News

2024: Defining moments at Uni.lu

  • 21 January 2025
  • Category
    University

As a new year dawns, the University looks back at key moments, research findings and impactful activities of 2024.

University life is a dynamic melting pot of academic studying and research, exchange and activities, all geared towards expanding one’s horizon, brightening campus life and bringing a positive impact to society.

The 2024 milestones highlight the strength of Uni.lu community, its research capacity and outreach development.

Polysomnography

Diagnosing sleep apnoea at home

What if there was a way to monitor sleep apnoea from the comfort of your own bed? The team of Jorge Gonçalves aims to revolutionise how sleep apnoea is diagnosed by enabling patients to monitor their sleep at home using simple, comfortable sensors.

Discover this new chapter of personalised medicine

Luxembourg Hydrogen Valley

In June, project coordinator Bradley Ladewig and numerous partners launched Luxembourg Hydrogen Valley. The large-scale project unites 17 partners and targets the potential production of green hydrogen in Luxembourg in 2026.

Discover more on LuxHyVal

Marie Speyer Excellence Grants. Call for applications 15 Jan-15 March 2024

Supporting outstanding female researchers

In March, the University launched a new grant scheme, the Marie Speyer Excellence Grants, to provide financial support to female researchers at Uni.lu. With this new grant scheme, the University aims to support excellence and innovation in academia, while fostering a diverse and equal opportunities research environment and attracting talent to Luxembourg.

Discover the Marie Speyer Grants

AI for teachers

ChatGPT, Copilot or Gemini: How can teachers assess written reports produced with the help of AI tools? The University organised the first Teaching Day around this important question for its teaching staff. Uni.lu intends to keep innovating in this defining area.

Discover the first Teaching Day at Uni.lu with Margault Sacré, e-learning specialist at Uni.lu.

AI, student using ChatGPT

Fighting corruption with science

Law scholars Iryna Bogdanova and Silvia Allegrezza are part of an international consortium of experts in over 30 countries which are leading the KLEPTOTRACE project. This two-year project is built around five concrete actions to tackle the challenges of transnational corruption.

Read the interview on Kleptotrace

Flagship events for students

Each September, the Welcome Day is an important meeting spot for new students and doctoral candidates. Newcomers visit information booths and activities concerning campus life, student associations, support units and IT matters, while doctoral candidates participate in networking and research workshops. 

In December, the campus was buzzing with joy as alumni attended the Graduation Week to receive their diploma and celebrate the end of an era. As alumni, they can join the vibrant Uni.lu alumni community. 70% of Uni.lu alumni stay in Luxembourg to start their professional career.

Sustainable responsive materials to transform industry and medicine

How would the future look if buildings were to dynamically adapt to environmental conditions? Physicist Jan Lagerwall and researchers from partner universities received 8.4 million euros of funding from the European Research Council (ERC) to create and study liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) of a new kind which enable such functionalities.

Discover Uni.lu’s first ERC Synergy Grant

New Vice-rector for Academic and Student Affairs

In November, Philippe Hiligsmann joined the University as the new Vice-rector for Academic and Student Affairs. With a career marked by his commitment to students, he brings expertise in academic leadership and innovative approaches to education. In his first interview, he shares his vision of a holistic approach of teaching, learning and student engagement.

Philippe Hiligsmann
Highway full of cars and polluted air

The hidden role of air pollution in cognitive decline

New research highlights that air pollution may affect our brain health and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. The role that fine particulate matter plays in cognitive decline is shown in a recent population-based study.

Discover more on how air pollution affects the brain

The new Centre for European Law sets its mark

On 1 January 2024, the former Max Planck Institute Luxembourg was integrated in the University and became the new Luxembourg Centre for European Law (LCEL). Within its first year, the LCEL welcomed its new director Takis Tridimas, organised research or outreach events and its scholars conducted practice-oriented research.

National Education Report 2024: Spotlight on inclusion

In December, researchers Thomas Lenz, Sonja Ugen and Susanne Backes presented the fourth report on national education, a comprehensive overview of education research in the country. A lack of data on children with special needs, challenges related to multilingualism and persistent social inequalities are the main issues facing the education system.

Discover more about the National Education Report

New online exhibition on World War 2

WW2.lu is a digital exhibition exploring Luxembourg’s history during the Second World War. Curated by historian Christoph Brüll and his team, the site offers unique insights into the lives of Luxembourgers through rich and often new documentation. Videos featuring personal stories as well as historical places and events bring this pivotal era to life. WW2.lu serves as a true gateway to understanding Luxembourg’s wartime past.

Discover the exhibition