Tradition Meets Innovation: Against the industrial backdrop of the imposing steel hall at the Dortmund Occupational Safety Exhibition (DASA), doctoral candidates and researchers from several countries gathered to present innovative research projects and exchange ideas at the DART Symposium organized by the Graduate Center at Fachhochschule Dortmund.
The conference, organized every two years by doctoral candidates for doctoral candidates, gave participants the opportunity to learn about current doctoral projects from various universities and disciplines. With more than 50 participants on-site and additional guests joining digitally, the symposium—moderated by Britt Lorenzen—evolved into a vibrant hub for ideas, discussion, and networking.
The main theme of this year’s symposium was the connection between applied research and societal benefit. During the opening panel discussion, Prof. Dr. Christoph M. Friedrich from the Fachhochschule Dortmund, Prof. Dr. Martin Sternberg from the Doctoral School NRW, Dr. Isabel Roessler from the Center for Higher Education (CHE), and doctoral candidate Jonas Sorgalla discussed the challenges and value of doctorates at universities in North Rhine-Westphalia. The discussion highlighted the importance of applied research and how it improves people’s lives.
DART Award goes to Stefan Patzke
Five of the doctoral students had the opportunity to present their research in short talks on stage. The topics were wide-ranging, from the effects of virtual reality and haptic stimuli on people, to the benefits of digital tools in the more efficient organization of clinics and AI in the early detection of Alzheimer's, to the evaluation of psychological stress caused by persecution in the former GDR. Numerous other research projects were presented at a large poster exhibition, with the doctoral students available for questions and discussions.
"The DART Symposium is an important milestone for our doctoral students," said Iris Bosold-Grund from the Graduate Center at Fachhochschule Dortmund. "It offers them the opportunity to present their work, receive feedback and network. Above all, however, it promotes exchange and dialog, which is crucial for the progress of science."
The highlight of the DART Symposium was the presentation of the Applied Research Award for Young Researcher 2024. 18 doctoral students from universities in Dortmund, Bochum, Cologne and Hamm/Lippstadt submitted their projects. In its decision, the jury assessed both the scientific quality of the work and the social benefit. "There were many interesting projects," emphasized Professor Dr. Hanaa Ryari, jury member and lecturer at the Faculty of Business Studies at Fachhochschule Dortmund.
The prize then went to Stefan Patzke, who is doing his doctorate at the Faculty of Information Technology at Fachhochschule Dortmund. Patzke is researching methods for detecting endometriosis, a common gynecological disease in which endometrium-like tissue grows outside the uterus. The women affected then suffer from severe, often cramp-like pain. The tissue has to be surgically removed. Stefan Patzke's research aims to use imaging techniques to help doctors better identify affected tissue. The jury acknowledged the high relevance of his work in everyday medical practice.