WHU Gives Insights into Its Research at Night of Science

The Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf has two primary goals when it puts on its Night of Science: to strengthen the dialogue between the scientific community and the general public; and to make science and research tangible for everyone. It is therefore no wonder that, for the fifth time since the event’s inception, WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management was in attendance to give guests a glimpse into its latest research at its booth and during a scheduled presentation.

Professor Dominik Schreyer, Director of the WHU Center for Sports and Management (CSM), was one of the school’s representatives this year. During his presentation (“Does Soccer Still Need a Stadium Audience?”), the sports industry expert focused on exactly how crucial such a large audience is and what affect it has on the economic success of today’s football clubs and leagues. Professor Schreyer also theorized on the role the audience will play in the future in times characterized by the use of artificial intelligence and the existence of virtual worlds. Based on empirical data, he made clear that the importance of the stadium audience is on the decline and its role often exaggerated. But even though the sport may change over time with new technology or due to economic influences, according to Professor Schreyer, the loud roars from the crowd are timeless and “exactly what gives sports their soul.”

Professor Nadine Kammerlander, who heads both the school’s Chair of Family Business and its Institute of Family Businesses and Mittlestand, ran a booth inside the event’s “Action Tent” at the Schadowplatz, where she and her team focused on “Impact Investing – What Makes the Next Generation Tick?” And eventgoers showed great interest in the topic, with many crowding around the booth throughout the night. Impact investments, beyond any potential financial gains, are designed to have a positive, measurable social and ecological effect. And according to the team, they have only increased in importance, particularly at family-run businesses. It is often the next generation of entrepreneurs who tend to adopt impact investing approaches. But what obstacles and concerns do these entrepreneurs face? And what is necessary for drafting a sustainable investment strategy? The team answered these questions and more.

By the end of this year’s Nacht der Wissenschaft, around 55 scientific contributions were presented, with the event having given roughly 14,000 participants insights into the diverse research taking place in the area.