Lower Saxony–Scotland
Joint Forum
It is with great pleasure that we announce the fourth edition of the Lower Saxony – Scotland Joint Forum, taking place on Monday, 20 November and Tuesday, 21 November 2023!
The Joint Forum 2023 is your gateway to a transformative experience at the crossroads of academia, innovation, and collaboration. This year, hosted by the prestigious Leibniz University Hannover, in partnership with the European Centre for Advanced Studies as well as Leuphana University Lüneburg and the University of Glasgow, this dynamic two-day hybrid event promises to be a beacon of knowledge exchange and networking.
Why attend?
Network
Connect with academics, staff and students from renowned higher education institutions, politicians and experts from industry in both regions.
Collaborate
Explore avenues for interdisciplinary cooperation and initiate research partnerships.
Learn
Gain insights from experts, discover innovative projects, and expand your knowledge horizon.
Engage
Participate in discussions, exchange ideas, and be part of shaping the future of academia.
DAY I: Expert Insights
On Monday, 20 November 2023, the Joint Forum commences with a stimulating panel discussion on sustainability and reducing waste in the fashion industry led by renowned experts from industry, politics and academia. Together, we will delve into pressing contemporary issues relevant not only to Lower Saxony and Scotland but also globally. Engage in thought-provoking conversations, gain fresh perspectives, and connect with visionaries driving change providing you a best practice example of successful cross-regional cooperation.
DAY II: Tandem Workshops
Tuesday, 21 November 2023, is dedicated to workshops led by the beneficiaries of the Lower Saxony – Scotland Tandem Fellowship Programme. Immerse yourself in these hands-on sessions where innovative projects take centre stage. Explore cutting-edge research, learn from experts, and discover opportunities for future collaborations.
leibniz university hannover
The spirit of Leibniz – as one of the nine leading Institutes of Technology in Germany, Leibniz University Hannover is aware of its responsibility in seeking sustainable, peaceful, and responsible solutions to the key issues of tomorrow. Its expertise for this stems from a broad spectrum of subjects, ranging from engineering and natural sciences to architecture and environmental planning, from law and economics to social sciences and humanities.
Programme – Day 1
Welcome Address
Vice President for International Affairs and Sustainability, Leibniz University Hannover
Academic Director, European Centre for Advanced Studies & (Former) Vice Principal, University of Glasgow
Panel Discussion: Lower Saxonian – Scottish Higher Education Cooperation in Practise – The Example of the Project “Use-Less”
Introduction
Introduction
Effective cooperation and academic exchange in an international and cross-regional context is a complex process requiring time, effort and determination. During this year’s panel discussion the Joint Forum will provide you with some insights into what successful cooperation between Lower Saxonian and Scottish higher education institutions may look like.
The panel discussion will focus on the subject of sustainability and reducing waste in the fashion industry. Textiles and clothing are a fundamental part of everyday life and an important sector in the global economy. When talking about fashion today, it has to be viewed in light of the circular economy, requiring a re-thinking of the industry as a whole, which is currently driven by fast fashion and maximizing profits at the cost of among others human rights and the environment.
The project “USE-LESS” jointly conducted and developed by the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Hannover, the Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh and the Robert Gordon University Aberdeen, is a good example of such re-thinking. The highlight of the presentation will be a reflection on valuable lessons learned during the project development and a short report on the most recent visit of the project team to Scotland in the framework of the “USE-LESS Milltour”.
USE-LESS Center for Sustainable Design Strategies
The USE-LESS Center for Sustainable Design Strategies combines research activities in the fields of fashion, product design and interior design at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Hannover with the topic of sustainability. The current focus is on sustainable and innovative materials (bioplastics), the use of local resources, serial upcycling and slow fashion. In the context of design, the major questions are how products can be designed in a durable, resource-saving and aesthetic way. At the same time, research is conducted on how users can change their consumption behaviour. Similarly, opportunities are sought to build a network with international partners. A key element – which is implemented in all projects – is the active exchange with students as well as knowledge transfer and exchange with the general public.
USE-LESS Milltour
Building on the long-standing cooperation with Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh and Robert Gordon University Aberdeen as well as partners from industry, the USE-LESS Center for Sustainable Design Strategies based at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Hannover conducted a trip to difference textile production sites in Scotland together with 14 students from different study programmes.
The objectives of the Milltour were to provide students with insights and understanding of manufacturing processes, broaden their knowledge on sustainability, show the chances and challenges of local production as well as to encourage international exchange and interact with industry professionals.
The tour started in the Scottish Borders and ended in Inverness with stops in Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen. The journey was accoommanied by journalist Caspar Dohmen. A student-lead publication including a travel diary will follow soon.
Moderation:
Academic Director, European Centre for Advanced Studies
Academic Director, European Centre for Advanced Studies
Use-Less Project – Speakers:
Professor for Design and Media, Hannover University of Applied Sciences and Arts
Research Assistant for Design and Media, Hannover University of Applied Sciences and Arts
Students
Faculty for Design and Media, Hannover University of Applied Sciences and Arts (on their experiences as participants in the Use-Less Mill Tour)
Senior Lecturer for Design, Robert Gordon University (online)
Assistant Professor for Textile Design, Marketing and Entrepreneurship, Heriot-Watt University
Founder, Prickly Thistle Scotland Ltd
Material System Specialist, Adam Smith Business School, University of Glasgow
Coffee Break
Presentation of ECAS & Future Lower Saxony – Scotland Activities
Deputy Managing Director & Senior Academic Coordinator, European Centre for Advanced Studies
Academic Coordinator, European Centre for Advanced Studies
Deputy Head of Unit for European and International Affairs, Lower Saxonian Ministry of Science and Culture
Closing Address
Academic Director, European Centre for Advanced Studies
Programme – Day 2
Welcome Address
Tandem I
The Mechanical Faraday Effect – Can It Be Measured in an Atomic Vapour?
Introduction
Light possesses, amongst many other qualities, mechanical properties, which in recent decades have been put to great use in the manipulation and control of atoms and molecules. One such example is the use of light to cool atoms to some of the coldest temperatures in the universe. Our objective is to investigate whether light can, firstly, induce rotation in an atomic vapour, and secondly, observe the effect of this rotation on the light itself. This is known as the mechanical Faraday effect, which is as-yet unobserved in the atomic gas phase. Our project brings together theoretical and experimental research groups so that we can fully explore all the details of this phenomenon. Beyond this specific project, the opportunity given to us by ECAS to form this collaboration will contribute to the sharing of knowledge, skills and future projects between two highly active research centres of Scotland and Lower Saxony.
Leibniz University Hannover
University of Glasgow
Coffee Break
Tandem II
Skilled Migrant Women Workers from Germany, Malaysia and Turkey: Navigating Career and Networking Challenges and Opportunities in Scotland and Beyond
Introduction
The purpose of this research is to interrogate career and networking-related challenges for skilled migrant women employees in Scotland and the United Kingdom in general. We aim to investigate the individual experiences, career aspirations and needs of skilled migrant women from a developed country (Germany) and developing countries (Malaysia and Turkey) on networking. It poses the research question: What are the similarities and differences between the networking experiences of skilled migrant women from a developed country and developing countries?
Rooting our research on grounded theory and postcolonial feminist theory, we plan to conduct in-depth life story interviews with 8 women who had migrated and are currently working in Scotland. This study contributes to the global mobility literature by developing a postcolonial feminist reading of meanings and issues in women’s careers and taking a gendered perspective on the conditions of skilled female immigrants. This research provides insights into gender diversity and network literature while generating applicable managerial implications for organizations and women to succeed in their careers.
University of Göttingen
University of Edinburgh
Tandem III
quantumTANGO: Quantum Information with Top Quarks and Higgs Bosons
Introduction
QuantumTango investigates the phenomenon of quantum entanglement in Higgs boson decays, aiming to analyse data from the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) to identify and characterise the entangled states of Higgs boson decay products. The work balances the quality of event reconstruction and the quantity of candidate Higgs events recorded by the ATLAS experiment at the LHC, a crucial factor in achieving statistically significant results. The QuantumTango project focuses on the decay of Higgs bosons to multiple charged leptons via intermediate W and Z boson production.
This research holds importance as it contributes to our understanding of quantum phenomena at high energies. The identification and characterisation of entangled states in Higgs boson decays can provide new insights into the fundamental nature of matter and the forces that govern it. Moreover, by leveraging innovative methods to enhance the statistical significance of our findings, we aim to pave the way for more precise quantum information measurements in particle physics. Ultimately, QuantumTango aims to advance our knowledge of the quantum world and has the potential to influence the development of future experiments, innovations and measurements, with implications reaching beyond the realm of physics at the LHC.
University of Göttingen
University of Glasgow
Lunch Break
Tandem IV
High Reflectivity of Strongly Focused Fields Requirements
Introduction
If you want to find single emitters inside a dielectric material, for example NV-centres inside a diamond, the crucial question is how deeply they are embedded. One thing, which we never thought of, was how to determine the exact position of the surface in a confocal microscope. If the surface is perfectly reflecting, all is easy, since then the reflection of the surface is maximally exactly on the point of the surface and measured exactly on the axis.
In a confocal microscope, one usually measures with a pinhole in the detection arm. The pinhole should be so large that you receive all the light which is e.g. reflected or scattered from your emitter, but it should at the same time be small enough that you do not collect too much dirty background contribution.
Therefore the idea came up to carefully look at the reflection of a dielectric surface and the exact pinhole size. The earlier theory of the reflection of a strongly focused spot was reimplemented by Joerg and Ilja, and an integration “pinhole” was artificially introduced. Indeed, when the surface is non-metallic and the pinhole has a finite size, the highest reflection originates from another point, but not from where the surface is exactly in the focus.
University of Glasgow
Leibniz University Hannover
Tandem V
Assessing Self-Sufficiency: Analyzing the Gap Between National Food Production and Nutritional Requirements
Introduction
In a global trade landscape, food systems are central to shaping economic, environmental, and population health outcomes of nations. Understanding the dynamics between national food production and nutritional requirements is vital to evaluate the extent of self-sufficiency, identify potential areas of improvement, and devise strategies to enhance food security, economic stability, and public health amidst growing global challenges. This study examines national food self-sufficiency by assessing the capability of countries to meet the nutritional requirements of their population solely through domestic food production, in a hypothetical scenario without international trade. We aim to explore the implications of – and potential pathways towards – achieving food self-sufficiency, fostering resilience and sustainability in national food systems.
University of Göttingen
University of Edinburgh
Coffee Break
Tandem VI (online)
Detection of Bioanalytes Using a Novel 3D Printed Sensor Technique
Introduction
Recent COVID19 pandemic highlights the importance of the availability of fast/reliable biomarker detection schemes. Along with identification of a specific biomarker, there is a demand for the detection of several biomarkers simultaneously to provide additional information and improve diagnostics. For instance, the detection of a biomarker for the reliable diagnosis and treatment monitoring of heart diseases, could also be indicative of multiple diseases. Sensing devices available for simultaneous detection of several biomarkers are expensive and bulky, i.e. bench-top bio-analyzers, and limited to only a few analytes at most. The proposed research addresses this issue with a novel bio-analyte sensor design scheme based for the first time on a configurable platform with simultaneous label-free detection of multiple biomarkers using minimal sample volumes. The platform is based on optical principles and additive manufacturing technology that had become feasible due to advanced developments in integrated photonics and additive manufacturing in recent years.
Leibniz University Hannover
Edinburgh Napier University