Picture credits: Yulyia Lubiaga

On 15 August, around 100 guests and like-minded people came together in Leipzig’s KUBUS to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the International Café organised by the UFZ. Around half of the participants were members of institutes in the Leipzig Science Network, including iDiv, Leipzig University and numerous Max Planck Institutes. In addition to representatives of the UFZ Donors Association and DAAD alumni, former UFZ scientist Yulyia Lubiaga was there as a nice surprise to personally hand over a picture she had painted herself to mark the anniversary of the International Café.

After the welcoming address by the initiators of the International Café, Barbara Timmel and Verena Lingnau, the UFZ Scientific Director, Prof. Böhning-Gaese, gave a brief insight into the importance of internationalization at UFZ, particularly with regard to the training of international researchers in order to better meet global challenges in the future. Of course, this requires a welcoming culture that integrates researchers from all over the world and facilitates their start at the research institute, and this was precisely the aim of the International Café at UFZ over the last ten years.

Guest speaker Dr. Kathleen Schlütter, the new Director of the Leipzig Science Network, presented the achievements of the ‘Welcome to Leipzig’ project, in which all research institutions in the city of Leipzig can participate and of which UFZ is already a proud member.

Afterwards, while enjoying delicious wraps and gazpacho, there were activities such as icebreaker games and a review of the International Café’s activities over the past ten years, with thanks to all those involved and the UFZ’s donor association.

The highlight of the evening was the musical performance by the seven-piece band ‘Soul Kombinat’ and the internationally selected music by DJ Fola Flo, who had everyone dancing the night away. Both musical highlights were organised with the participation of UFZ alumni Felix Wittstock & Afolarin Ogungbemi.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the speakers and participants, especially those from the LSN Network, who made this celebration at the UFZ possible with their commitment!

Barbara Timmel and Dominic Langer

Presenting the 10years international café painting