Despite the 37°C summer heat, over 80 guests, alumni, and university members gathered to celebrate IGradU's 20th anniversary. After refreshing welcome drinks and live music from a violin and piano duo, the formal program commenced. University President Prof. Dr. Michael Weber recalled IGradU's 2007 debut as Baden-Württemberg’s top graduate school in the Excellence Initiative, while Dean Prof. Dr. Thomas Wirth called it the university's "ticket to scientific excellence."
Chairman Prof. Dr. Bernd Knöll brilliantly compressed "20 years into 5 minutes," followed by founding fathers PD Dr. Dieter Brockmann and Prof. Dr. Michael Kühl, who traced IGradU’s journey from six doctoral students to a 12-year DFG-funded elite institution. Finally, Prof. Dr. Peter Gierschik delighted the audience with humorous anecdotes of student life, networking events, and video messages from the school's very first alumni.
Demonstrating how research has evolved, PhD representatives Tuğba Memiş and Nourice Jaber delivered a flawless science pitch. Comparing photos from 2006 and 2026, they vividly illustrated the massive shifts in laboratory operations and methodologies over two decades.
Looking to the future, the Coordination Office together with the PhD representatives unveiled a special time capsule project. Throughout the live violin play after the Chairman’s speech, attendees wrote postcards with wishes and reflections. In a symbolic bridging of generations, the current PhD representatives sealed these cards inside the capsule, set to be opened by the doctoral students of 2046.
Celebrating a Legacy of Success
As the formal program concluded, guests enjoyed excellent catering and vibrant networking. A special alumni showcase video played on a loop, accompanied by a beautiful live performance by violinist Svetlana.
For more details on the event's background and history, you can read the official press release
Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate 20 years of community, research, and academic excellence!