Call for Applications: Bavarian Future Energy Pitch

We are seeking innovative projects or theses in the field of the future of energy. We welcome a variety of perspectives, ranging from technological innovations and climate and sustainability issues to questions concerning people and the societal transformation of the energy sector.
Following a preliminary selection by a panel of experts, up to five projects or theses will be nominated and invited to a live pitch on the morning of November 19, 2026, in Garching near Munich. During this pitch, the nominees will present their projects to the panel of experts. The winner—whether an individual or a team—will be honored during the Bavarian Future Energy Award ceremony that evening.
Willingness to participate in the pitch is a prerequisite for consideration in the selection process.
The Bavarian Future Energy Pitch offers a prize of 10,000 euros.

Applications will be accepted until November 1, 2026.
Further information and the application form can be found here:
https://bayernwerk-eventcompanion.de/v/bewerbung-zukunftsenergiepreis

New Academic Award for Drone Studies

The Franco-German University (DFH), in collaboration with the Kufstein University of Applied Sciences (Tyrol) and the COMTESSA research group at the University of the German Armed Forces (Munich), has launched a new international award for drone studies (New Academic Award for Drone Studies).

The award is intended to recognize a thesis or dissertation that makes an outstanding and innovative contribution to research on drones.

The call for entries is open to graduates of bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs at a European university.

The award is endowed with 1,500 euros.
The application deadline is December 31, 2026.

All application documents must be submitted in English and in PDF format and should
include:
• Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD thesis
• Motivation letter – maximum 500 words
• Short biography – maximum 500 words

Applications should be sent electronically to: rektorat@hok.ac.at

Start the new semester off right: Come meet us on October 7

An afternoon outdoors, an evening with pizza, and Erlangen will look better afterward. On Wednesday, October 7, 2026, we’ll clean up downtown Erlangen and then meet at the Stuve-Haus. All FAU students are invited—whether you’re active in student government, interested in sustainability, or just want to meet new people.

 

We’ll start at 3:00 p.m. at the Stuve-Haus on Turnstraße 7. From there, we’ll set out together and tackle a section of downtown. At the end, you’ll see what you’ve all cleaned up together in three hours, and that feels really good. We’ll provide trash grabbers and bags—all you need is weather-appropriate clothing.

 

The best part is everything that goes along with it. The student council has just been elected, so the new representatives and new students are already getting to know each other. While picking up trash, it’s easy to strike up a conversation with student council representatives, department offices, and campus groups.

 

Afterward, we’ll have dinner. Starting at 6:30 p.m., we invite you to the Stuve-Haus for our networking event. We’ll have pizza or grilled food, depending on how many of us there are, along with drinks, and the event will go on as long as people want to stay. You don’t need to bring anything.

 

Want to learn more? If you’re interested in cycling, the semester pass, recycling, or climate protection at the university, feel free to talk to us that evening. The Office for Sustainability and Mobility welcomes everyone who wants to get involved—no elections and no official positions required.

 

We look forward to seeing you. No registration is required, nor is any prior knowledge, and you’re welcome to attend just one of the two parts. If you’re staying for dinner, please send us a quick email at stuve-oekologie@fau.de so we can estimate the number of attendees.

 

We’re collecting as part of the City of Erlangen’s “Clean City, Clean Forest, Clean Waters” campaign, organized in collaboration with FAU’s Green Office. <!– /wp:paragraph —>