Events beyond maths

Mathematics Münster regularly hosts talks, seminars, and workshops on non-mathematical topics such as academic skills, career planning, equal opportunities and diversity, and knowledge transfer and science communication to complement the mathematical education and broaden the horizon.

MM Spotlight and other events beyond maths (Summerterm 2026)

  • In the last week of March 2026 Imke Franzmeier will host a week on professional competences. 
    5 sessions on various aspects on working in academia. You can pick and choose: either one, several, or all sessions.

    Open to all! All sessions are open to all MM researchers, regardless of their experience level, as all input and exercises are designed for individual needs.
    Where: The MMGS room (Orleansring 10 1st floor)

    Mon 23.3 9:30 3h ---------------------------
    Constructive feedback in academia
    In this workshop we will discuss what constructive feedback is, and how to give/receive feedback in an academic setting. We will practice dealing with feedback, mistakes and critisicm and work on implementing a positive feedback culture.

    Tue 24.3  10:00  2h  --------------------------------
    Preparing great slide talks (with JProf. Theresa Simon)
    In this workshop we will focus on how to make a great talk (with slides): tips, tricks and common mistakes. It will be packed with examples and there will be time to reflect you own (slide) presentation style.

    Wed   25.3   10:00  1,5h ----------------------------------
    Science pitch: presenting your work on a spot
    In this session you will prepare you own Science Pitch.
    With your Science Pitch you can present your scientific research in a brief, clear, and engaging way, thus sparking interest. Typically lasting just a few minutes, a Science Pitch is a perfect starter for conversations at conferences, application processes and possibly even telling your favourite aunt what you have been working on.

    Thu   26.3   10:00  2h -------------------------
    Coping with academic pressure: Managing stress and fostering well-being
    In this session Kristina Wensing will focus on mental health and well-being in academia. We will discuss common stress triggers in academia and develop strategies how to cope with pressure in a competitive environment.

    Fri 27.3   9:30  2,5h  ------------------
    Neurodiversity - every brain is different!
    In this session we will learn about differnt types of neurodiversity and focus on how neurodivergent people can improve their well-being and productivity at a workplace and how to support neurodivergent colleagues.

  • 16 April (14:15) Postdoc Colloquium (M4) with Catrin Mair, Stefan Schrott, Mathias Sonnleitner, Alexander van Werde, Ferdinand Wagner  and Konstantinos Kartas
  • tba: Welcome Sessions for new MM members
  • June: YAM Seminar 

 

Past beyond maths events

  • Academic skills

    • 5.11.2025 10:00 MMGS Welcome Event and 14:00 MM Spotlight on Shaping the Doctoral Phase
    • 25.4.2025: MM Spotlight on "Science Pitch"
    • 6 November 2024: MM Spotlight on Feedback Culture
    • 23 October: MM Spotlight on Shaping the Doctoral Experience (using Supervision and Mentoring) - as part of the MMGS Welcome Event
    • 27.6.2024: MM Spotlight on Progress review: preparing and making use of the conversation by Dr. Kristina Wensing
    • 19 June 2024: MMGS poster design marathon
    • 8 May 2024: MM Spotlight - Shaping the doctoral phase (Supervision and Mentoring) by Dr. Imke Franzmeier & Dr. Kristina Wensing
    • 24 November 2023: Talk "Abstract and concrete advice for PhD students" by Azul Fatalini
    • 10 November 2023: Talk "A Scientist's Primer on Mental Health" by Dr. Olga Vvedenskaya (Dragonfly Mental Health)
    • 30 October 2023: Bystander Intervention Training with Anoushka Dufeil and Lauraline Michel
    • 10 February 2023: Miniworkshop - "Do's and Dont's of personal websites" with Simone Ramello
    • 9 December 2022: Talk "Resources for (first-year) PhD students" by Azul Fatalini
    • 7 December 2022: Miniworkshop "Impostor Phenomenon in Academia" with Dr. Brooke Gazdag (University of Amsterdam)
    • 17 May 2022: Talk "MaRDI - Mathematical Research Data Initiative" by Christiane Görgen and Tabea Bacher (Max-Planck-Institut für Mathematik in den Naturwissenschaften Leipzig)
    • 5 +12 November 2021: Online Workshop "Mikropolitik" with Doris Cornils (via Münster University's Gendermittelpooling)
    • 26 May 2021: Workshop "Female leadership" with Imke Lode
    • 18 November + 02 December 2020: Online Workshop "Erfolgreich präsentieren (auch im Online-Setting)" with Dr. Elisa Franz
  • Career planning

    • MM Spotlight week on career development (October 2025) by Imke Franzmeier
      Mo 6.10, 9:30 - Career compass: my profile, my plan, my path
      Tue 7.10, 10:00 - Shaping your (research) profile: criteria for (the next) postdoc position
       Wed 8.10 - Third party funding
      Thu 9.10, 10:00 - Applying outside academia - preparing applications 
      Fri 10.10, 9:00 - Science pitch: presenting your work on a spot
    • 26 November 2024: Fire Side Chat with Dr. Dirk Hartmann
    • 1 October 2024: MM Spotlight on Planning (the next) postdoc position - selection criteria and shaping profile by Dr. Imke Franzmeier
    • 25.6.2024: MAIN Perspectives
    • 5.7.2024: Fireside chat with Dr. Mirko Ebbers
    • 13 June 2024: MM Spotlight on Convincing applications for jobs outside of academia by Dr. Imke Franzmeier & Dr. Kristina Wensing
    • 30 January 2024: Workshops "Goals - finding and reflecting your own path" for postdoctoral researchers with Dr. Imke Franzmeier
    • 14 & 19 December 2023: Workshop "Goals - finding and reflecting your own path" for doctoral researchers with Dr. Imke Franzmeier
    • 27 January 2023: Fire site chat series on "Career opportunities for mathematicians in the private sector" with Dr. Dieter Wemmer
    • 15 October 2021: Workshop "Mein Karriereweg - Wie man einen passenden Job findet" // "Career styles: finding one's own career path" for doctoral and postdoctoral researchers (auf Deutsch!) with Dr. Imke Franzmeier
    • 24 February 2021: Workshop "Goals – finding and reflecting your own path" with Dr. Imke Franzmeier
    • 25 August 2020: Workshop "Reflecting goals" with Dr. Imke Franzmeier (at MMGS Retreat)
    • 5 August 2020: Mini-Workshop "Staying focused" with Dr. Imke Franzmeier
    • 27 May 2020: Mini-Workshop "Career Planning" with Dr. Imke Franzmeier
  • Equal Opportunity & Diversity

    • 16.5.2025: MM Connect celebrates Women in Maths
    • Talk Series "Achieving Gender Balance in Science":
      9 May 2023: Prof. Eva Maria Feichtner (University of Bremen)
      25 January 2023: Dr. Jasmin Herr (German Chemical Society)
    • Lunchtime Lecture Series "Biases in Academia" by Dr. Lisa Horvath
      21 October 2022: "Implicit biases in academia"
      30 November 2022: "Group biases"
      10 May 2023: "Gender biases in academia and how to reduce them" 
    • 9 September 2022: "Gender Bias in Mathematics – Research and Practice" by Dr. Tanja Hentschel (University of Amsterdam)
  • Knowledge Transfer & Science Communication

    • 20.3.2025: Mathematics meets Business
    • 22 September 2023: Talk "Talking about Talking Maths in Public" by Simone Ramello
    • 14 September 2023: Mathematics Meets Business in collaboration with the IHK Nordwestfalen
    • 20 April 2022: Talk "From science to start up" by Dr. Anne Vortkamp (REACH - Euregio Start-up Center)

Do you have ideas, suggestions, and wishes for talks or workshops with a non-mathematical focus? Great! Get in touch with Imke Franzmeier or email mm.careers@uni-muenster.de