Mathematics is a key technology for scientific and economic progress. New discoveries in mathematics are not only interesting in themselves, but they often lead to unexpected breakthroughs in other sciences as well.

We tackle fundamentally important mathematical problems, viewing mathematics as an organic whole with countless interactions. The research in our Cluster of Excellence "Mathematics Münster" is unified by three major approaches: focusing on the underlying structure of a given problem, taking the geometric viewpoint and studying the relevant dynamics of group or semigroup actions. The theories which we will build will not only solve the problems under consideration but also many others of a similar nature; these theories will also raise exciting new questions.

The overall objective of our research programme can be summarised as follows: Develop geometry as a subject and as a powerful tool in theoretical mathematics focusing on the dichotomy of deformations versus rigidity. Use this unifying perspective to transfer deep methods and insights between different mathematical subjects to obtain scientific breakthroughs, for example concerning the Langlands programme, positive curvature manifolds, K-theory, group theory, and C*-algebras.

The Collaborative Research Centre 1450 “inSight – Multiscale imaging of organ-specific inflammation” investigates interdisciplinarily how the body regulates inflammation in different organs and develops, to this end, a specific multiscale imaging methodology that brings together information from single cells to entire organisms.

The Center for Nonlinear Science (CeNoS) is a central scientific institution of the University of Münster and consists of the working groups involved, which currently belong to five different departments. Any working group or scientist of the University of Münster who is interested in the subject may become a member. The CeNoS sees itself as a hub for basic research and teaching on issues relating to nonlinear systems and for the application of the results in various areas. In addition, the CeNoS serves as a forum for interdisciplinary dialogue between scientists from various scientific disciplines.

The Cells in Motion (CiM) Interfaculty Centre brings together and supports researchers from medicine, biology, chemistry, pharmacy, mathematics, computer science and physics who join forces to work on a big topic: They investigate how cells behave in organisms. To this end, they employ and develop innovative imaging methods. Our interfaculty network is the centrepiece of the University of Münster’s research focus in “cell dynamics, inflammation and imaging”.

The International Centre for the Study of Giftedness (ICBF) was founded in 1998 when the Universities of Münster, Nijmegen and Osnabrück agreed to participate in the Network of Euregional Universities (NEU). The Universities of Münster and Nijmegen also cooperate in the International Research Universities Network (IRUN). IRUN’s aim is to combine and complement the experience and expertise of these universities in the fields of Talent Research, Gifted Education as well as Teacher Training & Further Education in the field of individual development.

The Multiscale Imaging Centre, MIC for short, is the central research building of the Cells in Motion Interfaculty Centre at the University of Münster and is located on Röntgenstraße 16, right in the middle of our university’s life and natural sciences campus. Working groups from various faculties are based here, bringing together a core of our wide range of expertise in biomedical imaging, as well as the corresponding technologies which we use to investigate the behaviour of cells in organisms. Our research building also provides a central meeting point for scientists from Münster as well as international guests involved in the research field of cell dynamics and imaging.