History and university development

The rich ore deposits of the Harz Mountains were the breeding ground for the economic importance of the region as a center of raw material extraction and formed the roots for the "Clausthal Mining School" founded in 1775, from which the internationally recognized Mining Academy emerged in 1864.

Since its foundation, the university has been accompanied by milestones in technical progress: Sophisticated systems for using water power to operate mining and processing machinery, the "art of driving" for passenger transportation, the field rod as a propulsion system over long distances, the wire rope and precise mine surveying instruments are all Clausthal inventions. Famous scientists such as Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, Arnold Sommerfeld and Goethe's friend Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich von Trebra are linked to Clausthal's history.

After teaching and research in Clausthal had long concentrated on mining and metallurgy as well as the geosciences, the range of courses on offer was significantly expanded in the 1960s. Full degree courses in chemistry and physics, mathematics and materials science, mechanical engineering and process engineering initiated the change that led to the renaming of Clausthal University of Technology in 1968.

This bridging of tradition and innovation was followed by further new, pioneering courses of study: in the last twenty years, for example, computer science, chemical engineering, environmental engineering, energy systems technology, physics/physical technologies, plastics technology, business management courses such as industrial engineering, business mathematics and business informatics have been introduced. As a result of this reorientation, the number of students increased significantly.

The new orientation in teaching also led to the start of expanded research activities: in 1986, the interdisciplinary "Environmental Technology Research Network" was established in Clausthal, from which the business-oriented research institute of the state of Lower Saxony CUTEC emerged. The Arnold Sommerfeld Institute combines physics and mathematics to research complex physical systems. At the Polymer Center, chemists, physicists and engineers work on the production and use of new materials. The Simulation Science Center is an interdisciplinary institution for research into information technology in science, business and society. And the Energy Research Center of Lower Saxony (EFZN) in Goslar has emerged from Clausthal University of Technology.

Clausthal is involved in a number of special research areas in the development of new materials and forms of energy, in the improvement of process engineering processes through new machines, in oil and gas research and in research into textures. Also well known are the involvement in space projects and, particularly in Lower Saxony, the numerous technology awards won by scientists or spin-off companies from Clausthal University of Technology.

Despite all the innovative developments, Clausthal University of Technology's core area of teaching and research is rooted in its roots: The university's specialist focus is on the extraction, refinement, storage, distribution, use and reuse of the earth's resources - be they materials, energy or information. The natural science-oriented work in chemistry, physics and geosciences is geared towards this, as are the engineering sciences with mechanical engineering, process engineering, mining/geotechnics and materials science, as well as mathematics, computer science and economics. The manageable size of the university and the short distances facilitate interfaculty cooperation and are not least responsible for its good reputation worldwide.

Around 90 professors and a good 400 academic staff as well as 500 technical and administrative staff in around 45 institutions are responsible for teaching and research. Up to a third of the total budget is raised through research activities, which means that the academic mid-level faculty is particularly strong. Honorary professors and lecturers from industry reinforce teaching with practical courses. The university currently has a total of over 1100 employees, including 100 trainees.

"History of Clausthal University of Technology: 230 years of development - mostly for the better, occasionally also in bad periods" (Georg Müller, 2005) (PDF)