dies academicus 2026

As part of the 2026 academic year, Leuphana University Lüneburg will award the distinguished jurist Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Wolfgang Hoffmann-Riem an honorary doctorate from its Faculty of Political Science.

With this honor, the university recognizes Hoffmann-Riem’s outstanding work as a constitutional judge and his longstanding commitment to innovation and reform in the German legal system.

As a judge on the First Senate of the Federal Constitutional Court (1999–2008), Hoffmann-Riem played a key role in shaping landmark decisions, particularly regarding fundamental rights in a digital society. In addition, in his roles as Senator for Justice of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, Director of the Hans Bredow Institute for Media Research, and member of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, among others, he championed the principles of the rule of law and the further development of democratic standards.

Hoffmann-Riem is also regarded as a trailblazer in the field of legal education. His involvement in the reform of legal education in Hamburg—with a focus on practical orientation and interdisciplinary approaches—is being continued and further developed in the Lüneburg Model Law Program, which Leuphana has been offering since 2022.

By awarding this honorary doctorate, Leuphana’s Faculty of Political Science honors a pioneer of German and European constitutional law whose innovative spirit and social commitment continue to set the standard to this day.

Leuphana University Lüneburg is presenting the Leuphana Early Career Researcher Award to Assistant Professor Dr.-Ing. Ghada Bouattour for her outstanding research achievements in the field of measurement and sensor technologies, as well as for her contribution to the development of smart and sustainable technologies.

Since her appointment at Leuphana University Lüneburg, Ghada Bouattour has established herself as an internationally recognized early-career researcher in an exceptionally short period of time. In her research, she combines fundamental engineering principles with application-oriented solutions at the intersection of measurement and sensor technology, energy efficiency, and AI-supported system development. Her work focuses on intelligent sensor and measurement systems, wireless power transmission, and methods for analyzing complex sensor data. In doing so, she makes important contributions to resource-efficient and sustainable production and technology systems.

Particularly noteworthy are her extensive international network and her commitment to interdisciplinary research and technology transfer projects, which laid the foundation for the successful development of an independent research profile with substantial external funding (including from the German Research Foundation). Through her scientific achievements, her leadership in projects, and her close integration of research, innovation, and socially relevant issues, she enhances the visibility of Leuphana University Lüneburg in a dynamic, forward-looking field.

Leuphana University Lüneburg is presenting the Leuphana Early Career Researcher Award to Prof. Dr. Michael Staab for his outstanding scientific contributions to biodiversity research and ecology, as well as for his international prominence in environmental and sustainability research.

Michael Staab investigates the effects of global environmental changes on biological diversity, species communities, and ecological interactions. His research combines animal ecology, biodiversity research, and the analysis of trophic networks with questions regarding the functions and stability of ecosystems. He devotes particular attention to the influence of microclimate and land use on insects and other invertebrates. During the evaluation period, he published a large number of high-impact scientific papers, including in renowned journals. His role as Principal Investigator in several projects funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) further attests to his scientific excellence.

As a scientist with an international network, he is also actively involved in professional societies and is highly regarded for combining in-depth biological species knowledge with innovative theoretical and empirical research approaches. Through his work, he makes an important contribution to understanding the consequences of biodiversity loss and climate change. His research findings help raise the profile of Leuphana University Lüneburg as a center of excellence for sustainability and environmental research.

For her scholarly achievements and outstanding commitment to gender and diversity research, Prof. Dr. Vera Uppenkamp is being honored with the Leuphana Gender and Diversity Research Award.

Vera Uppenkamp researches religious educational processes in a pluralistic society, combining conceptual and empirical research at the intersections of inclusive religious education, gender and queer theology, and intersectionality studies. Through her work on child poverty in religious education, gender-sensitive education, queer theology, and diversity in teaching and learning processes, she has established herself as a leading voice in her field and provided important impetus for education research that is sensitive to discrimination.

The religious education scholar combines academic excellence with high social relevance, is actively involved in national and international professional networks, and sustainably integrates feminist, queer, and diversity-sensitive perspectives into research, teaching, and knowledge transfer. Through her work, she enhances the visibility of gender and diversity research at Leuphana University Lüneburg and contributes significantly to its structural integration.

Leuphana University of Lüneburg is presenting the Transfer and Impact Award 2026 to Prof. Dr. Michael Gielnik and his research team for their outstanding achievement in combining international entrepreneurship research with socially impactful entrepreneurship training programs, thereby demonstrably contributing to the development of entrepreneurial and sustainability-oriented competencies on an international level.

 The evidence-based training program “STEP – Student Training for Entrepreneurial Promotion” supports young adults in countries of the Global South in acquiring the knowledge necessary to start and run their own businesses. Even during the training, participants develop their own business ideas, start small businesses, and gain real-world entrepreneurial experience by directly applying the theory they have learned. STEP not only imparts entrepreneurial knowledge but also strengthens self-confidence, initiative, and belief in one’s own ability to shape the future.

In cooperation with partner universities and other educational institutions in Africa, Central America, and Asia, the program has a scientifically proven social impact in terms of employment, income, and social participation. With the expansion into STEP Sustainability (STEP S), entrepreneurial learning processes and startup ideas are systematically linked to sustainable development goals in order to open up economic opportunities while simultaneously addressing local challenges through sustainable solutions.

Leuphana University of Lüneburg is presenting the 2026 Transfer and Impact Award to Prof. Dr. Jessica Süßenbach, along with her research team, for their outstanding achievements in bringing together sports education research and school practice through participatory transfer formats, thereby making a sustainable contribution to society. 

Together with schools, sports clubs, municipalities, foundations, and other partners, the project is developing new ways to firmly anchor physical activity, play, and sports in everyday school life. Academia and practice have been working closely together from the very beginning. Solutions emerge through dialogue, are tested, further developed, and scientifically monitored. This not only creates new physical activity opportunities for children but also establishes sustainable structures that permanently connect schools, sports, and municipalities.

With this systemic and dialog-based development approach, the “SPORT VERNETZT Ganztagsgrundschule” project integrates educational, sports, and social space development with research, knowledge transfer, and practical implementation. Together with partners, sustainable structures are created that establish physical activity as a hallmark of all-day elementary schools. The project thus makes an exemplary contribution to educational equity, health, social participation, and the further development of future-oriented educational landscapes.

The Award for Outstanding Student Volunteerism honors the following students who volunteer with the autonomous AStA department “Archipel” (Autonomous Department for Chronic Illnesses, Inclusion, Mental Health, Empowerment, and Learning Disabilities) and who are involved in the “ment2be” project: Ina-Marie Ernst, Ezra (Kevin) Hecht, Jonte Levi Ferber, Jarmila Binia, Justus Hein, and Marcel Seibt. The members of the “Archipel” department and the “ment2be” project actively advocate for the interests and concerns of students with disabilities, neurodivergence, chronic and/or mental health conditions, or learning disabilities, and—through specific event formats, networking, support, and counseling—facilitate these students’ transition into and progress through their studies at Leuphana University.

These dedicated students address fundamental and highly personal support needs with innovative approaches and services, and they foster the ongoing social discourse on appropriate academic conditions regardless of individual disabilities. Through professional peer-based support and strong self-empowerment fostered by sharing their own experiences, the students create a low-barrier service and reduce barriers to access and engagement with the issues and needs of students with disabilities, neurodivergence, chronic and/or mental health conditions, or learning disabilities.