On June 19, 2025, the U Bremen Research Alliance (UBRA) Welcome Center at the University of Bremen hosted its annual reception for inter-/national researchers from 5:00 to 9:30 p.m. Under sunny skies, the event took place in the conference rooms and the outdoor grounds of the Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Medicine MEVIS, a member institute of the U Bremen Research Alliance. This year, the reception also served as the festive conclusion of the Research Ambassadors Workshop.
Dr. Mandy Boehnke, Vice President for International Affairs, Academic Qualification, and Diversity at the University of Bremen, welcomed the approximately 80 participants. She extended a particularly warm greeting to newly arrived researchers and their families, as well as to the Research Ambassadors who were in Bremen for the multi-day workshop. The Research Ambassador Program, a format of the University’s International Office, brings together international researchers who previously worked at the University of Bremen and now act as bridge-builders between their home institutions and the research landscape in Bremen. Dr. Boehnke expressed her admiration for the genuine passion of the research community:
“This year’s Research Ambassadors Workshop has shown me: Science does still build bridges. Science does bring us together regardless of nationalities. Science does still foster ties even across entire continents. And so I dare to remain an optimist.“
Given the current political challenges, she also urged her colleagues to keep an open mind, counter hatred, and make a conscious effort to appreciate science as the bridge-builder that it is.
Prof. Dr. Andrea Schenk, Deputy Institute Director of Fraunhofer MEVIS, also addressed the guests with a warm welcome. She briefly introduced the host institution, explaining that Fraunhofer MEVIS develops practical software systems for image- and data-based early detection, diagnosis, and therapy – making a key contribution to the advancement of modern medicine. In her introduction, she stated her field of expertise—computer-assisted diagnosis and therapy at the Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology at Hannover Medical School—and emphasized that she was particularly looking forward to engaging with the attending researchers about their exciting research topics. In her remarks, she also highlighted the U Bremen Research Alliance (UBRA) as an inspiring network characterized by "fantastic people from all over the world" – and encouraged participants to "use UBRA for networking."
A personal perspective was shared by Lovisä Mulanje, Doctoral Researcher at the Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS. She came to Bremen from Malawi two and a half years ago and recalled her first days in the new environment – shaped by a strong culture shock, but also by great excitement. She especially emphasized the support she received from the UBRA Welcome Center at the University of Bremen: “I was welcomed so warmly by the Welcome Center.” With deep gratitude, she also mentioned Thomas Neumann, her “Grandpa Thomas”, a SeniorCitizen, who offered her valuable help and guidance during her early days of settling in Bremen.
The evening offered ample opportunities for exchange. Over international cuisine and drinks, guests engaged in conversation, made new connections, and deepened existing ones. Creative activities invited participation—from designing colorful postcards to crafting personalized bracelets. The open and welcoming atmosphere was further enriched by the presence of many partners and children, lending the event a lively, family-friendly vibe.
Once again, the reception proved to be a valuable platform for international academic exchange and intercultural engagement. It created space for dialogue, networking, and mutual discovery—and underscored the importance and impact of a truly welcoming culture within the member institutions of the U Bremen Research Alliance.
Further impressions of the reception
Reception for inter/national researchers 2024
The reception for inter/national researchers is yearly organized by the UBRA Welcome Center at the University of Bremen. In the following you find a vidoe of the event in 2024.
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