Dies Academicus 2025

On the occasion of the 660th anniversary of the Alma Mater Rudolphina Vindobonensis on 12 March 2025, the Rectorate and the Senate of the University of Vienna cordially invite you to the academic ceremony as well as to the public lecture by Emmanuelle Charpentier, laureate of the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, on 11 March.

Overview of events

11 March

• 17:00: Public Lecture by Emmanuelle Charpentier, laureate of the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

12 March

• 9:00: Wreath-laying ceremony at the tomb of Duke Rudolph IV, ‘the Founder’, at St. Stephen’s Cathedral
• 11:00: Ceremony for the award of the honorary doctorate to Emmanuelle Charpentier, two promotio sub auspiciis awards as well as five Honorary Senator titles.
• 12:45: Unveiling of the adapted installation ‘Nobel prize and the University – group picture with question mark’ in the presence of Emmanuelle Charpentier, 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, and Anton Zeilinger, 2022 Nobel Prize in Physics.
• 15:00: Gamechanger quantum research: coffee and cake with ‘aha’ effect
• 16:00: Benefit concert for Ukrainian refugees

To the registration Dies Academicus 12 March

During this time, she developed the foundations for her ground-breaking development of the CRISPR-Cas9 technique, for which she and her colleague Jennifer Doudna received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2020. This discovery has revolutionised research and has opened up a wide range of applications in medicine, agriculture and biotechnology. In addition to its scientific significance, Charpentier's work has also stimulated debates on central ethical issues.

After working at Umeå University in Sweden, Medizinische Hochschule Hanover and Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Charpentier was appointed to the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin in 2015. Since 2018, she has been the founding director of the Max Planck Unit for the Science of Pathogens. She is also an honorary professor at the Humboldt Universität zu Berlin.

The event is already fully booked. Click here for the livestream.

Wreath-laying ceremony at St Stephen's Cathedral

At 9 a.m., a wreath is laid at the grave of Duke Rudolph IV, the founder, in St Stephen's Cathedral.

11:00: Ceremony

Award of the honorary doctorate to Emmanuelle Charpentier

Sebastian Schütze, Rector of the University of Vienna, awards the honorary doctorate of the University of Vienna to Emmanuelle Charpentier, laureate of the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry and Head of the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Pathogens in Berlin. The laudation is given by: Sylvia Knapp, Head of the Research Division Infection Biology at the Medical University of Vienna.

• Emmanuelle Charpentier was a member of the University of Vienna and conducted research between 2002 and 2009. She led a research group and was visiting professor and assistant professor at the Department of Microbiology and Genetics of the University of Vienna. In 2006, she habilitated at the Centre of Molecular Biology at the University of Vienna and continued to work as head of the laboratory and associate professor at the Max Perutz Labs of the University of Vienna and the Medical University of Vienna until 2009.

Promotio sub auciciis and presentation of the certificates

• Nicolai Amann obtained his secondary school-leaving certificate at the Joseph Haydn upper secondary school in Vienna in 2010. Upon completion of his civilian service, he completed a bachelor's and master's degree in Statistics and Economics at the Technical University of Vienna, from which he graduated with distinction in 2018. Amann then continued his studies on the doctoral programme in Statistics at the University of Vienna, which he completed with top grades in 2023. His master's thesis and dissertation were awarded by the Österreichische Statistische Gesellschaft (OSG, Austrian statistical society). In 2024, he received the Bank Austria Research Award. Since 2023, Amann has been teaching and conducting research as a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Statistics and Operations Research at the University of Vienna in the field of risk quantification of algorithms.

• Jakob Reiffenstein obtained his secondary school-leaving certificate at the Sir Karl Popper school in Vienna in 2013. He then completed a bachelor's and master's programme in Technical Mathematics at TU Wien. He completed both programmes with distinction. For his master's thesis, he received the Diploma Thesis Award of the City of Vienna in 2020. Reiffenstein then continued his studies on the doctoral programme at the University of Vienna, which he completed with top grades in 2023. During this time, Reiffenstein was also student speaker at the Vienna School of Mathematics. Since 2023, he has been conducting research as part of the Sverker Lerheden Fellowship as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Stockholm. His key research areas include operator theory and complex analysis.

Award of the title of Honorary Senator

• Gabriele Kucsko-Stadlmayer, who was appointed Professor of Constitutional Law and Administrative Law in 2011, was member of numerous bodies of the University of Vienna, including as Chair of the Arbitration Committee from 2006 to 2013 and as Chair of the Senate from 2013 to 2015. In addition to her academic work, she can look back on a successful career as a high court judge. Between 1995 and 2015 she was a substitute judge of the Austrian Constitutional Court (VfGH). In 2015, she was elected by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe judge of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg , where she served until 2024. She was President of one of the five Sections of the ECHR from 2022 to 2024 and most recently elected Vice-President of the Court. Since the end of her judicial mandate, she has served as an advisor to Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen on constitutional law matters.

• Eva Nowotny was Chair of the University Board of the University of Vienna from 2013 to 2023. She can look back on a long career as a diplomat, amongst others as Austrian ambassador to France, Great Britain and the US, as well as foreign policy adviser to the Federal Chancellor and to the Head of Section of the Federal Ministry of European and International Affairs. As part of her activities, she always attached great importance to academic exchange and the connection between Austria and the world.

• Gerhard Mayr advised the management of the University of Vienna as Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board from 2019 to 2023 and beyond on key issues relating to strategic development. As a member of the Board of Directors, he has been shaping the Vienna Science and Technology Fund (WWTF) for more than 20 years, thereby contributing to the further development and competitiveness of Vienna as an academic location and the University of Vienna. Mayr was active in the management of the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly & Company for 32 years and retired as Executive Vice President in 2004.

• Nicola Roehlich provided her legal expertise to the University of Vienna between 1983 and 2024 and helped shape the transition from the Universitätsorganisationsgesetz (university organisation act, UOG) of 1975 to the UOG of 1993 as well as the path to autonomy granted through the 2002 Universities Act. Between 2001 and 2003, she was Head of the legal affairs service and Head of the Office of the Senate from 2004 to 2024. Her great personal commitment has significantly shaped the interaction between the three top bodies of the University and their offices.

• Ilse Schrittesser was a researcher and teacher in the field of school and education research as well as in the field of professionalisation research and children's rights from 2004 to 2023. Since 2014, she has been professor at the Centre for Teacher Education and at the Faculty of Philosophy and Education. She has accompanied the restructuring of the framework of studies and contributed to the further development of teacher education in numerous functions. From 2010 to 2020, she was Executive Editor of the Journal for Teacher Education. Ilse Schrittesser was co-founder and speaker of the Lehrer*innenbildung platform and took over the difficult role of director of studies in teacher education from 2016 to 2023 with great commitment and numerous innovations.

Main Ceremonial Hall, University of Vienna, 1010 Vienna, Universitätsring 1

The University strives to organise the event in compliance with the criteria of the Austrian Ecolabel for Green Meetings and Green Events.

12:45: Unveiling "The Nobel prize and the University of Vienna"

Unveiling of the adapted installation ‘Nobel prize and the University – group picture with question mark’ in the presence of Emmanuelle Charpentier, 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, and Anton Zeilinger, 2022 Nobel Prize in Physics.

Aula, University of Vienna, 1010 Vienna, Universitätsring 1

15:00: Gamechanger quantum research: coffee and cake with ‘aha’ effect

Delve into the world of cutting-edge research in the field of quantum information together with our experts. In short talks, our experts explain hands-on how quantum research will revolutionise our everyday life.

• Dorian Schiffer, IQOQI Vienna (Austrian Academy of Science) & Quantum Information and Foundations of Physics (University of Vienna)
• Beatrix Hiesmayr, Quantum Phenomena at High and Low Energies (University of Vienna)
• Philip Walther, Quantum Information Sciences and Quantum Computation & Research Network Quantum Aspects of Space Time (University of Vienna)

Moderation: Eva Stanzl, Wiener Zeitung

Coffee, cake and pastries

BIG lecture hall, University of Vienna, 1010 Vienna, Universitätsring 1

Please note: This event and the tours offered on this day at various locations of the University of Vienna are primarily targeted at university members (further information for employees on the intranet) and graduates of the University of Vienna.

16:00: Benefit concert for Ukrainian refugees

This benefit concert is jointly organised by the Faculty of Computer Science, the Faculty of Chemistry and the Ukrainian St. Barbara parish. Students and teachers of both faculties perform in concert.
 
Carl-Auer-von-Welsbach lecture hall at the Faculty of Chemistry, Boltzmanngasse courtyard, 1090 Vienna