Talks, seminars, events 

WOMEN’S NETWORKING ACTIVITY: From Research to Reach

📅 Date: December 12
🕔 Time: 17:00
📍 Location: SR ETP 0.02
🥪 Food and drinks will be provided.

This event will feature UoC alumni who have transitioned from academia to the private sector. Together, we’ll discuss topics such as:
* The importance of support systems and mentors;
* Building a scientific identity outside academia;
* Confidence and sense of belonging after career or life changes;
* Fostering inclusion and creativity in the workplace;
* Different concepts of “impact”.

Confirmed panel speakers:
* Dr. Aleena Baby earned her PhD in Astrophysics from UoC in 2023 and has since transitioned to the private sector, working primarily in data science. She is currently a Data Scientist and AI specialist in Germany’s manufacturing industry, and a Lecturer at a technical university. Through her “Academia to Industry” brand, she also helps researchers and PhDs in navigating career transitions into industry roles.

* Dr. Annika Franeck completed her PhD in Astrophysics at UoC in 2018 before undertaking a postdoctoral position at the Czech Academy of Sciences. She later moved into industry as a Product Developer at BetterDoc. She is now a Team Lead Asset in Pricing & Analytics at Next Kraftwerke, contributing to the energy transition toward a sustainable future.

* Dr. Nassim Tanha, who obtained her PhD at the UoC in 2023, where she also worked as a postdoctoral researcher. She works as an ESG data manager at BarmeniaGothaer Asset Management since May of 2025.

Event duration: Approx. 2 hours.

This event is intended for all non-male SFB 1601 members.

Registration: https://sfb1601.astro.uni-koeln.de/womens-networking-activity-from-research-to-reach/

Open Diversity Board Meeting
November 14, 10-11 am
KOSMA room (I. Physics Institute, University of Cologne) & zoom connection

“Discussion about the results of the survey on Communication”

Open Diversity Board Meeting
June 27, 10-11 am
KOSMA room (I. Physics Institute, University of Cologne) & zoom connection

“What makes an inclusive workplace?”

Open Diversity Board Meeting
June 27, 10-11 am
KOSMA room (I. Physics Institute, University of Cologne) & zoom connection

“What makes an inclusive workplace?”

The aims of this meeting is to establish a regular and open communication between the SFB diversity board and the SFB1601 members, and as a starting point for the diversity board to identify measures within the SFB1601. This time we focus on the topic of “an inclusive workspace”.

Networking Event for Female Scientists
May 23, 4pm
Old Workshop & Courtyard (I. Physics Institute, University of Cologne)

The diversity board invited female SFB1601 members and Association for Women in physics to this networking event. Three former PH1 members who are working outside of astrophysics for quite some time were invited as guests. The goals of this event is

Workshop “Unconscious (Gender) Bias“
in cooperation with: ML4Q, CRC1310, TRR183
May 19, 2025 for Early Career Researchers
May 20, 2025 for Senior Researchers
9am – 4pm
by Philipp Wronker

In this interactive workshop, our trainer Philipp Wronker will guide participants through key concepts of unconscious (gender) biases, their impact on academic careers, and strategies for dealing with biases professionally – especially in the context of (prospective) leadership responsibilities. Everyone has biases – it’s a natural part of being human and nothing to be ashamed of. Recognizing them is the first step toward fostering an inclusive and equitable work environment. Through interactive discussions, perception tests, and practical tools, you will learn to how to identify your biases and handle them constructively. 

📍 Location: Conference Room, Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Cologne

🔹 Interested in attending? Send a short email to to register by April 15.
⚠️ Spots are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis!

Diversity Discussion Rounds about online meetings at the SFB1601 Sustainability Day
October 17, 2024

Topics:
– How can we better interact between the in-person participants and online participants in a hybrid meeting? Matter of awareness? Technical solutions?
– When we need to organize a meeting (not a big conference, but at a daily research level, committee or some initiative), what are the factors to decide the format of the meeting?
– Is there any disadvantage of recording the talks and discussions? Does it suppress some newest, unpublished results to be presented? Should the SFB colloquia be recorded, and provided with the slides to the SFB members?

2-day workshop on science communication for women in astronomy
October 1 & 2, 2024
Room 001 in the ETP-building in Cologne (Zülpicher Str. 77a)
by Felicitas Molker

– Basics of (science) communication
– Exploring the media landscape
– Scientific findings – the pathway from a journal publication to public/into media
– Exercises in public writing: how to write a press release and/or an article for the general audience

The course is aimed specifically at female scientists, who are often still underrepresented in the media. In this context, we will address questions such as: How do I get my topic into media? Is there a (gender) bias when journalists are looking for interview partners, and how does the bias look like? Is there a gender dependent difference in taking the initiative to „sell“ one own’s research topic to media and if yes how could we counteract?

Christmas gathering of the “Women’s coffee corner” organised by the Diversity Board