A chemical industry that relies on renewable raw materials and renewable energies, whose products are easy to recycle and whose building blocks can be reused again and again in a circular economy. This is what the not-too-distant future of the chemical industry looks like. In the SmartProSys research initiative at the University of Magdeburg, scientists from various disciplines are working together to find out how this transformation can succeed.

Change and digitization do not stop at the University Library (UB). But what will our university library look like in the future? In keeping with its twentieth anniversary, this year has seen a lot of work and not a lot of mess, as a number of structural changes have been made. The roof was renovated and the interior expanded, book collections were reviewed and new media were purchased. The deputy library director, Dr. Christine Lücke, explains where the journey is headed.

In the StudierendenWerkstatt of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, students can put the project ideas developed during the semester into practice. It opened its doors at the start of the winter semester and can now be used by all students in every study phase. Among other things, they have access to extensive tools, several 3D printers and laser cutters for wood and metal. Master's student Henri Paetz has already used the StudierendenWerkstatt and is delighted with it.

Today there are over 25,000 foundations in Germany. They run museums and social institutions, give out schoolbooks, protect forests or fund scientific projects. But why do we even have foundations, what are the benefits for donors and society and how was the reform of German foundation law accomplished? Katharina Vorwerk discussed the influence of jurisprudence on policy with the law professor Dr. Ulrich Burgard.

The new Bachelor's degree course in AI Engineering started at the University of Magdeburg in the winter semester. In addition to the basics of computer science, mathematics and physics, students also learn all about data and AI engineering. After the foundation course, they can choose a specialization. They can even transfer to one of the partner universities. One of the first students is Luise Neumann. She deliberately opted for the new course.

Many university employees do voluntary work after work to give something back to society. Carina Kröber is one of them. She launched the "Swimming Culture" project - a swimming course for adults, especially for international students. This year, the research assistant and her project are up for election as Magdeburg Woman of the Year. Votes can be cast online until 31.12.

There are a number of scholarships that enable young people to study. This year, 24-year-old medical student Anxhela Dautaj was awarded the Otto von Guericke Scholarship. Born in Albania, she recently began her practical year at Magdeburg University Hospital and is involved in various associations alongside her studies.

Autonomous buses, electromobility, intelligent traffic management solutions and individualized door-to-door transport - what used to only exist in science fiction films is increasingly establishing itself in our traffic. In order to develop the mobility of the future, students are invited to submit their ideas to a competition. The best ideas will be awarded with prize money of up to 1,500 euros.

There has been war in their homeland for many months, but they want to study - high school graduates who have fled from Ukraine. To make this possible for them, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, in cooperation with the National Technical University in Kharkiv, has been offering a study program for bachelor's degrees with a double degree since last winter semester. Last year, the Ukrainian students studied online in Kharkiv and diligently learned German. At the beginning of this winter semester, they arrived in Magdeburg to continue their studies here in presence.