From 21 to 25 September 2025, Paderborn hosted the 9th International Congress on Ultrasonics (ICU),(https://2025icu.org/ ). Around 350 scientists from all over the world came together at Paderborn University to present and discuss the latest developments in the field of ultrasound technology. The aim of the congress is to bring together experts from science, technology and industry to discuss current issues and future applications of ultrasound technology - from basic research to practical applications in medicine, process engineering and environmental technology.
The team led by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Bernd Henning from the Department of Electrical Measurement Technology organised the congress, at which new methods and approaches relating to the use of ultrasound were presented in over 270 papers and posters.
Particular highlights included five plenary lectures by national and international guests: Prof. Dr Christine Silberhorn (Paderborn University), Dr Alexei Maznev from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT Cambridge, USA), Prof. Dr Bernhard Jakoby (Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria), Dr Claire Prada from the Institut Langevin (Paris, France) and Jürg Dual (ETH Zurich, Switzerland).
As part of the supporting programme, the participants were invited to visit Paderborn Cathedral. After an introduction to the architecture and special features of Paderborn Cathedral by Dr Juliane Ohm, Uli Lettermann (saxophone) and Eddy Kleinschnittger (marimba/percussion) presented an impressive sound experience.
The most important honours for outstanding scientists took place at a festive congress dinner in Neuhaus Castle. The highest honour, the ICU Distinguished Service Award, was presented to Prof. Laszlo Adler (Ohio State University, USA) and Dr. Sigrun Hirsekorn (IZFP Saarbrücken and Secretary General of the ICU). Dr Samuel Raetz (Laboratoire d'Acoustique de l'Université du Mans) and Dr Weibin Li (School of Aerospace Engineering, Xiamen University) were honoured with the ICU Early Career Award this year.
The congress was also supported by students from the Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering departments, who were always on hand to assist the speakers.
The international congress has a tradition of almost 30 years and takes place every two years in different cities around the world, including Singapore, Honolulu and most recently Beijing. Los Angeles is planned as the next venue for 2027. By successfully organising the event, Paderborn University and the city have presented themselves as an internationally networked research location and hospitable host for scientists from all over the world.
All photos: Nadija Carter
