The Walter Benjamin Programme enables postdoctoral researchers at an early career phase who are associated with a German research institution or work there, to conduct independently a research project of their choice and to benefit from additional career-promoting conditions. The award finances the position for two years while the University of Duisburg-Essen covers additional project needs. The prize is named after Walter Benjamin, a German philosopher and cultural critic, who lived from 1892-1940.

The National Awards program is an initiative set up by the World Photography Organisation and Sony to support local photographic communities around the world, with 55 countries taking part this year. Over 415,000 images from over 200 countries and territories were submitted to the Sony World Photography Awards 2023 and over 200,000 were entered to the Open competition (from which the National Awards winner was selected).

Pradeep was anonymously selected by judges for his photograph Tuffie entered the Street Photography category of the Open competition. The image depicts Navigating life’s twists and turns, one step at a time. Pradeep’s photograph is stripped to the bare minimum. It focuses solely on the minimalist lines and shapes, made even more prominent by the picture's lack of colour. It was shot at the iconic location in Duisburg, the Tiger and Turtle in the last summer. He is also a member and organizer of the Düsseldorf Street Photography group. His images were published at United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 27) 2022. He is a self-taught photographer and has learned photography through experimenting and independent study from various online sources.

As India’s National Award winner, Pradeep Kodimana Ramakrishnan receives Sony digital imaging equipment and will be included in the Sony World Photography Awards exhibition and book. All of the award-winning images will be displayed at a photography exhibition at Somerset House in London from April 14th to May 1st.

Two-dimensional (2D) materials are extremely thin and in some cases consist of only a single layer of atoms. They are particularly interesting because they have unique electrical and optical properties and can be rolled, folded or stretched due to their high mechanical stability. The IRTG Scalable 2D Material Architectures (2D-MATURE). Synthesis and Processing, Characterization and Functionality, Implementation and Demonstration at the Faculty of Engineering with participation from the Faculty of Physics will address two questions: How can two-dimensional materials be produced in large quantities, and how do they behave when combined with other materials in ways that can be used in products?

The goal is to develop new methods and processes to enable industrial-scale applications, for example in light-emitting diodes or batteries. The IRTG is headed by Prof. Gerd Bacher (Faculty of Engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology). The PhD students, who are conducting research at the Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen (CENIDE), will collaborate with Canadian colleagues at the Waterloo Institute of Nanotechnology (WIN) at the University of Waterloo and also spend several months there.