News in Life Sciences

A clean affair: Merry Christmas from the Faculty of Life Sciences

In the common room of the Faculty of Life Sciences, tradition meets empiricism: Why this year's Christmas tree bears a washing machine and what it tells us about the future of hygiene. Read more.

Benin Excursion: Between Lecture Hall and Kingdom

5,000 kilometres lie between the cool lecture halls in Kleve and the tropical heat of Cotonou. For 23 students from Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, this distance became a journey into a new reality: for twelve days, they swapped theory for practice, visited modern textile factories and traditional royal courts – and experienced what happens when you not only study development, but feel it. Read more.

Fifteen Years Rooted and Growing: Sustainable Agriculture Alumni Reunion

On October 30th, the Faculty of Life Sciences and the Sustainable Food Systems Research Center hosted a 15th Anniversary Alumni Party for the Sustainable Agriculture program, an evening that underscored the program’s international footprint and cohesive community. Read more.

Health as a factor for success in business

Health as the basis for productivity and innovation: Students enrolled in the Master's programme in Health Sciences and Management at the Faculty of Life Sciences at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences gained comprehensive insights into current trends and innovations in occupational safety, health promotion and occupational health management (OHM) at the A+A trade fair in Düsseldorf.

The HSRW in Lyon: Where rubbish bins sing and ideas shine

From 13 to 17 October, 21 students from six countries, including a delegation from the Faculty of Life Sciences at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, explored the city as a laboratory for sustainable behaviour – accompanied by lecturers from UCLy/ESQESE and in cooperation with the ONLYLYON tourism brand. The task: to design concrete, easily implementable ‘green nudges’ for more responsible urban and city tourism.

Das Labor und die Wirklichkeit

Der Geruch von Ethanol liegt in der Luft, die Gelbox summt, eine Pipette klickt. Auf dem Tisch: ein unscheinbares Butterbrot, ordentlich in Papier geschlagen. Beweisstück A. Daneben läuft auf dem Thermocycler der Countdown. An der Fakultät Life Sciences in Kleve, an einem sonnigen Morgen Anfang November, lernt eine Oberstufe beim MINT-Festival an der Fakultät Life Sciences, was es heißt, dem Unsichtbaren eine Form zu geben. Organisiert und finanziert wurden die Workshops vom zdi-zentrum Kreis Kleve cleverMINT. Die zdi-Finanzierung stammt vom Ministerium für Kultur und Wissenschaft des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen und der Agentur für Arbeit. Weiterlesen.

Experiencing addiction prevention in practice: Master's students combine theory with practice and go climbing

The topic of addiction prevention is an integral part of health promotion and is therefore also an important topic in the Master's programme in Health Sciences and Management. Students learn how prevention strategies can be applied in practice, not only in theory but also in practice. Read more.

Compass instead of complexity – guiding criteria for healthy working

How healthy is a company really – and where is there room for improvement? Students on the Master's programme in Health Sciences and Management addressed this key question in a practical research project. Read more.

The drop of truth in cooking oil

Kilian Visser has developed a highly innovative method for his master's thesis in the Food Science degree programme that can be used to quickly and precisely detect adulteration in vegetable edible oils. For this work, which can make a decisive contribution to consumer protection, the young scientist has now been honoured with the Heinrich Stockmeyer Foundation's Young Scientist Award 2025. His research combines Raman spectroscopy with machine learning and enables the authentication of adulterated olive oil with impressive accuracy. The method has the potential to improve quality control in the food industry and official food monitoring. Read more.

Congratulations!

Almost 120 graduates of the Faculties Life Sciences and Technology and Bionics received their certificates during the traditional graduation ceremony.

Prof. Dr. William Megill and Prof. Dr. Peter Simon hosted the ceremony and welcomed 600 guests - some of them couldn't even find a place in the completely filled Audimax but had the option to watch a live stream of the event in another room. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter Kisters, Vice President for Research, Transfer and Innovation congratulated the former students on behalf of the presidium. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Kai Masuch (faculty of Technology and Bionics) and Prof. Dr. Peter Scholz (Dean of the faculty of Life Sciences) encouraged them to stay in contact with their former university. Read more.

Study Orientation Weeks at the Faculty of Life Sciences

study orientation

Discover Your Future at the 'Study Orientation Weeks'!

The Faculty of Life Sciences warmly invites you to visit our Campus Kleve on January 18, 2024, from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM.

Here you will have the unique opportunity to engage directly with our professors, staff, and students. They are ready to introduce you to the diversity of our study programs, explain the exact contents, and provide insights into practical applications.

Take this chance to find a study program that perfectly matches you and your career goals. Learn more about the requirements and career perspectives and let our committed faculty inspire you. We look forward to meeting you and jointly shaping your path to the future! Read more

The Faculty of Life Sciences wishes you a Merry Christmas and a joyful New Year 2024!

The year in review: The Faculty of Life Sciences at Agritechnica 2023

In this photo, we can see students and faculty members from Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences

After a break due to coronavirus, the world's largest trade fair for agricultural technology returned with 470,000 visitors and 2,850 exhibitors.

The fair offered students from the Faculty of Life Sciences a platform to find out about their university and agricultural degree programs. At the same time, the fair offered students not only learning opportunities, but also chances to make contacts and gain insights into the latest agricultural trends. Read more

The year in review: Major alumni reunion of the Bio Science and Health and Quality, Environment, Safety and Hygiene (QUSH) degree programs

More than 90 former students came together at the alumni meeting of the Bio Science and Health and Quality, Environment, Safety and Hygiene (QUSH) degree programs at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences on 12 May, a record for this event. Initiated by an alumnus, the meeting focused on the development of the degree programs and alumni feedback. Professors presented data and developments, and the focus was on networking and exchange between alumni and current students to strengthen the connection to the university. Read more

The year in review: Students of the Master's program in Food Science produce "Rosé wine from the Lower Rhine"

Group picture in the "vineyard": A group of professors and students who are part of the project in the vineyard where the grapes were harvested.

Master's students of  food science produced a rosé wine from grapes from a Dutch vineyard that were donated to them for their research project. Despite the low sugar content, the students succeeded in producing a wine of acceptable quality by trying out different methods and storage conditions. The project emphasizes the practical training and regional connection of the course. Next, the budding food scientists are planning to produce a brandy from the leftover grapes. More

Year in Review: The HSRW Life Sciences Faculty and Charkiv Summer School Collaboration

As we look back at the end of the year, we reflect on the initiatives that have made a difference. In 2023, HSRW and Charkiv Biotechnology School collaborated on a Summer School in Kleve, offering Ukrainian students hands-on learning in Bioengineering amidst the ongoing conflict. The program featured hybrid courses, practical lab work with smart glasses, and cultural exchanges. This initiative, supported by DAAD, provided valuable experiences and showcased innovative approaches to education in challenging times. More

The University Distillery: From microbiologist to brandy sommelier

Das Bild zeigt eine Gruppe von zwölf Personen, die in zwei Reihen angeordnet sind. Die vordere Reihe besteht aus vier Personen, die knien oder sich tief beugen, während die hintere Reihe aus acht stehenden Personen besteht. Jede Person hält stolz eine Urkunde zum Edelbrand-Sommelier in der Hand.  Im Hintergrund ist ein Banner mit dem Logo und dem Namen der Bayerischen Landesanstalt für Weinbau und Gartenbau zu sehen. Die Gruppe wirkt fröhlich und zufrieden, als ob sie gerade eine Auszeichnung oder Anerkennung erhalten hätte.

The Faculty of Life Sciences has been running a professional distillery since 2013, which serves as a teaching centre for the art of distillation and food safety. Dr Marc-Kevin Zinn, integrates his expertise into teaching, with students gaining both theoretical and practical knowledge of distillate production. He recently passed the examination to become a distillery sommelier at the Genussakademie Bayern and the Bayerische Landesanstalt für Weinbau und Gartenbau. More

Walnussschalen als Inhaltsstoffe für Kosmetika: Hochschulprojekt erforscht mit Kalkarer Unternehmen Alternativen zu Mikroplastik

Seit Oktober 2023 ist es EU-weit verboten: Mikroplastik in sämtlichen Kosmetikprodukten und Waschmitteln. Doch welche Alternativen gibt es? Das möchten Forschende an der Hochschule Rhein-Waal (HSRW) zusammen mit dem Familienunternehmen bb med. product GmbH vom unteren Niederrhein herausfinden. Weiterlesen

Insight into innovative waste management: Excursion to AEZ Asdonkshof

During an excursion as part of the "Fundamentals of Environmental Protection" lecture series, students on the "Quality, Environment, Safety and Hygiene" and "Sustainable Agriculture" courses visited the Asdonkshof waste disposal centre near Kamp-Lintfort. There they were given an insight into modern waste management. More

New approaches to soil improvement: Prof Dr Khalid Khan presents innovative research on biochar

The image features two men standing in front of a presentation screen that displays a "Thank You" message with a graphic of a green sprout with three leaves on the right side of the screen. The man on the left, Professor Khan, is holding a book and is dressed in a dark sweater over a collared shirt, smiling as he faces the camera. The man on the right, Professor Wichern, is also smiling at the camera, and he's dressed in a hoodie. The background is a plain wall and part of a flip chart stand can be seen to the right of the image. They are in a seminar room, and the mood is positive.

Prof Dr Khalid Khan, from the PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, presented innovative research results on biochar during his research stay supported by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. He focussed on the use of biochar to improve soil quality in arid regions.  At the end of his stay, the Faculty of Life Science thanked Prof Khan for his valuable contributions and the impetus he has provided for future research projects. His work bears witness to the close scientific ties that stretch from Pakistan to the Lower Rhine. More