Lecture: “Power Abuse and Mental Health in Academia” by Lisa Niendorf

Montag 21.09.2026, 11:00 → 12:30 Europe/Berlin

Lecture: “Power Abuse and Mental Health in Academia” by Lisa Niendorf

Date: 21.09.2026

Time: 11 am – 12:30 pm

Speaker: Lisa Niendorf (Lecturer, Educational Scientist & Content Creator of “FrauForschung”)

Languages: German with simultaneous translation into Englisch

Login: https://geomar-de.zoom-x.de/j/66384210089?pwd=elERcwIeH9wnCEnJaE0fBF0Lj2kciz.1
Meeting-ID: 663 8421 0089
Kenncode: 873342

 

At this event, we will take a closer look at:

Abuse of Power

Abuse of power in academia is often treated as an individual issue, even though it is structurallyembedded. Starting with the question of when power is legitimate, the talk examines abuse of power asa structural problem and explores how dependencies, institutional rules, and a culture of silence canenable and perpetuate abuse of power in academic institutions.

Mental Health

Mental health affects all of us – whether we are students, teachers, researchers, or administrative staff. And yet, it is still far too rarely discussed openly.In this talk, Lisa Niendorf aims to encourage greater openness, understanding, and dialogue. Taking an honest look at mental health challenges in everyday university life, she invites all members of the university community to break the silence surrounding mental health.Why do we often find it difficult to talk about our well-being? What structural factors play a role – and what can we do together to create a healthier, more open university culture? An invitation to foster greater awareness, understanding, and change – at both the individual and institutional level. 

 

Lisa Niendorf is an education researcher, lecturer at Humboldt University in Berlin, and science communicator. Under the name “FrauForschung,” she addresses topics such as abuse of power, mental health, precarious working conditions, and discrimination in the academic system through social media and public lectures. She is also committed to fostering a more queer-friendly and respectful university culture.

She became known in particular for her public advocacy on structural problems at universities and for her book “UNIversal gescheitert?”, in which she addresses performance pressure, exploitation, and mental health issues in academia.