Prof. Dr. Bertolt Meyer Named "University Faculty Member of the Year"

Professor of Work, Organizational, and Economic Psychology at Chemnitz University of Technology receives award for his exceptional and wide-ranging commitment to diversity beyond the academic environment

The German Association of University Professors and Lecturers (DHV) awards the German "University Faculty Member of the Year" prize, endowed with 10,000 EUR, to Prof. Dr. Bertolt Meyer, Professor of Work, Organizational, and Economic Psychology and spokesperson for the Collaborative Research Center "Hybrid Societies" at Chemnitz University of Technology. This was announced by the DHV on December 6, 2023. "Bertolt Meyer's research fields and life story are closely intertwined. Scientifically, he deals with the fusion of humans and technology and with diversity. He himself was born without a left forearm and wears a bionic prosthesis, with which he also produces electronic music in his free time," explained Prof. Dr. Lambert T. Koch, President of the DHV.

Meyer's research often focuses on breaking down stereotypes and overcoming barriers. As science communicator, who hosts two science formats created in cooperation with ARTE and Deutschlandfunk, Meyer enables unbiased encounters and brings together people with different attitudes and opposing positions. In the TV science documentary series "Agree to Disagree," the psychologist engages in discourse on controversial societal topics such as automation or genetic engineering with people from various scientific disciplines. In his podcast "People of Science," he introduces a broad audience to scientists who make an impact in or beyond their field. "Bertolt Meyer, who represents diversity, makes science accessible and understandable. He himself is an unconventional type who likes to tread unusual paths outside the university. As a passionate lover of electronic beats, he is a sought-after musician and DJ, performing at parties in trending clubs," Koch continued. "Bertolt Meyer is a role model, pioneer, and ambassador for equal opportunities for people with disabilities. With his exceptional and wide-ranging commitment to more diversity, he enhances the reputation of science in Germany and casts science in a positive light, even outside the academic environment."

"We sincerely congratulate Prof. Meyer on this wonderful award and thank him equally for his outstanding commitment. This is evident not only in his research and teaching, but also in areas such as transfer, diversity, and inclusion – areas of outstanding importance at Chemnitz University of Technology. We would also like to sincerely thank the DHV, which recognizes and makes visible these achievements with the „University Faculty Member of the Year" award says Prof. Dr. Gerd Strohmeier, President of Chemnitz University of Technology.

The award will be presented to Prof. Meyer on March 25, 2024, at the "Gala of German Science" in Berlin.

About: Prof. Dr. Bertolt Meyer

Bertolt Meyer hails from Hamburg. After completing his studies in psychology at the University of Hamburg and Humboldt University Berlin, he received his doctorate in 2008 at Humboldt University Berlin with a scholarship from the German Academic Scholarship Foundation (Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes). Concurrently, Meyer worked on the "Internet Economy" project funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. From October 2007 to March 2014, he was a senior research and teaching assistant in Social and Economic Psychology at the University of Zurich. Since April 2014, he has represented the Professorship of Economic, Organizational, and Social Psychology at Chemnitz University of Technology (TUC), and was appointed to the Professorship of Organizational and Economic Psychology (since 2019: Professorship of Work, Organizational, and Economic Psychology) on July 1, 2014. His research focuses on diversity at the workplace, thw digital transformation of the workplace, and on employee psychological well-being Since 2022, he has been the spokesperson for the Collaborative Research Center "Hybrid Societies" at TUC. In 2018, he was awarded the TUC Transfer Prize in the category "Science Communication" for the diverse and accessible communication of complex scientific results.

Background: " University Faculty Member of the Year " Award of the German Association of University Professors and Lecturers

The title "University Teacher of the Year" is an award given by the German Association of University Professors and Lecturers (DHV) – the national professional representation of scientists and scholars with over 33,500 members. The award has been given annually since 2006 and comes with a prize of 10,000 euros. This award honors faculty members who have promoted the reputation of their profession in the public eye through exceptional commitment and outstanding performance. Nominations can be made for professors who are legally part of a German university, as well as German professors working abroad. The DHV's executive board serves as the jury that selects the winners. The award is given with the support of ZEIT-Verlag Gerd Bucerius GmbH & Co.KG. Previous winners include Prof. Dr. Harald Lesch from Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, who as a science moderator of numerous TV formats is a popular figure and ambassador for science, Prof. Dr. Sandra Ciesek, director of the Institute of Medical Virology at the University Hospital Frankfurt, and Prof. Dr. Christian Drosten, director of the Institute of Virology at the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, who as protagonists of the NDR podcast "Coronavirus Update" let a million-strong audience participate in real-time in the adventure of Corona research, as well as Prof. Dr. Özlem Türeci and Prof. Dr. Uğur Şahin, who have been scientifically connected to the University Medical Center Mainz for two decades as faculty members and have made medical history as a visionary research couple. (Source: www.hochschulverband.de)

For further information, please contact Prof. Dr. Bertolt Meyer, Professorship of Work, Organizational, and Economic Psychology, tel. +49 (0)371 531-32972, email bertolt.meyer@psychologie.tu-chemnitz.de

Mario Steinebach
08.12.2023

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