The universities of Leipzig, Halle and Jena will once again be presenting together at the Leipzig Book Fair from 27 to 30 March 2025. Based on current book publications by researchers, the three universities are organizing a varied programme in the Forum Unibund in Hall 2, Stand C301. Visitors will have the opportunity to get to know the perspectives of researchers on current social issues and their new books in a total of 20 panel discussions and lectures. They can also obtain information and advice on the courses offered by the universities.
The Unibund Forum will open on Thursday, March 27 at 10:30 a.m. with a discussion on the formative power of universities for the cities of Halle, Jena and Leipzig. Rectors Claudia Becker (Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg) and Eva Inés Obergfell (Leipzig University) and President Andreas Marx (Friedrich Schiller University Jena) will discuss this topic.
Joint research by the three universities
The Forum Unibund focuses on the joint research activities of the three partner universities and the resulting book publications:
Under the title "Engagement and Protest in Saxony", researchers from the Research Institute for Social Cohesion will be discussing the extent to which civic and political engagement in Saxony are connected on Thursday, March 27, at 2 pm.
On Thursday, March 27, at 12 noon and 3 pm, researchers from the universities of Leipzig and Halle will discuss the role of the churches in two panel discussions on the question "Why do we still need churches today?" and the contribution of the Christian religion during the coronavirus pandemic.
Scientists from the German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig will be presenting the book "Faktencheck Artenvielfalt" on Friday, March 28 at 11 am. They will explain the state of biodiversity in Germany and the opportunities for its conservation.
Researchers share their findings on social issues
For the first time this year, the Forum Unibund is participating in the Klimabuchmesse e. V. program. which provides a platform for book publications on the subject of climate protection: On Saturday, March 29, at 1 p.m., two researchers will talk about how children and young people can look to the future with optimism despite the climate crisis and how their mental health can be strengthened, based on the book ,,Klimabewegt".
On Friday, March 28, at 1 p.m., researchers from the Leipzig Leibniz Institute for Jewish History and Culture - Simon Dubnow will present suggestions on how everyday Jewish culture can be taught in a realistic way in school lessons.
News from the literary scene is also on the program: on Thursday, 27 March, from 1 p.m., Lena Schätte, Kristina Schilke and Bettina Wilpert, former students of the German Literature Institute Leipzig (DLL), will present their latest novels. As is traditional at the end of the Forum Unibund, DLL students will also present their annual anthology "Tippgemeinschaft 2025" on Sunday, March 30, at 1 pm.
Leipzig University takes part in the "Leipzig reads" reading festival
Leipzig University is once again represented with several events in the program of the reading festival "Leipzig reads" in the city.
Under the motto "BuWision 2025", the Bibliotop is presenting several window displays in the city center on books from Norway, the country hosting the fair, and on the anniversaries of four well-known publishers and book series. A guided tour will take place at 10 a.m. on each day of the book fair, ending in the Bibliotop "book vault" at Leipzig University.
Political scientist Herfried Münkler will be a guest at the Bibliotheca Albertina on Thursday, March 27 at 8 p.m. and will talk about Germany’s role in Europe and the challenges of the 21st century. The Musical Instrument Museum at Leipzig University will host a musical reading for children about Johann Strauss on Friday, March 28 at 3 pm.
Program overview
The entire program of the Forum Unibund and the "Leipzig reads" events: www.uni-leipzig.de/buchmesse
Background
The Unibund Halle - Jena - Leipzig is an association of the largest universities in the federal states of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, which has set itself the goal of jointly promoting successful projects in the areas of research and teaching. The Unibund celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2025. The three universities have been presenting themselves together at the Leipzig Book Fair since 2017 with the "Forum Unibund". The opening event on Thursday, March 27, from 10:30 a.m. will focus on the Unibund anniversary.
