Ressort Presse

• von Astrid Bergmeister
• 20.05.2026

Ten years of AURORA! Between ‘intellectual food’ and inspiring exchange, the opening of the anniversary conference began on 18 May. As host institution, the University of Duisburg-Essen welcomed international students, researchers and university leaders from around 15 countries to its Duisburg campus. A particular highlight of the opening event was the talk “Cutting through the noise” by science journalist and chemist Dr Mai Thi Nguyen-Kim.

AURORA’s success story: ten years of European academic networking, collaborative projects and partnerships. In the fully occupied Audimax on the Duisburg campus, Prof. Dr Barbara Albert, Rector of the University of Duisburg-Essen, highlighted in her welcome address both the achievements and the significance of close collaboration within the European academic community. AURORA creates space for innovation and scientific approaches to addressing societal challenges. Rector Albert also presented this year’s Seizmic Awards, recognising student initiatives for sustainable and responsible entrepreneurship. The AURORA presidency was formally handed over from Prof. Dr Janette Walde (University of Innsbruck) to Prof. Dr Margarethe Jonkmann (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam).

What do an onion, science journalist Dr Mai Thi Nguyen-Kim and AURORA have in common? In her talk “Cutting through the noise”, Nguyen-Kim explored how scientific knowledge can cut through the constant flow of information to gain visibility and resonate with society. Using the image of an onion, she described public attention as a layered system: at its core lies scientific research, while the outer layers provide more accessible entry points to academic topics. With each additional layer, both curiosity and intellectual depth increase. For Nguyen-Kim, effective science communication is more important than ever: “Facts need attorneys in the court of public opinion – and universities can be those attorneys.”