Dear colleagues, dear students, dear friends of Clausthal University of Technology!

Let's look back a quarter of a millennium to 1775, the year in which James Watt fought for the breakthrough of the steam engine. André-Marie Ampère, who gave his name to the electric current, was born in France. And the Upper Harz, with its silver and lead mining, is one of the largest industrial regions in Central Europe. In this year, 1775, the "Clausthal Mining School" is founded. It is the birth of today's Clausthal University of Technology.

Initially, miners and civil servants were trained for the mining industry in the Oberharz. Engineers, natural scientists and, much later, economists were added. The mining school has had its own building with its own budget since 1810. In 1864, it became an internationally renowned mining academy and was upgraded to Clausthal University of Technology in 1968.

Many exciting developments and stories are entwined around 250 years of Clausthal's university history: for example, the development of the wire rope in 1834. The researchers have always been involved in high technology and have always been innovative. This is how the motto for the anniversary came about: Traditionally innovative. This period from then to the present can be traced in the "Clausthal University History from 1775 to the Present".

250 years is truly a good reason to celebrate. We want to do this from September 2024 until well into 2025. Many scientific, cultural and sporting events will take place during this period under the label "250 years of Clausthal University of Technology". The highlights will be a week of celebrations in June 2025 (June 15 to 22) and a central ceremony (June 21). We have put together a varied program that offers everyone the chance to celebrate with us and look back on the university's history.

But looking back is only one thing; it is even more important to keep an eye on the future. More precisely: How do we develop our university further? What are our research priorities and what new teaching formats does digitalization have in store for us? With our overall university theme of Circular Economy, we are in an innovative and forward-looking position here. But we must not rest on our laurels. We want to make this topic even more concrete against the backdrop of our long history and our special expertise. TU Clausthal is the University of Mining and Technology of the future, which - in the spirit of the circular economy and mindful of digitalization - is particularly concerned with issues relating to raw materials, materials and materials.

The anniversary and the origins of the TUC will inspire us to look ahead. We have also initiated two special campaigns for the anniversary year to make many people near and far aware of us. Firstly, the Ministry of Finance in Berlin will issue a special stamp commemorating 250 years of Clausthal University of Technology, which will make us visible throughout Germany. Furthermore, the Harzer Wandernadel will place a stamp box in front of the university. Nature and hiking enthusiasts will make their way to us. It's worth it.

Your Sylvia Schattauer
President of TU Clausthal