© Mao, Xidian University

May 29, 2019

Spring visit of FIAS delegation to Xi'An (China) for future cooperation

Considerations on the joint establishment of a research laboratory in AI research are taking shape

The FIAS and the Chinese Xidian University have confirmed the idea to establish a 'Joint Research Center' in AI research during a visit of the FIAS delegation under the leadership of the chairman of the FIAS board of directors, Prof. Dr. Enrico Schleiff.

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Cognitive Computing Cover

March 4, 2019

The brain as a role model

Book Cognitive Computing published by Springer

With his article "Model Brain - Boundary Conditions for a Cognitive Architecture" FIAS Senior Fellow Christoph von der Malsburg has contributed a chapter to the book "Cognitive Computing - Theory, Technology and Practice" recently published by Springer Verlag.

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© music4life@pixabay

February 1, 2019

Research on Energy Networks

FIAS Research Systems of Renewable Energies and Network Analysis receives further funding

Efficient power grids are an essential prerequisite for a successful conversion of the energy system. In order to support work on the power grids of the future, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is extending the funding of an interdisciplinary research project by three years, in which seven institutes, including the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies with Professor Stefan Schramm, are involved. The joint project is funded by the BMBF with a total of 2.5 million euros.

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© Veronika Hohenegger, LRZ

November 6, 2018

Computing time for simulations...

... for more accurate models of merging double star systems

FIAS Senior Fellow Prof. Luciano Rezzolla will receive 102 million CPU hours next year at the supercomputer superMUC of the Leibniz Computing Center in Garching near Munich, which he will use for the simulation of neutron star double systems at Goethe University Frankfurt.

© Figure: B. Hein (FIAS); Data: Max Planck Florida Institute

October 25, 2018

Surprising network activity in the immature brain: Developing brain networks act locally to build globally

Even before the first eye opening, local circuits can cause global effects

One of the outstanding mysteries of the cerebral cortex is how individual neurons develop the proper synaptic connections to form large-scale, distributed networks. Now, an international team of scientists has gained novel insights from spontaneously generated patterns of activity by local networks in the early developing visual cortex. Apparently these form the basis for long-range neural connections that are established through brain activity over the course of cortical development. The scientists report their findings in the journal Nature Neuroscience.

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Elucidating cuttlefish camouflage
© Stephan Junek (MPI Brain Research)

October 18, 2018

Elucidating cuttlefish camouflage

Computational image analysis of behaving cuttlefish reveals principles of control and development of a biological invisibility cloak

The unique ability of cuttlefish, squid and octopuses to hide by imitating the colors and texture of their environment has fascinated natural scientists since the time of Aristotle. Uniquely among all animals, these mollusks control their appearance by the direct action of neurons onto expandable pixels, numbered in millions, located in their skin. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research (MPI Brain Research), and the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS) and Goethe University (GU) used this neuron-pixel correspondence to peer into the brain of cuttlefish, inferring the putative structure of control networks through analysis of skin pattern dynamics. The scientists report their findings in the journal Nature.

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September 27, 2018

Competition among synapses

When resources become scarce, neighboring synapses compete, say Frankfurt Neuroscientists

FRANKFURT. How do neighboring synapses interact during learning? Frankfurt scientists have proposed a new mathematical model describing a competition of neighboring synapses for limited resources during learning. The scientists report their findings in the current issue of eLife.

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Laureatus Award Moser
© U. Dettmar

September 4, 2018

Nobel Laureate Edvard Moser becomes Honorary Fellow of FIAS

Ceremonial act with award presentation by the Giersch couple took place on September 3rd.

On September 3, 2018, the STIFTUNG GIERSCH and the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS) invited to the ceremony marking the appointment of Prof. Dr. Edvard Moser as a FIAS Senior Fellow Laureatus. This honorary award is given to outstanding international scientists who are not only distinguished by their excellent research, but are also committed to the scientific community.

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GIS 2018 header

August 28, 2018

The Logistics of Neuronal Function

Giersch International Symposium brings internationally renowned scientists to Frankfurt

The human brain consists of a highly complex network of about 85 billion nerve cells (neurons) that constantly exchange information. To function, all these cells have to organise the production, transport, storage and recycling of countless different molecules such as neurotransmitters, mRNA and proteins - a gigantic logistical challenge at the molecular level. So how do they organize these processes to be both robust and efficient? How do problems in solving these logistical challenges relate to brain diseases such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease? To discuss these questions, neuroscientists from all over the world will meet from 28 August for the 3rd Giersch International Symposium at the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS).

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Neutron Star Frankfurt
© L. Weih

June 26, 2018

Frankfurt physicists set limits on size of neutron stars

Comparison of theoretical models with gravitational waves results in the answer to an old riddle

How large is a neutron star? Previous estimates varied from eight to sixteen kilometres. Astrophysicists at the Goethe University Frankfurt and the FIAS have now succeeded in determining the size of neutron stars to within 1.5 kilometres by using an elaborate statistical approach supported by data from the measurement of gravitational waves. The researchers’ report appears in the current issue of Physical Review Letters.

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Vovchenko Prize
© U. Dettmar

June 25, 2018

Volodymyr Vovchenko receives award for best dissertation in the natural sciences

The award ceremony took place on Friday, 22.06.2018, in the Römer in Frankfurt.

Every year, the Friends of the University award prizes for the best PhD theses from various fields. The prize for the best scientific dissertation was awarded this year to former FIAS doctoral student Volodymyr Vovchenko.

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Intergrationsprize Hanna Kamyshanska
© Hanna Kamyshanska

June 14, 2018

A successful arrival

Former FIAS doctoral student receives award from the Hessian Ministry of Social Affairs and Integration

This year, the Hessian Minister for Social Affairs and Integration, Stefan Grüttner, honoured personalities with a migration background from all over Hesse for outstanding achievements in the fields of education, business and science at a ceremony in Schloss Biebrich in Wiesbaden. One of them is Hanna Kamyshanska, a former PhD of the Frankfurt Institute for Avanced Studies (FIAS).

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The Ghost

June 8, 2018

The Art of Theoretical Biology

Professor from Frankfurt shows the beauty of theoretical biology

In an exhibition of a different kind, Frankfurt bioinformatician Prof. Franziska Matthäus and the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS) show that basic theoretical research does not only consist of series of numbers and formulae, but can also be beautiful. For the "Night of Science" on Friday, June 8. 2018, large-format works of art will decorate some buildings on the Riedberg campus of Goethe University.

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Petersen-Venice
© Rosario Turrisi

May 29, 2018

Frankfurt scientist receives prestigious award

Prof. Dr. Hannah Petersen was honoured in Venice

FIAS Fellow Hannah Petersen has been awarded the Zimanyi Medal of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. The award recognizes her work in the field of relativistic heavy ion collisions. The theoretical physicist has been a Fellow at FIAS since 2013, heads a Helmholtz junior research group at the GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research and teaches as a professor at Goethe University in Frankfurt.

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Hessentag-Wippe

May 28, 2018

Hessentag appearance of FIAS at the Hessenschau

In its programme of 26.05.2018, the broadcasting station of Hesse reports about the FIAS initiative "Wissenschaft zum Anfassen", which has been regularly inspiring the public at major events about research at FIAS, since 2013.

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Black hole merger simulation
© Koppitz (ZIB), Rezzolla

May 28, 2018

Black Holes from an Exacomputer

Scientists develop simulation code for new generation of supercomputers

FRANKFURT. Even after the direct measurement of their gravitational waves, there are still mysteries surrounding black holes. What happens when two black holes merge, or when stars collide with a black hole? This has now been simulated by researchers from Goethe University Frankfurt and the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS) using a novel numerical method. The simulation code "ExaHyPE" is designed in such a way that it will be able to calculate gravitational waves on the future generation of “exascale” supercomputers.

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Hessentag 2018 - Accelerator
© proLOEWE

May 24, 2018

Floating magnets, brain football, building with paper and much more!

Hands-on science at Hessentag 2018

Korbach: From 25 May to 3 June 2018, scientists from the FIAS* and the research projects of the State Initiative for the Development of Scientific and Economic Excellence (LOEWE)** will once again be invited to experiment, be amazed and discuss at the "Hessen schafft Wissen" stand.

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SPP2041-Kick-Off

May 4, 2018

Kick-Off Meeting SPP2041

The members of the DFG Priority Programme "Computational Connectomics" met in Frankfurt

On 2 and 3 May 2018, the FIAS hosted the kick-off meeting of the DFG priority programme "SPP 2041 - Computational Connectomics". The goal of SPP 2041 is to better understand the interconnection and function of our brain and nervous system. Under the term "computational connectomics", the scientists involved use computer science and mathematics methods to better understand the structure of the connections between individual nerve cells or entire brain regions.

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April 9, 2018

Volker Lindenstruths work featured in television show "Hessenschau"

The "Hessenschau" reported on the work of our director Volker Lindenstruth and our Fellow Hans-Jügen Lüdde in its programme of 8 April.

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Dr. h.c. Helmut O. Maucher

March 6, 2018

We mourn for Dr. h. c. Helmut O. Maucher

The FIAS foundation board member passed away on 5 March 2018 at the age of 90.

Born in 1927, the former General Director of Nestlé and holder of the Federal Cross of Merit, he has been committed for years to science and FIAS in particular. Since the founding days of FIAS, he has been a member of the Presidium of the Board of Trustees and was its first chairman. Helmut Maucher has accompanied and shaped the development of our institute with prudence and an eye for the essentials.

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