How financially literate are we, and why does gender often make a difference in this regard? In this session, students will reflect on their own economic and financial literacy and explore its relevance to everyday and future financial decisions.

Together, we will examine how economic and financial literacy is measured in research and how students from Baden-Württemberg perform in recent studies. We will also delve into gender differences in economic and financial literacy and discuss their causes and consequences.

The goal of this event is to give students insight into current research on economic and financial literacy and to make financial education tangible through clear examples.

Lucy Haag, University of Tübingen, Chair of Economic Education and Economics Didactic

For many people, climate change is an abstract concept that is difficult to grasp. However, modern remote sensing can be used to visualize climatic processes through their consequences (e.g., glacier retreat or drought). This course provides insights into geoscientific work with satellite data as a valuable, objective source of environmental information. Working in teams and under guidance, students will research, visualize, and analyze relevant imagery of various phenomena in the Copernicus Browser, a freely accessible portal operated by the European Space Agency. Together, we will reflect on the potential and limitations of this data and how it strengthens our spatial analysis and critical thinking skills.

Dr. Andreas Braun, University of Tübingen, Institute of Geography

How can one write about something that cannot actually be put into words? How do we manage to put powerful feelings and sensations down on paper? Medieval mystical texts face precisely this problem. The central theme of this literary genre is the union of the soul and God. Something indescribable takes place here, yet mystics still manage to write about this encounter. Students will explore how this is possible using the text “The Flowing Light of the Godhead” by Mechthild of Magdeburg, a 13th-century mystic, as an example, thereby gaining insight into what research in German studies can entail.

Angelika Frescher-Molitor, University of Tübingen, SFB “Alternative Aesthetics”

In this session, students explore alternatives to animal testing in modern research. Together, we examine the significance of the 3R principles (Replace, Reduce, Refine) in the context of animal testing and evaluate their ethical and scientific value for today’s research. We discuss the issue of transferability and why research relevant to humans is gaining importance: Since approximately 90% of animal experiments are not transferable to humans, methods that work directly with human material are needed. As a concrete example of “Replace,” we analyze organ-on-a-chip technology – a technology that uses miniaturized human organs on chips to test drugs under realistic conditions – and together we weigh the potential and limitations of this method.

Dr. Pauline Jeckel, University Hospital Tübingen, Institute for Biomedical Engineering

Pregnancy loss is an under-researched and socially stigmatized topic, even though statistically, one in four women experiences it at least once in her lifetime. Those affected are often left to grieve alone. As part of this event, we will take a look at a research project from the University Hospital of Tübingen that examines this topic from various perspectives. Together, the students will explore scientific findings on pregnancy loss and its psychological consequences, critically examine societal perceptions and stigmas, and discuss how research and social change can help break the taboo. The goal of the event is to foster empathy, deepen knowledge about mental health, and highlight the role of research in processes of social change.

Jonas Fischer, University Hospital of Tübingen, University Hospital for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy

Mental illness affects many people, yet it is still often stigmatized. In this workshop, students explore how environmental factors such as stress can influence epigenetic processes and thereby regulate the activity of our genes. Building on an introduction to molecular psychiatric research, students examine how lifestyle and the environment, in interaction with biological predispositions, shape mental health. The goal of the session is to promote a scientifically grounded understanding, break down prejudices, and strengthen students’ health literacy. To this end, students will develop strategies for managing stress and learn how each person can actively contribute to their own well-being.

Prof. Dr. Vanessa Nieratschker, University Hospital Tübingen, AG Molecular Psychiatry, University Hospital for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy

The starting point for the session is personal examples related to naturopathy from the students’ own lives, which they bring from home as part of their preparation. Building on this, we develop a shared working definition and critically examine the benefits, risks, and limitations of naturopathy. The focus is on the question of why even low-threshold health interventions—such as home remedies—require scientific research to test their effectiveness. Students learn the basic principles of scientific studies, formulate their own research questions, and design a simple study protocol as a model. The unit is framed by insights into everyday research life, personal motivation for research work, and its societal relevance.

Carina Klocke, University Hospital Tübingen, Institute for General Medicine and Interprofessional Care