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JLU - Past and Present

JLU’s strong contributions to research and teaching, its cultural program, and its status as an important wealth-creating institution make the University an influential presence in Giessen and, indeed, in the wider area of Central Hesse.

Thanks to the combined efforts of town and university, Giessen is a powerhouse of knowledge releasing its innovative potential into the region. The university’s researchers are in the driving seat of many inter-university projects and organize ambitious national and international conferences.
The University is host to many guests from home and abroad, who come each year to exchange ideas and to take part in cooperative programs. I would like to take this opportunity to extend a very warm welcome to all of our visitors.
JLU combines cutting-edge research with a tradition developed over more than four centuries. The University evolved out of the Ludoviciana, a small provincial Protestant university that was founded by Landgrave Ludwig V. von Hessen-Darmstadt. In 2003, JLU, the town of Giessen, and the Liebig Museum were privileged to be able to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the university’s eponym – Justus Liebig, the great scientist, inventor, and teacher, who worked at the university for 28 years.
From its earliest beginnings, the University has always engaged in scientific dialogue – a solid tradition on which it can proudly build. But universities today face difficult challenges. They must prevail against strong competition in order to be able to secure the best researchers, scientific projects and, of course, the next generation of young and eager researchers.
We are particularly proud of our achievements in the federal excellence initiative.
JLU has reacted swiftly and flexibly to new challenges, meeting them head-on. Milestones of recent achievement include the establishment of such important scientific centers as the Research Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition (IFZ) and the biomedical research center. The coming years will feature the harnessing of these new possibilities to facilitate further interdisciplinary collaboration.
Students, teachers, and researchers who are prepared to look beyond traditional academic frontiers are guaranteed a warm welcome by JLU, and will benefit from excellent perspectives and opportunities.