Start of our new series “Hearing Minds”: first episode featuring cluster spokesperson Christiane Thiel
Today, we’re starting a new series of scientists’ portraits: “Hearing Minds”. Its aim is to make cluster members from all status groups better known to each other as well as to the general public and the scientific community. Each episode of the series will consist of five questions and answers. Our Spokesperson Prof. Dr Christiane Thiel, professor of Biological Psychology at the Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg makes the start. She explains what Hearing4all.connects means to her, what she likes about her work and what she hopes for the future of hearing.
Hearing4all.connects means to me… a great opportunity to look beyond the boundaries of my own discipline, collaborate across fields and career stages, connect experimental and applied research, and continue the outstanding work that has established Oldenburg and Hannover as internationally visible centres for hearing research.
What I like about my work… is that it is never boring. There is always something new to discover, exciting new methods that open up entirely new possibilities, and many wonderful colleagues to collaborate with. I particularly value the freedom provided by the German research funding system to follow scientific curiosity. And I also enjoy teaching and working with the next generation of researchers.
A special moment at the Cluster of Excellence for me was… May 22, 2025, when the funding decision was announced. Celebrating the continuation of Hearing4all together with my colleagues and seeing the University’s other two Clusters also being successful was really great.
I would like to swap places for a week with… one of our Master’s students to attend all the interesting lectures, seminars, and practical sessions offered by my colleagues.
My hope for the future of hearing is… that everyone with hearing loss can participate fully in society – whether this is achieved through gene therapy, next-generation hearing technologies, or a society that actively supports communication and inclusion.
