Der Diversity Award 2025

• Studies/profession:

Studied chemistry with a minor in environmental hygiene at Heidelberg University, doctorate at the University of Queensland in Australia, professor of bioinorganic chemistry since 2023 (previously seven years at LMU Munich).

• What are you being honoured for as an award winner?

"(...) Lena Daumann leads an international team (India, Netherlands, Romania, Germany, Austria, Ukraine, etc.) in the spirit of inclusion and diversity and is a conscious advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. Her leadership style is one of equality, she creates a pleasant working atmosphere in which everyone feels welcome and supports students and her colleagues in their personal development (e.g. various further training opportunities; support for internships abroad and in industry). Her team often stands out in the chemistry landscape for its high proportion of women (over 50% at any given time). This can be attributed to her strong commitment to gender equality, as she is an unparalleled advocate for pursuing a doctorate in chemistry while raising children, something that is still very unusual in chemistry, and she actively supports this.

She achieves this by enabling flexible working hours, fewer hours (part-time doctoral studies) and support in the laboratory by employing student research assistants, raising funds for childcare at conferences, for example, and providing children's toys in the working group's social room. ..."

• How long have you been involved in diversity at HHU?

I've only been at HHU since 2023, so I can say, forever! But even before that, at LMU, I was always actively involved in this area.

• What motivated you to get involved?

I don't think about it much, I just do it. Some initiatives, such as tutor training or a mental health campaign I started at LMU, simply arose from a need I saw. And I really see it as my duty to get involved here. As a tenured professor, there is hardly a more privileged position at the university, so there should be no excuses for not getting involved. 

• In your opinion, what can HHU do to continue, expand or support the results of the respective initiatives?

I think HHU is on the right track and offers lots of support and opportunities. I believe flexible resources for trying things out and implementing them are always helpful. But you also need enough people who are committed to the cause.

• What would you like to see from HHU in terms of diversity in the future?

Personally, I would like to see everyone who supervises or assesses students, for example, receive mandatory training on inclusion and diversity issues. There are great opportunities at HHU, but they are mostly used by people who are already consciously committed to diversity.

• Why should others get involved?

A diverse and inclusive campus community, supported by empathy, is not only fairer, but also more innovative and ultimately more humane.

• What has been the response from colleagues and students?

I am really happy that I have a team that is 100% behind the initiatives that are important to me (us) (e.g. training several first responders for mental health in the group) and that also lives the HHU motto ‘Excellence through diversity’ in everyday university life.

• Is there already a new project that you would like to tackle in the future and that you could already tell us about?

Yes! I hope that my planned laboratory renovations will begin and be completed soon. Then I plan to set up a pregnancy-friendly laboratory in my infrastructure. Unfortunately, this is still the biggest obstacle in chemistry: pregnancy often equates to a professional ban and can lead to an unwanted forced break in studies, doctoral studies or postdoctoral qualifications. This can result in talented young female scientists deciding against a career in research (or against having children). I am determined to change this and create the right conditions here.

• Education/profession:

Master gardener, employed at the HHU Botanical Garden since 1 June 2012, head of training since 1 May 2016.

• What are you being honoured for as an award winner?

"(...) Overcoming diverse and sometimes unpredictable bureaucratic hurdles, she ensures equal opportunities for young and older people, people with a migrant background or with disabilities.

With a high level of personal commitment, she opens up the possibility of obtaining a qualified vocational qualification. Even in very problematic situations, she usually finds a satisfactory, conciliatory solution."

• How long have you been involved in diversity at HHU?

Since I started working at HHU in 2012, initially as a gardener in the geography department's garden => biodiversity.

Since around 2016, I have been increasingly involved in training and the annual selection of new trainees.

• What motivated you to get involved?

I enjoy diversity in all areas of life. We can learn from nature: pure natural populations are rare because they are susceptible to disturbances (weather, pests, diseases, etc.), while mixed populations are the norm because they are more resilient and can adapt better to new situations as ecosystems.

• In your opinion, what can HHU do to continue, expand or support the results of the respective commitments?

When it comes to selecting trainees, I am particularly dependent on the cooperation and support of HHU's Human Resources Department – and that is already working very well! I hope that we can continue this in the future.

• Why should others get involved?

Different people see the world from different perspectives and with different priorities. So if you surround yourself with lots of different people and listen to them, you can broaden your own view and, as a result, assess situations more flexibly, reduce fears, find new solutions to old problems and sometimes perhaps watch as problems disappear into thin air when you look at them from a different angle.

• What has been the response from colleagues and students?

Entirely positive. Colleagues are involved in the decision-making processes.

• Is there already a new project that you would like to tackle in the future and that you could tell us about?

Since we welcome several new trainees every year, it is essentially an ‘ongoing project’.

• Studies/profession:

Bachelor's degree in linguistics and computer science, chair of the AStA executive committee.

• What are you being honoured for as an award winner?

"(...) Elif Benli has been volunteering at HHU for more than five years; first in the Linguistics Student Council, then in the AStA's Student Council Department and in various committees, and most recently as a member of the Student Parliament and AStA Chair.

Her commitment to diversity, accessibility and equality has always been her guiding principle and priority. She is always available to talk to people affected by (multiple) discrimination and stands up for them. She raises awareness of these issues in the committees and is heavily involved in organising events such as the ‘Campus for All’ series. (...)"

• How long have you been involved in diversity at HHU?

I have been working to promote greater inclusion since early 2017 through my work in various student councils, working groups, commissions and committees.

• What motivated you to get involved?

My motivation stems from the fact that I have observed in many cases how marginalised people in the university environment still do not have the same opportunities and fair participation opportunities today. Especially in a place of teaching and research, it is important to enable open-minded and fair cooperation. As a multiply marginalised person, I bring a perspective and proximity to various topics that others may not have.

•  In your opinion, what can HHU do to continue, expand or support the results of the respective commitments?

Accessibility on campus needs to be fundamentally rethought and implemented. In addition, more needs to be done for students and staff who are affected by structural discrimination and disadvantage, whether they are people of colour, students and staff with chronic illnesses and disabilities, students who are first-generation academics, etc. The term diversity must be viewed and understood in an intersectional way.

• What would you like to see from HHU in terms of diversity in the future?

I know that the goodwill is there and that the university is committed to making everyone feel comfortable here. However, despite all the bureaucratic hurdles, direct action and plans must follow.

• Why should others get involved?

Living diversity helps everyone at the university and enriches our community. When everyone can participate, the university grows beyond its current potential. Every person brings a different perspective and different experiences; you can learn so much from your fellow human beings if you are willing to give them space and listen to them.

• What has been the response from colleagues and students?

So far, it has been overwhelmingly positive. However, there is sometimes opposition and frustration. Change can be seen as something frightening or dangerous; it is uncomfortable to have to work on yourself and confront your own prejudices and/or privileges. You don't make yourself popular when you offend people and try to offer constructive criticism.

But the positive aspects make up for that. When people are happy to be heard, feel more comfortable and can participate more at university, you feel happy too!

• Is there already a new project that you would like to tackle in the future and that you could already tell us about?

I would like to offer an open education day so that people can find out about the opportunities available to them to pursue second or third-level education.

I also aim to raise awareness of the structural discrimination that students have to contend with.