September 2020, Anja Linstädter has been Professor for Biodiversity Research and Systematic Botany at the University of Potsdam and Director of …
By helicopter through the Canadian Arctic. Photo: Ulrike Herzschuh

When it gets warmer – Species extinction in the Arctic - 9,000 years ago and today

The tundra is turning green. As climate change proceeds, bushes and shrubs are advancing into the barren Arctic regions. It is the same everywhere, …