Electrical Engineering and Information Technology

RWTH Aachen University has awarded this year’s teaching prizes, recognizing outstanding commitment and innovative approaches in university teaching.

Special Teaching Award for the Phyphox app

This year’s RWTH Special Teaching Award goes to the Phyphox app, which allows physical experiments to be carried out directly with a smartphone. The application transforms mobile devices into versatile measuring instruments and makes it possible, among other things, to measure the speed of an elevator or the acceleration of a roller coaster.

Phyphox was developed by a team led by experimental physicists Professor Christoph Stampfer, Dr. Sebastian Staacks, Professor Heidrun Heinke, and Dr. Dominik Dorsel. The app is used in schools and universities as well as in everyday life and relies on the sensors built into smartphones. The collected measurement data can be processed directly and displayed graphically.

Professor Joost-Pieter Katoen (right), Vice Rector for Teaching, presented the certificate to the Phyphox development team, Professor Heidrun Heinke, Dr. Dominik Dorsel, Professor Christoph Stampfer, and Dr. Sebastian Staacks (from left).

The application is available free of charge and without advertising for Android and iOS and has been continuously developed since 2016. Phyphox now has several million installations and supports more than 20,000 smartphone models. A particular focus is on long-term compatibility with older devices. Thanks to volunteer translators, the app is also available in 19 languages.

The Rectorate justified the award of the Special Teaching Prize with the high national reach and the great appeal that Phyphox has for RWTH. The app is considered a sustainable model of success for innovative teaching. With this award, the Rectorate wishes to emphasize the importance of the project for the entire university and support its further development.

Teaching award for Dr. Stefan Lankes

In the teaching category, Dr. Stefan Lankes from the Chair of Automation of Complex Power Systems receives the teaching award. He was nominated by the student council for electrical engineering and information technology, which particularly highlights his ability to convey complex content in a comprehensible, structured, and practical manner.

The student council emphasizes the clear relevance of his courses to professional skills and their consistent focus on learning objectives. Particular mention is also made of his targeted use of digital tools to support students’ independent study. Through interactive tasks, automated tests, and regular feedback, Dr. Lankes promotes independent learning and motivation.

His cooperative style in lectures and exercises creates an appreciative learning atmosphere and enables an exchange on an equal footing. In projects, theses, and interdisciplinary seminars, Dr. Lankes also attaches great importance to practical relevance and the connection to current research. He consciously takes time for student feedback and is open and willing to engage in conversation.

Beyond his own teaching, Dr. Lankes is involved in student initiatives and international cooperation projects, including summer schools and research projects with partner universities. He was involved in the planning of the Computer Engineering program for the 2021/2022 winter semester from the very beginning and advocated for future-oriented development and student-friendliness of the program in the advisory board