For the first time, the Nobel ­Sustainability Trust (NST) and the Technical ­University of Munich (TUM) presented the ­Sustainability Awards supported by the NST. The first two honorees are Professor ­Elena Bou, ­Innovation ­Director of EIT InnoEnergy, for her ­contributions to ­promoting energy start-ups, and Lord ­Nicholas Stern, Professor at the London School of ­Economics and Political ­Science, for his achievements relating to the economic ­aspects of ­climate change.

The winners were selected by a panel of ­international experts and TUM professors ­organized by the TUM-IAS.

The prizes were presented on 9 November 2023 at the Nobel Sustainability Trust ­Summit at the Bavarian Academy of ­Sciences and ­Humanities in Munich. Peter Nobel, Chairman of the Nobel Sustainability Trust, and TUM President Thomas Hofmann handed over the awards.

The Sustainability Awards supported by the NST are given annually to individuals or institutions who have made significant developments of great potential or contributions to implement sustainable solutions for the benefit of humanity.

In 2024, they will be given in the categories “Outstanding Research and Development in the field of Water”, “Outstanding Research and Development in the field of Agriculture”, and “Leadership in Implementation”.

Elena Bou said: “I am honored to receive this inaugural Nobel Sustainability Trust Award. This prize recognizes the determinant roles start-ups, innovation, and entrepreneurship play in the energy transition. Reaching net zero demands new ideas and approaches – it will truly shift the needle on the progress of sustainable energy solutions. Working at EIT InnoEnergy allows me to put this into action every day. Through my research and teaching at ESADE Business School, I hope to encourage and influence the next generation of changemakers.”

Lord Nicholas Stern said in his acceptance speech: “Overall, I am very optimistic about what we can do. We can see a path to a world with much stronger mitigation and adaptation and to a new, much more attractive ­model of growth and development: sustainable, ­resilient, and inclusive. However, I am deeply worried about what we will do. The scale and pace of structural, technological and social change must be large and rapid. That will ­require changes in behavior and institutions. It will require purposive and sustained ­political leadership and strong political pressure from society as a whole on decision-makers to ­deliver change.”

More information can be found here:

• https://www.ias.tum.de/ias/news-events-insights/news/news-single-view/article/sustainability-awards-supported-by-nobel-sustainability-trust-selected/
• https://nst-sustainabilityaward.events/

Our General Assembly represents the highlight of our academic year, featuring talks from our Fellows and Focus Groups, poster presentations of doctoral candidates, and a keynote lecture. TUM-IAS Fellows attended our meeting enriching the discussions and exchanges.

Julijana Gjorgjieva, Professor for Computational Neuroscience at TUM School of Life Sciences and TUM-IAS ­Honorary Fellow, gave the 2023 Linde Lecture ­titled “Teaching the Brain to See: Models of ­Neural Circuit Development and Learning.” She ­presented her research on how diverse mechanisms work together to set up ­neural circuits shortly after an animal is born, ­enabling it to gradually acquire cognitive and behavioral capabilities. In her outlook, she mentioned recent work on ­understanding a higher ­cognitive function in human ­circuits, namely the ability to generate and ­understand ­language.

Full Program

Fast and Cost-Efficient Evaluation of Air ­Pollution Exposure in Urban and ­Rural ­Areas Using Machine Learning, Frank Keutsch, Professor of Engineering and Atmospheric Science at Harvard University, Hans Fischer Senior Fellow

Optimal Control for Highly Flexible ­Robots, Karin Nachbagauer, Professor for ­Applied Mathematics at University of Applied ­Sciences Upper Austria, Hans Fischer Fellow funded by Siemens AG

Quantum Computing and Quantum Simulation, Christian Mendl, Rudolf Mößbauer ­Tenure Track Assistant Professor at TUM School of Computation, Information and Technology

Detecting DeepFakes, Luisa ­Verdoliva, ­Professor at the Department for ­Industrial Engineering at University Federico II of ­­Naples, Hans Fischer Senior Fellow

Factors Influencing Young Women to ­Enroll in IT at TUM, Andreea Molnar, Professor at Swinburne University of Technology, Anna Boyksen Fellow

Electrifying Chemical Production: Electrochemical Ammonia Synthesis, Ib Chorkendorff, Professor in Heterogeneous Catalysis at Technical University of Denmark, Hans Fischer Senior Fellow

Extreme Events on Structures. The Key Role of Multiphysics Simulation, Antonia ­Larese, University of Padua, Hans Fischer Fellow

Markets and Governance in the Digital Economy

Hans Fischer Senior Fellow, Kathleen ­Thelen, Professor at Massachussetts ­Institute of Technology, and her host, Eugénia da ­Conceição-Heldt, Professor at the TUM School of Social Sciences and Technology, organized a workshop on the topic “Markets and Governance in the Digital Economy” at the Hochschule für Politik München on 19 May 2023. It focused on the origins and ­evolution of ­political-economic institutions in rich ­democracies and their impact on ­contemporary ­political ­outcomes.

Curriculum Comedy

Anna Boyksen Fellow, Meike Schalk, ­Professor at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm organized together with SOFT – School of Transformation (TUM) the three-day symposium Curriculum Comedy at the Department of Architecture, TUM School of Engineering and Design, in November 2022.

This symposium took the form of a play and set the stage for conversations about the architecture curriculum. Questions such as “How do we learn and work together?”, “What are the sources of our Canon, and who does it takes into account?”, and “What knowledge and experiences are we missing” were adressed. Three acts with lectures, workshops, and round tables dealt with the learning / unlearning of gender norms and ­unreflected biases in architecture, work cultures and well-being, and equitable ­pedagogies in humorous and serious ways.

Selection Symposium for Rudolf Mößbauer Tenure Track Assistant Professorships

For the last ten years, TUM-IAS has been responsible for selecting up to five Rudolf Mößbauer Tenure Track Assistant Professorships per year. From 22 to 24 March 2023, short­listed ­candidates presented their ­research ­vision at the selection symposium “­Selected Topics in Science and Technology”. The presentations were open to the public, and ­covered the following research areas:

• Cyber Security and Cryptography
• Green Hydrogen Production and ­Hydrogen Storage Technology
• Neutron-based Methods for Energy or Quantum Materials
• Participation and Diversity in Digital ­Societies
• Preventive Medicine
• Statistical Modelling and Uncertainty Quantification for Spatio-Temporal Data

Out of 138 applications received, 21 ­candidates were shortlisted and invited, and of those, 19 candidates presented for interviews. Individual and comparative peer ­reviews were ­collected for these candidates. Five candidates were proposed to the TUM ­Management Board for a Rudolf Mößbauer Assistant Tenure Track ­Assistant Professorship.
Mathias Senge, TUM-IAS Hans ­Fischer ­Senior Fellow and Professor at Trinity ­College Dublin, served as a member of the ­commission as an external expert. We owe him a debt of gratitude for his valuable ­advice ­and­ professional evaluations.

Workshop on Optimal Transport, ­Mean-Field Models, and Machine Learning

TUM-IAS Hans Fischer Senior Fellow ­Giuseppe Savaré, Professor at Bocconi University, ­organized a workshop on Optimal ­Transport, ­Mean-Field ­Models, and ­Machine ­Learning (OTMFML) in April 2023. It aimed to ­highlight the ­interactions between ­optimal transport, ­mean-field control, and ­machine ­learning. It focused on innovative ideas to address crucial problems of high-dimensionality, nonlinearity, and ­nonconvexity, seeking the best ­examples and practice of successful deployment of mathematics to provide guarantees for ­practicable machine learning. The workshop was ­organized in ­cooperation with Martin Burger, ­Professor at Friedrich-­­Alexander-Universität ­­Erlangen- Nürnberg, Massimo ­Fornasier, ­Professor of Applied Numerical Analysis at TUM, ­Gabriel Peyré, Professor in the Mathematics and Applications Department of the Ecole Normale Supérieure in Paris and ­TUM-IAS.

Women In Science@TUM - WISTUM

The project is an initiative of Anna Boyksen Fellow Shobhana Narasimhan, Professor at Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced ­Scientific Research, India. In our society, there are significant elements of unequal treatment of different people, ­especially about their ­origin and gender or gender ­identity. ­Unfortunately, this also applies to the academic environment, including the STEM domain. In her project, ­Shobhana ­Narasimhan and her group have been ­developing a computer-based “cooperative ­discussion game” on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the ­scientific field. The game allows ­players to experience the stories and learnings of ­inspiring individuals who have ­overcome significant challenges due to ­inequality. Shobhana Narasimhan wants to increase the visibility and recognition of potentially successful but ­underrepresented groups of people. Unlike other passive ­media, a game allows players to actively engage with the ­issue and broaden their experience.

In her workshop on 8 and 9 May 2023, she also wanted to introduce the TUM community to a variety of ­perspectives and experiences of women in science from across the globe. It aimed to provide a platform for these women to share their stories, establish connections, and ­foster a ­supportive ­network. ­Additionally, the ­workshop sought to gather valuable insights that could ­contribute to the ongoing game ­project.

CardioMRI Symposium - From MR Physics and Novel Hardware to Artificial Intelligence: making CMR a more Accessible and Affordable Imaging Modality

This workshop of Hans Fischer Senior ­Fellow René M. Botnar, Professor at King’s ­College London, in July 2023 addressed cardiac MR (CMR) as a highly complex and rather expensive imaging exam that ­requires highly trained MR technicians and clinicians and is mainly performed in very ­specialized settings in tertiary ­academic hospitals. The workshop discussed how the latest ­developments in Artificial ­Intelligence (AI), MR acquisition / reconstruction, and ­low-field MRI, in ­combination with ­knowledge gained from large CMR clinical trials / biobanks, could turn CMR into an easy-to-use and ­affordable ­mainstream imaging modality like ­computed ­tomography. More specifically, it was ­discussed how the latest ­developments in MR physics, ­motion correction, and image reconstruction can be harnessed to enable a self-driving CMR exami­nation (no ­planning, no breath holds) that ­provides ­comprehensive disease ­characterization in a short, less than 10-minute scan. We asked how AI can enable ­automated image ­acquisition, ­reconstruction, processing, and analysis and create ­automated ­diagnosis and ­treatment planning. To better ­understand where CMR could play an increasing role in the ­patient ­pathway, ­lessons learned from large clinical ­trials / biobanks were taken. ­Finally, ­participants ­discussed the ­potential of AI to replace the use of gadolinium.

Learning outcomes:

• Understand how novel, more ­intelligent MR sequences, including quantitative multi-parametric MRI, can provide a comprehensive diagnosis with minimal user input.
• Understand how the latest develop­ments in AI can facilitate automated ­processing and analysis of complex and ­multi-­contrast MR datasets.
• Understand the value of clinical trials / biobanks in identifying new biomarkers and the economic value of CMR in comparison with other imaging modalitie­s.

Advocates and Allies - Male Allies for ­Gender Equality

On 19 June 2023, TUM-IAS Anna ­Boyksen ­Fellow Andrea Erhardt and Hans ­Fischer ­Senior ­Fellow Gregory Erhardt, Professors at ­University of Kentucky, organized a ­workshop on “Advocates and Allies - Male ­Allies for ­Gender Equality”. The workshop aimed to ­address the underrepresentation of ­women in the ­sciences by engaging men as ­advocates and allies. Led by the ­instructors ­Gregory Erhardt, along with Rolf Moeckl and ­Martin ­Elsner, both Professors at TUM the ­workshop provided a platform for open ­dialogue on ­topics ­including implicit bias, ­workplace ­culture, effective ­communication, and ­handling ­resistance. Attendees explored best ­practices, shared relevant examples, and ­received ­guidance for future actions to ­promote ­gender equity in ­science.

Gentoberfest - Crossing Bridges Between Bioinformatics and Clinical Research

This conference organized in October 2023 by Hans Fischer Senior Fellow Lothar Hennighausen, National Institute of Health, USA aimed at crossing the bridges between theory and clinical practice, hence, finding common ground between bioinformaticians and clinicians.

The sessions:

• Discovery of Gene-Regulatory (­Network)Mechanisms
  Gene regulatory networks ­encompass a multitude of regulatory layers ­ranging from transcription factors to long ­non-­coding RNAs, circRNAs or microRNAs. Furthermore, epigenetic ­mechanisms, such as DNA methylation or ­histone ­modifications, are key determinants of gene activity. This session focused on current challenges and ­advances in ­discovering and understanding gene ­regulatory ­mechanisms and networks.
• Using AI in Genetic Diagnostics
  Artificial intelligence (AI) has shown ­impressive results across fields and is starting to gain traction in the medical domain, especially in image processing. However, the expected breakthrough in genetics has not yet materialized ­despite countless genome-wide association ­studies. Considering the potential of AI in genetic ­diagnostics, this session focused on ­current challenges and future ­developments.
• Implementing OMICS Technology ­in Clinical Practice
  OMICS technologies (e.g., genomics, ­trans­criptomics, proteomics, and meta­bolomics) allow an understanding of the ­molecular landscapes in an ­­unpre­­cedented resolution. Even though OMICS technologies have shown potential for prognosis, diagnostics, and treatment monitoring, their use in ­clinical routine is still an ­exception. This session highlighted the ­successes of OMICS data in ­clinical ­practice and discussed how integrating ­different technologies can lead to more ­widespread and robust applications.
• Data Storage and Sharing - Between FAIR Open Science and the GDPR ­and Ethics
  The unprecedented wealth of biological and genomic data that has already been generated, dwarfed by the OMICS data that will soon be routinely collected in clinical medicine. In spite of the huge potential of such data for research, the experience shows that the General Data Protection Regulation and other legislative barriers prevent researchers from leveraging such data towards improving the understanding of diseases and the development of new diagnostic tools. This session provided an opportunity for discussing FAIR data sharing and usage of valuable datasets for scientific purposes in a GDPR-compliant fashion, to pave the way to open science.
• Drug Target Prediction and Drug ­Repurposing
  Eroom’s law shows that the costs for drug discovery have become ­prohibitively large such that alternative strategies are ­needed for widening the existing ­treatment ­options. Research highlights two ­avenues here. A better ­understanding of drug-­target ­interactions will help ­develop more targeted therapies ­following the ­precision ­medicine paradigm. At the same time, a ­better ­understanding of disease ­mechanisms and drug-­target ­interactions enables ­informed drug ­repurposing ­strategies, where ­existing drugs can be leveraged ­effectively and ­after shortened clinical ­trials for the ­benefit of the ­patients. For both strategies, the availability of ­high-­quality datasets and the ­successful use of AI methods are ­imperative. This ­session was ­dedicated to assessing ­current advances in the fields of drug ­target ­predictions and drug ­repurposing.
• Latest Developments in OMICS ­Technologies
  Since the introduction of ­microarrays in 1995, an ever-increasing variety of new tech­nologies has provided new ­opportunities - among them, ­single-cell ­analyses, ­long-read, and spatial ­sequencing readouts. With new ­technologies, new ­challenges in data analysis arise and more advanced ­computational ­methods are ­needed to unearth the wealth of ­information from existing datasets. This session addressed the latest (­sequencing) ­technological and methodological developments and their ­impact on clinical ­diagnostics.

Workshop on Neuromorphic Computing and Rehabilitation

Neuromorphic computing is at the ­forefront of technological innovation, seeking to ­emulate the remarkable capabilities of the human brain in silicon. As students ­pursuing excellence in neural engineering, this workshop presented a unique ­opportunity to delve into the world of neuromorphic ­computation, interact with leading experts, and gain insights into the latest advancements in this ­fascinating field. The ­workshop was ­organized by Hans ­Fischer Senior ­Fellow ­Nitish ­Thakor, Professor of ­Biomedical ­Engineering at Johns ­Hopkins University, and his host ­Gordon Cheng, ­Professor at the TUM School of ­Computation, ­Information and Technology, in October 2023. The Hans Fischer Senior Fellowship of Nitish Thakor is funded by the ­Siemens AG.

Quantumness: from Logic to Engineering and back

Roberto Giuntini is TUM-IAS Philosopher in Residence and Professor at the University of Cagliari. The leitmotiv of his research is based on the idea that quantum formalism finds applications beyond the realm of ­micro­physics, encompassing the domains of ­cognitive and social sciences as well. The ­burgeoning ­research into quantum information and computation marks a significant milestone that can be dubbed “the second quantum revolution.” The first quantum ­revolution of the 20th ­century deeply changed the fundamental concepts of physics and our ­understanding of the physical world. The second quantum ­revolution of the 21st ­century is leading to ­dramatic ­technological changes in our ­society and shaping new conceptual and ­logical ­paradigms. The new workshop ­series is ­dedicated to this ­topic. The first ­session on 6 December 2023, included ­Guiseppe ­Sergiolo, Professor at University of Cagliari, ­Roberto Giuntini and Rudolf ­Mößbauer ­Tenure Track Professor Christian Mendl, TUM School of ­Computation, ­Information and Technology.

Exploring Global Governance ­Dynamics: Workshop on “The Evolution of ­International Regime Complexes”

In December 2023, Eugénia da Conceição-­Heldt, TUM-IAS Carl von Linde ­Senior Fellow and Professor at the TUM School of Social ­Sciences and Technology, gathered scholars for a ­two-day ­workshop to delve into the ­intricate ­dynamics of international regime complexes. The workshop was hosted in ­collab­oration with the American ­University and Temple ­University. It engaged in rigorous ­debates around the evolving nature of ­international ­regimes, focusing on both ­exogenous shocks and endogenous trans­formations that shape the global ­governance landscape. The ­insights gained from the ­discussions are ­expected to ­contribute to ­ongoing scholarly debates and inform future research on the ­evolution of ­international ­regime complexes.