A New Golden Age of Science - What the World of Tomorrow needs from Universities

The DAAD-University of Cambridge Research Hub for German Studies is delighted to welcome Professor Matthias Tschöp to Cambridge to give a lecture on

'A New Golden Age of Science? What the World of Tomorrow Needs from Universities'

Scientific discovery and artificial intelligence promise to transform what humanity can understand and achieve. But what would make this a truly golden age—and what must universities contribute to it? Drawing on his experience as a physician, scientist, and university president, Matthias Tschöp explores what makes a university great: the freedom to pursue questions whose significance no one yet recognises; the meeting of ideas across disciplines and borders; and an education that equips people to judge evidence, question authority with intellectual courage, and engage respectfully with opposing views. His argument connects scientific ambition with democratic responsibility. Universities must advance discovery while helping societies make wise choices about its consequences. To meet that responsibility, universities need to defend their independence, earn public trust, and be willing to reimagine their role in society.

Matthias Tschöp is President of LMU Munich and a renowned physician-scientist whose research helped pave the way for effective obesity therapies. He has combined biomedical discovery, translational medicine, and scientific leadership, building research institutions and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. At the University of Cincinnati (2003–2011), he held a professorship in endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism, the Arthur Russell Morgan Endowed Chair of Medicine, and served as Research Director of the Cincinnati Diabetes and Obesity Center. In 2011, he returned to Germany as Founding Director of the Helmholtz Diabetes Center and founded the Helmholtz Pioneer Campus. From 2018 to 2025, he was CEO and Scientific Director of Helmholtz Munich. He served as Vice President for Health of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers (2023–2024) and held an Alexander von Humboldt Professorship at the Technical University of Munich until 2025.

Introductory remarks will be made by Professor Chris Young, Co-Director of the Cambridge DAAD Hub. There will be an opportunity to ask questions at the end of the lecture. We would be delighted if you could join us for what promises to be a very informative occasion.

The event will take place at 5.30pm on 24 November in the Bateman Auditorium at Gonville & Caius College (Trinity St, Cambridge CB2 1TA) followed by a drinks reception.

Please be aware that photographs of the event will be taken. If you would not like to be photographed, please make yourself known to us at the event.

Description supplied by the event organiser.