As part of the PRISM Conference 2026 “AI as Researcher, Resource, and Rival,” more than 80 students, researchers, founders and professors from Münster, Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Braunschweig, Magdeburg and Bonn gathered at the Juridicum on September 23. The panel was moderated by Dr. Matthias Kiel (REACH). The conference was organized by Prof. Dr. David Bendig and Prof. Dr. Verena Rieger.
The German Research Foundation (DFG) has approved a joint research project by Prof. Dr. Markus Dertwinkel-Kalt and Prof. Dr. Christian Wey from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU). Over the next three years, the two economists will investigate how current energy and climate policy measures affect markets, companies and consumers.
At the Falling Walls Lab Münster 2026, Dr. Lea Püchel from the Department of Information Systems placed second. On September 11, eight early-career researchers presented their research and startup ideas in three-minute pitches in English at the REACH – Euregio Start-up Center. In her research, Lea Püchel examines how digital documentation software in childcare centers affects trust between educators and parents. Building on this, she is developing software designed to provide educators with guidance and greater legal certainty when handling data.
In the ‘Let's have a slice of poppy seed cake’ column of the university newspaper wissen|leben, staff from the Communications and Public Relations Unit visit university employees for each issue to talk to them about what makes their workplace special. In an interview, Olga Lunina, Head of the International Relations Centre at the School of Business and Economics, explains why she has always wanted to work in an international context and what she particularly values about her adopted home, Münster.
Prof. Dr Nadine Riedel, Head of the Institute for Public and Regional Economics, has been elected as the new President of the International Institute of Public Finance (IIPF) with effect from 2027. The Institute was founded in Paris in 1937 and, with around 600 members from 50 countries, is today regarded as the world’s leading association for public finance. Her election was announced at the end of August at the Institute’s annual conference in Lisbon, where she also delivered a keynote speech on the topic ‘Corporate Taxation in Normal Times and in Turmoil: What Do We (Not) Know?’
From August 28 to 30, Münster celebrated the 80th anniversary of North Rhine-Westphalia. Under the motto “Democracy lives. Diversity connects.”, NRW Day 2026 offered numerous opportunities to experience the diversity of the state and explore different aspects of society, science, and culture. The Department of Information Systems was also represented with a booth at the Science Mile.
In Part 27 of the Alumni Stories series, we introduce Carolin Kremer-Ebenau and Thorsten van der Velten. Both began their academic and professional careers at the University of Münster and were actively involved in the WiWi student council during their studies. While Carolin Kremer-Ebenau studied Economics, Thorsten van der Velten pursued a degree in Business Administration. Today, both work in the non-profit sector. In the double interview, Carolin Kremer-Ebenau and Thorsten van der Velten talk about their current roles, their transition from the private sector to the non-profit sector, formative experiences, and their memories of their time as students in Münster.
Prof. Dr Zareh Asatryan from the Münster Centre for Economic Policy was presented with the 2026 Young Economist Award at the 82nd Annual Congress of the International Institute of Public Finance. He received the award jointly with Christin Schmidt from the University of Mannheim for their paper “Missing Trader VAT Fraud: Evidence From Cross-Border Audits in the EU”. The Award was established in 2008 and recognises conference papers by participants under the age of 40 that demonstrate exceptional academic quality, creativity and relevance.
The student initiative at the University of Münster has been crowned German Champion in Social Entrepreneurship for the second consecutive year at the Enactus Germany National Cup 2026 in Cologne, once again qualifying for the Enactus World Cup in São Paulo. The award-winning project, InSEAlation, promotes sustainable building insulation made from locally available biomass, creating both social and environmental impact in Senegal.
