Dies Academicus 2026: Awards for Research and Sustainability

In 2025, they secured a total of 46 per cent of all third-party research funding, published 76 papers, provided supervision for 42 students doing a doctorate and carried out projects with 231 partners. As part of the Dies Academicus celebrations, the group of the ten most productive researchers was honoured; together, they account for around 50 per cent of the research funding secured by HSWT. 

The group of the ten leading researchers includes: 

• Bernhard Bauer, Professor of Crop Production, Plant Protection and Grassland (Triesdorf Campus)
• Dietrich Darr, Professor of Sustainable and Resilient Farming and Food Systems (Triesdorf Campus)
• Matthias Drösler, Professor of Vegetation Ecology (Weihenstephan Campus)
• Jörg Ewald, Professor of Botany, Vegetation Science and Mountain Ecosystems (Weihenstephan Campus)
• Dominik Grimm, Professor of Bioinformatics (Straubing site)
• Dieter Lohr, Research Assistant in the field of plant nutrition (Weihenstephan Campus)
• Thomas Lötzbeyer, Professor of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Food Chemistry
• Heike Mempel, Professor of Horticulture and Quality Management (Weihenstephan Campus)
• Klaus Menrad, Professor of Marketing and Renewable Resources (Straubing campus)
• Bernhard Schauberger, Professor of Agricultural Systems and Climate Change (Weihenstephan Campus)

Sustainable research, teaching and working

The Coordination Office for Sustainability and Climate Change (KNK) presented the Sustainable Research Award for the fourth time. Prof. Dr Sabine Grüner, Professor of Process Engineering, Bioprocess Engineering and Bioreaction Engineering at the Weihenstephan Campus, impressed the jury with her research project ‘Plastic Worms’ – a bio-trickle-bed reactor for microplastic degradation – which is unique in Germany. In collaboration with the Bayreuth-based company ZWT Wasser- und Abwassertechnik GmbH, the research team developed a new bio-trickle-bed reactor capable of breaking down microplastics using fungi, bacteria, microorganisms and worms, without leaving any harmful residues. 

The award for sustainable teaching was presented to Prof. Dr Bernhard Gatternig, Professor of Process Engineering and Circular Economy at the Triesdorf Campus. According to the student union, which awards this prize, Gatternig’s teaching is characterised in particular by the consistent integration of technical course content with the concept of sustainability. One example: he integrated two practice-oriented modules into the HYDRANAT research project, which aims to develop a process that efficiently separates CO₂ from exhaust gases and permanently binds it in mineral form. This enables students to participate directly in real-world climate research. 

Stefan Beyer was awarded the Sustainability Prize in Central Services for his commitment to the EMAS team. Beyer is a programme assistant for the Master’s in Applied Agricultural Sciences, an environmental manager in the EMAS audit team and a member of the staff representative body at the Triesdorf campus. The EMAS team is a working group comprising dedicated staff and students from all departments and faculties at the University of applied sciences HSWT who are committed to sustainability. Through his efforts, Beyer ensures that the EMAS environmental management system is genuinely put into practice in the day-to-day running of the university, as recognised by the University of applied sciences’ environmental management team. 

President Dr Eric Veulliet: Solutions to the challenges of our time

“The honourees embody the spirit of our University of applied sciences in a special way – passion, responsibility and the courage to break new ground,” emphasises Dr Eric Veulliet, president and Sustainability Officer at HSWT. “Their commitment plays a key role in enabling us at HSWT to develop solutions to the challenges of our time and thereby make a sustainable contribution to society.” 

We would be happy to arrange interview appointments with the award winners. 

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