Optical microscopy has overcome the resolution-limiting diffraction barrier of light. For developing Stimulated Emission Depletion (STED) Microscopy, Stefan W. Hell was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2014. After a couple of years spent abroad, in 1997, he got the chance to prove his theories as a group leader at the MPI for Biophysical Chemistry in Göttingen where he still works as director today. Thus, he connected to the YIN members not only as a scientific role model but also through a similar career paths.

The YIN member assembly elected Julia Syurik and Achim Rettinger as new representative speakers of the network. They succeed Stefanie Speidel and Christian Greiner whom YIN thanks for their great ideas, their enthusiasm and their dedication. As a sign of recognition and appreciation also from the KIT presidential board, they received the YIN acknowledgement signed by the current representative speakers and KIT Vice President Oliver Kraft.

Clouds are crucial for weather and climate:Depending on height and composition, they either shield the earth from solar irradiation and have a cooling effect or contribute to warming. Whether clouds consist of liquid water, ice, or both, is in the research focus of YIN Alumna Corinna Hoose, who was appointed professor at KIT. For the next five years, her  project will be funded by a starting grant of the European Research Council (ERC) in the amount of EUR 1.5 million.

The German Research Foundation (DFG) awards YIN alumnus Martin Dienwiebel with a Heisenberg professorship for Applied Nanotribology at KIT. At this newly installed chair, the material scientist investigates the mechanisms that lead to friction and wear in mobile devices, such as combustion engines or turbines. For this position, the YIN continuing education program has prepared him well, says Dienwiebel.

Transporting experiments into space undamaged requires high-precision work. Special holding mechanisms must fixate them during take-off and later on release them into vacuum without causing abrasion or adhesion. For this, Frederik Zanger and his team milled curved components with a specific surface roughness from the carbide iridium with micrometer accuracy. These spherical calottes have proved reliable on the first test flight.

From liquid glass to biomimetic ultra-white films and aluminum based quantum circuits: For technology transfer, YIN relies on cooperations with industry. The new YIN portfolio presents industry-relevant projects and competences of 22 YIN members from various academic fields. The portfolio made its successful debut at the KIT Day of Innovation, the Venture Fest, and is now available online.

"At the next artery, turn right!" How virtual 3D models of organs can help surgeons in the OR is the focus of Dr. Stefanie Speidel’s research. On June 7, the public may learn more about it at the start of a lecture series leading up to the science festival EFFEKTE 2017. In addition, directors from the Municipal Clinic will talk about computer-assisted brain surgery and higher precision through computer navigation. 19:30, Tollhaus. Free entry.

Kathrin Valerius joined the panel discussion on “Research matters: New jobs on the horizon”. As the youngest researcher and the only female, she shared her experience as an aspiring scientist in Europe. The other parties were Gianfranco Visentin, Head of the section Automation and Robotics of the European Space Agency, and Mir Wais Hosseini, Head of the Molecular Tectonics divisiont at the French National Centre for Scientific Research.

Red meat and milk from dairy cows are risk factors for cancers and neurological diseases. Nobel laureate Prof. Harald zur Hausen will talk about their likelihood and about the discovery of new viruses and their link to colon and breast cancer as well as multiple sclerosis. Zur Hausen is emeritus professor at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), where he had been scientific director for 20 years until 2003.

Fluids form bubbles when local changes in surface chemistry occur. Science Advances has published this novel finding, co-authored by Dr. Lars Pastewka. By specifically tailoring the surface chemistry, the scientists want to improve the interaction between surfaces and lubricants. In a model simulation, the bubbles functioned as buffers and increased the separation between two contacting surfaces by 10%.

At the KIT Ehrenabend, the Presidential Committee honored 15 recipients of external prizes in 2015. Among them were the YIN-members Dr. Stefanie Betz (Wrangell), Dr. Christian Greiner (DGM Masing Memorial Award), Dr. Lars Pastewka (Emmy-Noether), Dr. Bastian Rapp (GMM-Prize) and Dr. Martin Weides (ERC) as well as the YIN alumnus Dr. Pavel Levkin (Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Prize). Congratulations once again!

Be aware - smartphone apps or tracking programs collect personal data and commercialize user profiles. YIN member Dr. Stefanie Betz and her team develop the software privacy AVARE which makes sure each device only shares information previously acknowledged by the user.

Dr. Katrin Schulz was chosen for the Margarete von Wrangell habilitation programme. In remeberance of the first female professor in Germany, the BW ministry for Science, Research and Arts, therewith, supports excellent young female scientists. The YIN members Dr. Stefanie Speidel and Dr. Stefanie Betz also profit from the initiative.