Joint Science Conference approves funding for planned new research building HAFUN
With today's decision, the Joint Science Conference (GWK), which met in Hamburg on Friday, confirmed the recommendations of the Science Council for the funding of research buildings. This means that the prerequisite for federal co-financing of the "Hamburg Fundamental Interactions Laboratory (HAFUN)" project applied for by Hamburg has been met. The Science Council had previously rated the physics research building, which is to be built at Science City Hamburg Bahrenfeld , as outstanding.
The integrated research concept of the experienced, internationally networked team for experiments on particle accelerators, experiments on astroparticle physics and dark matter as well as gravitational waves and the use of intelligent algorithms convinced the reviewers of the German Council of Science and Humanities. This success strengthens Universität Hamburg's research focus in physics with its clusters of excellence at Science City Hamburg Bahrenfeld. This is another important step for the new research building HAFUN .
HAFUN stands for Hamburg Fundamental Interactions Laboratory. Scientists from Universität Hamburg's Quantum Universe Cluster of Excellence will work and conduct research here in future. The new research building is being constructed at Science City Hamburg Bahrenfeld in the immediate vicinity of the existing physics buildings at the University of Hamburg: HARBOR and CHYN. This will bring together excellent research expertise in physics at Science City Hamburg Bahrenfeld . The aim is to create a close network of scientists on site so that they can make the best possible use of synergies between their own and neighboring fields of research. The team of researchers includes Professor Erika Garutti, Junior Professor Oliver Gerberding and Professors Johannes Haller, Dieter Horns, Gregor Kasieczka, Konstaninos Nikolopoulos, Peter Schleper and Roman Schnabel.
The aim of the Quantum Universe Cluster of Excellence is to research the relationships between mass and gravity at the interface between particle physics and cosmology in order to answer unresolved questions in cosmology, such as the origin of dark matter. In addition to theoretical work, new types of experiments are essential for this. The building HAFUN itself will serve as a measuring instrument for gravitational wave research and cosmic radiation.
The Science City Hamburg Bahrenfeld
With Science City Hamburg Bahrenfeld , a new flagship is being created for the networking of science, business, administration and civil society in the west of Hamburg. For the first time, Bahrenfeld offers the opportunity to combine living, research, working and recreation in one of the most exciting locations of the coming years and decades: An integrated location is being created on 125 hectares - with research and development space for more than 4,000 researchers and teaching staff as well as 3,000 students. In addition, an attractive new residential area with high recreational quality is to be integrated into the existing Bahrenfeld district.
The interplay between internationally competitive basic research and technology transfer gives the development of Science City Hamburg Bahrenfeld its unique character. Research provides important impetus for the economy, for example through exciting start-ups that create new jobs. An urban environment with culture, sport and gastronomy round off the Science City Hamburg Bahrenfeld concept and set the course for a liveable and innovative quarter of the future.
Science City is the central example of a new type of urban development of the future and a unique role model for putting science, research and neighborhood development in a new context and gaining knowledge.
Comments from Science Senator Katharina Fegebank and Prof. Dr. Hauke Heekeren, President of the University of Hamburg:
Katharina Fegebank, Senator for Science: "With today's presentation of the winning design, we can imagine better and better what this unique project will look like: HAFUN stands for the excellence of physics at this location and can use synergies with the existing facilities. HAFUN and the neighboring buildings HARBOR and CHYN are exemplary for the idea of Science City Hamburg Bahrenfeld, in which a spatial environment for cooperative research and work is created. With this project, we are setting standards for the science location of the future and showing here at Science City Hamburg Bahrenfeld what modern and innovative district development can look like."
Prof. Dr. Hauke Heekeren, President of the University of Hamburg: "The research building HAFUN (Hamburg Fundamental Interactions Laboratory) is currently being planned for our Cluster of Excellence "Quantum Universe", which is rated outstanding by the German Council of Science and Humanities. The HAFUN will be the new home for our scientists in physics and the new architectural highlight of Science City Hamburg Bahrenfeld. The research building will create a new anchor point for the University of Excellence Hamburg in this unique scientific quarter. Excellent research needs excellent research infrastructure: this is our contribution as a university to strengthening Hamburg as an international science hub."