Opening Week 2024: ’Networks of trust’
2024-10-02 Leuphana's unique study model requires all 1,400 first-semester students to engage intensively with a socially relevant topic at the beginning of their studies. This year, students are invited to explore the nature of intelligence – as a human potential to understand and shape society and its environments. Psychologist Marina Weisband and neurologist Dr Nils Schweingruber provided food for thought at the opening event in the central building.
What is intelligence? ‘IQ is what an IQ test measures,’ is a common answer. Psychologist Marina Weisband believes this definition is too restrictive: emotional intelligence, critical thinking and creativity are also part of intelligence for the publicist. Especially in times of high complexity, wise decisions are needed: ‘Our problems are interconnected. We need a society that is organised intelligently.’ The former politician of the Pirate Party advocated a liquid democracy, a mixture of direct and representative democracy: voters can give their vote to an expert: ‘This is an intelligent system because it builds networks of trust where the most trusted experts on a given topic have the most power’.
Another guest at the semester opening in the central building was the Hamburg neurologist Dr Nils Schweingruber. His start-up ‘Innovative Digital Medicine’ uses AI to reduce bureaucracy in hospitals and to write doctor's letters automatically: ‘We have harsh personal ressources. Physicians need almost ten hours per week for documentation and writing discharge letters,’ explains the physician. This time could be better used for patient consultations or further training. IDM is a non-profit UKE subsidiary.
Leuphana's full-time Vice President, Christian Brei, spoke with the new students during the opening: ‘We trust you that you have courage to grow and to change something. Learning starts with the willing to open up and when we take each other seriously in our differences.’ Some first-semester students explained why they chose Leuphana: because of the focus on sustainability, the opportunity to study across disciplines and the special study model. Part of this is the start week, which differs from an orientation week: ‘Opening weeks means we want to encourage you from the very beginning to deal with academic methods and also with relevant academic topics,’ said Christian Brei.
Claudia Kalisch called for more emotional intelligence: ‘AI will never replace a conversation,’ said the Lord Mayor of the City of Lüneburg. She reminded the students of how important Leuphana is for the city of Lüneburg and encouraged them to get involved: ‘Never let anyone think for you’.
AStA spokespersons Emil Jüchter and Denise Granzow also welcomed the first-semester students to Leuphana: ‘Studying is about going to know yourself better, connecting with others and being engaged in the student community.’
Other guest speakers during the opening week include AI expert Tristan Post, anthropologist and behavioural scientist Michael Tomasello, philosopher and neuroscientist Kristina Musholt from the Leipzig Research Centre for Early Childhood Development, political scientist and artist Liya Yu, and biologist Aletta Bonn from the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research.