University of Giessen
History
The University of Giessen, officially known as Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU), is a large public research university located in Giessen, Germany. Named after its most famous faculty member, Justus von Liebig, the chemist who invented artificial fertilizer, the university is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in Germany.
The University of Giessen was founded in 1607 as a Lutheran university in the city of Giessen in Hesse-Darmstadt because the all-Hessian Landesuniversität had become Reformed. Endowed with a charter by Count Ludwig V of Hesse-Darmstadt, it became the second university founded in the territory of modern Germany, following the University of Königsberg which was founded a century earlier in 1544.
Faculties and Departments
The University of Giessen is organized into 11 faculties and over 100 departments and institutes, which cover a wide range of subjects across the natural sciences, humanities, social sciences, and medicine. These include the Faculties of Law, Economics and Business Studies, Social Sciences and Cultural Studies, History and Cultural Studies, Language and Literature, Psychology and Sports Science, Mathematics and Computer Science, Physics, Biology and Chemistry, Agricultural Sciences, Nutritional Sciences, and Environmental Management.
Research
The University of Giessen is renowned for its research in areas such as life sciences, physics, agriculture, chemistry, and veterinary medicine. It is a member of the Hessian University Association for Information Technology, which promotes collaboration and knowledge transfer between Hessian universities in the field of information technology.
Notable Alumni and Faculty
The University of Giessen has been home to many notable scholars and scientists, including Nobel laureates such as Willy Brandt, former Chancellor of Germany, and Erwin Neher, a biophysicist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1991. The university is also known for its association with Justus von Liebig, who is considered the founder of modern agricultural chemistry.
Campus
The main campus of the University of Giessen is located in the city center of Giessen, a city in the federal state of Hesse in central Germany. The university also has several other locations throughout the city, including the University Hospital and the University Library.
Student Life
The University of Giessen has a vibrant student life with a wide range of extracurricular activities. The university's student union, known as the Allgemeiner Studierendenausschuss (AStA), organizes various cultural and social events throughout the year. The university also offers a variety of sports and recreational activities through its University Sports Center.