PD Dr Nicola Oswald

• Socio-ecological transformation research
• Sustainability sciences
• Co-creative methods for cooperation between city and university
• Impact measurement of transformation processes
• Aesthetic and quality monitoring procedures

Lectures

• Title: “Between Structure and Experiment” on September 16, 2026, as part of the Reallabore Conference “Back to the Future?—Reallabore in Times of Disruptive Change” on September 16–17, 2026, at TH Köln, Leverkusen Campus, with L. Wallstabe

• ​​​​​​Title: “WueLAB Sustainability Lab—Current Status and Opportunities” (Keynote Presentation) on May 11, 2026, as part of the 4th Faculty-Wide Sustainability Meeting at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Würzburg

• Title: “Transformation Experiments as Catalysts for Sustainability Processes at Universities?”, on June 25, 2026, as part of the digital lecture series Education4Change – EXCHANGE AND INSPIRATION FOR FUTURE-PROOF HIGHER EDUCATION, TU Dresden

• Title: "Participatory Knowledge at Work: Co-Creating Urban Transformation in midsized-cities." (together with Annika Kreikenbohm, city2science), on 13 November 2025 at PartWiss 2025, 4th Conference on Networking and Strengthening Participation in Science, Leipzig

• Title: "Co-Creating Transformative Capacity: The Tandem-Based Urban Lab in Würzburg as a Model for Just Transitions in Mid-Sized Cities"; in Track "Urban Research for Just Cities: Pathways Toward Sustainable Transformations and Transitions " on 10 December 2025, Smart ans Sustainable Planning for Cities and Regions, EURAC Research, Bolzano (Italy)

Monographs

• Hänel, J., Oswald, N., Steuding, J., Volkert, K. Drei mathematische Freunde. Der Briefwechsel von David Hilbert, Adolf Hurwitz und Hermann Minkowski, Springer Buchreihe Mathematik im Kontext (2025), https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-71861-2
• Oswald, N., Steuding, J. Hurwitz's Lectures on the Number Theory of Quaternions, EMS Press series HEM: Heritage of European Mathematics (2023)
• Oswald, N., Steuding, J. Elementary Number Theory: A Gentle Introduction to Higher Mathematics Textbook, Springer (2014)
• Oswald, N. Hurwitz's Complex Continued Fractions. A Historical Approach and Modern Perspectives. (doctoral thesis) (2014) OPUS, Online Publication Service of the University of Würzburg, urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-106040

Publication of books / journals

• Edited with Kaufholz-Soldat, E. Against all Odds. Women's Ways to Mathematical Research Since 1800, in the series Women in the History of Philosophy and Sciences, series ed.: Hagengruber, R. et al., Springer (2020)
• Publication of an interactive digital mathematics youth book with Schmidt, K. Die Primzahl-Redakteure, Sophie Germain und operative Mathematik, developed as part of a course at the Junior Uni Wuppertal in the summer semester 2016, publisher: ABC Mathe Handels e.U. / 4learning2gether.eu (2021)
• Published by: Nelsen, R. B. Proofs without words. (German edition of "Proofs Without Words"), Springer (2016)
• Edited with Blunck, A. and Motzer, R. Mathematics and Gender. Volume 4 in the publication series TRANSFER, Franzbecker Verlag (2016)

Peer-reviewed articles and book contributions (selection)

• In publication: Oswald, N., Rhomberg, L., & Wallstabe, L. Sustainability knowledge at the University of Würzburg: Potentials of transformation experiments in the field of tension between science and practice. In D. Bräunling, L. Koch, J.-P. Schäfer, M. Silva, & U. Zeigermann (Eds.), Umkämpftes Nachhaltigkeitswissen. Würzburg University Press (forthcoming).
• Dömling, M. T., Klotz, R., Leisner, V., Oswald, N. Sustainability among students: Wishes, needs and possible forms of participation. In: Von Wirth, T., Vogel, T., Jansen, P. (eds.): Compass for change. Shaping the world of tomorrow with transformative skills. oekom Verlag (2025)
• Oswald, N. Structured analysis of a socio-mathematical network - The correspondence between Hermann Minkowski, David Hilbert and Adolf Hurwitz. In: Schöneburg-Lehnert, S., Krohn, T., Dasenbrock, L. (eds.): "Vom Mittelalter in die Moderne - Episoden aus der Mathematikgeschichte" der Jahrestagung 2023 der Sektion Mathematikgeschichte der Deutschen Mathematiker Vereinigung, book series "Schriften zur Geschichte der Mathematik und ihrer Didactik", WTM-Verlag (2024)
• Oswald, N. Simplifying a proof of transcendence for e - A letter exchange between Adolf Hurwitz, David Hilbert and Paul Gordan. In: The Richness of the History and Philosophy of Mathematics (eds. Chemla, K. Scholz. E. et al.), Archimedes series, Springer (2024) 227-254
• Oswald, N., Steuding, J., Volkert, K. Zum Einhundertsten Geburtstag des Lokal-Global-Prinzips in der Zahlentheorie, Jahresber. Dtsch. Math. Ver. (2022) 124: 239-257, doi.org/10.1365/s13291-022-00262-8
• Oswald, N. Mathematic-historical example for university teaching of mathematics - how can methodical knowledge be taught as well as the culture of mathematics be made accessible? In: Proceedings of the Twelfth Congress of the European Society for Research n Mathematics Education (CERME), eds. Hodgen, J. et al. (2022) 2097-2103
• Oswald, N. "Found in bed ..." - A simple proof of Euler's four-square identity. Mathematical Semester Reports (2020) 67: 21-26
• Oswald, N., Steuding, J. A hidden Latin Square in Euler's Work from 1770. Mathematical Intelligencer (2020) 42: 23-29, doi.org/10.1007/s00283-019-09959-8
• Oswald, N., Steuding, J., Tongsomporn, J. Waring's Problem for Hurwitz Quaternion Integers. Journal of Integer Sequences 22 (2019), Article 19.8.1
• Oswald, N., Volkert, K. A Glimpse of Sources for Historical Studies at the ETH Archive in Zurich. EMS Newsletter September (2018): 28-33
• Heindl, A., Oswald, N. The clay tablet YBC 7289 - Mathematical help for archaeologists. (Theme issue: Irrational numbers), Mathematik Lehren 208 (2018): 12-15
• Oswald, N., Steuding, J. A Uniqueness Theorem for Entire Functions Having a Dirichlet Series Representation. Annales Univ. Sci. Budapest, Sect. Comp. 47 (2018): 117-128
• Oswald, N. On iconic proofs in mathematics - sums of squares in number theory. mathematica didactica (2017) 40(1)
• Oswald, N. An Unpublished Paper 'On some functions of a complex argument defined by infinite series' by Adolf Hurwitz. Historia Mathematica (2017) Volume 44: 252-279, dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.hm.2017.03.003
• Oswald, N. The unknown Hurwitz. Mathematical Intelligencer (2017) 39(1): 44 - 49, doi: 10.1007/s00283-016-9687-5
• Oswald, N. On a relation between modular functions and Dirichlet series. Arch. Hist. Exact Sci. (2017) 71(4): 345 - 361, doi: 10.1007/s00407-017-0190-y
• Oswald, N., Steuding, J. Aspects of Zeta Function Theory in the Mathematical Works of Adolf Hurwitz, in: Sander, J. et al, From Arithmetic to Zeta Functions - Number Theory in Memory of Wolfgang Schwarz, Springer Basel (2017): 309-351
• Oswald, N. The Doeblin-Lenstra conjecture for a complex continued fraction algorithm. Tokyo Journal of Mathematics (2017) 40(1): 45-52
• Oswald, N. Historical Face of Number Theory(ists) In: Kristensen, S. et al. Diophantine Analysis. Notes from a Summer School. (ed. Steuding, J.), Birkhäuser (2017): 175-229
• Oswald, N. Operational irrationality proofs? Mathematics Information (2016) Issue No. 65
• Hauck, S., Oswald, N. Says the fly to the spider.... - On the historical-genetic principle in school lessons. Mathematics in the classroom (2016) 7: 65-76
• Oswald, N., Steuding, J. Zeta-Functions Associated with Quadratic Forms in Adolf Hurwitz's Estate. Bulletin of the American Mathematical Society, (2016) 53(3): 477-481, dx.doi.org/10.1090/bull/1534
• Helmstetter H., Oswald, N. Hurwitz's counting isomers of alkanes. Elements of Mathematics (2016) 71(2): 57-68, doi: 10.4171/EM/300
• Oswald, N. Adolf Hurwitz folds paper. Mathematische Semesterberichte (2015) 62(2): 123-130, doi: 10.1007/s00591-014-0139-z
• Oswald, N. Diophantine approximation of complex numbers. Siauliai Mathematical Seminar (2015) 10(18): 91-102
• Oswald, N., Steuding, J. Complex Continued Fractions - Early Work of the Brothers Adolf and Julius Hurwitz. Arch. Hist. Exact Sci. (2014) 68: 499-528
• Oswald, N. David Hilbert, a pupil of Adolf Hurwitz? Siegener Beiträge zur Geschichte und Philosophie der Mathematik (2014) 4: 11-30
• Höngesberg, H., Oswald, N., Steuding, J. Complex Continued Fractions with Constraints on Their Partial Quotients. In: Voronoi's impact on modern science, Book 5, Volume 1: 1-15, edited by Pratsiovytyi, M., compiled by Syta, H., published 2015, Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on Analytic Number Theory and Spatial Tessellations (2013)
• Oswald, N., Steuding, J. Sums of Continued Fractions to the Nearest Integer. Annales Univ. Sci. Budapest, Sect. Comp. (2013) 39: 321-332

Further articles (selection)

• Klotz, R., Leisner, V., Oswald, N. Brief summary of the results of the student survey on the research project "Lived networking - The sustainability laboratory WueLAB as a catalyst for transformation processes?", (https://www.uni-wuerzburg.de/fileadmin/43160000/PDF/Forschungsprojekte/20250417_Veroeffentlichung_Studierendenumfrage.pdf), Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (2025)
• Hänel, J., Oswald, N., Steuding, J., Volkert, K. Felix Klein from the perspective of three mathematical friends. Annual Report of the German Mathematical Society (2024) https://doi.org/10.1365/s13291-024-00284-4
• Oswald, N. How can perspectives and a network of participating stakeholders from all status groups at the university be captured? Laboratory Vivens / Reallabor-Report, Bernert, P. et al. (eds.), Proceedings of the Reallabore Conference Dresden (2024): 16
• Fetzer, A., Gildehaus, L., Oswald, N. Mathematics and Gender & Diversity as part of university courses - Overview of existing programmes and networking. GDM-Mitteilungen 116 (2024): 30-37
• Kelz, J., Gildehaus, L., Oswald, N. Introduction to the mini-symposium on gender-specific participation in mathematics. Contributions to mathematics education, GDM Annual Conference Frankfurt 2022, 431-432
• Oswald, N. Practical report on the seminar "Mathematics and Gender". Contributions to mathematics education, GDM Annual Conference Frankfurt 2022, 441-444
• Göller, R., Haak, I., Oswald, N., Steuding, J. Self-organised learning and gender. Introduction to the Minisymposium MS 14: University Didactics - Self-Organised Learning and Gender. Contributions to Mathematics Education 2020: 1399-1400, edited by: Hans-Stefan Siller, Wolfgang Weigel & Jan Franz Wörler, GDM Annual Conference Würzburg, Münster: WTM
• Oswald, N., Benölken, R. LuPen - a project for students in the Master of Education. Contributions to Mathematics Education 2020: 1417-1421, edited by: Hans-Stefan Siller, Wolfgang Weigel & Jan Franz Wörler, GDM Annual Conference Würzburg, Münster: WTM
• Steuding, J., Oswald, N. Awareness for gender in university didactics. Contributions to Mathematics Education 2020: 1421-1425, edited by: Hans-Stefan Siller, Wolfgang Weigel & Jan Franz Wörler, GDM Annual Conference Würzburg, Münster: WTM
• Oswald, N., Steuding, J. Maximal Quaternion Orders in Quadratic Extensions - in Hurwitz's Diaries. Oberwolfach preprints (2020) 16
• Khellaf, S., Oswald, N., Peters, J. Goals and possibilities of using knowledge maps in mathematical-historical courses. (2018), open access: arxiv.org/abs/1912.08088
• Khellaf, S., Oswald, N., Peters, J. Independent linking of knowledge? A case study on knowledge maps in university didactics. Beiträge zum Mathematikunterricht (2018): 947-950, published by: Fachgruppe Didaktik der Mathematik der Universität Paderborn, GDM Jahrestagung Paderborn, Münster: WTM
• Oswald, N. A picture puzzle from Hurwitz' estate. DMV Mitteilungen No. 25-4 (2017): 234 - 235
• Oswald, N. Women - Mathematics - Culture? Oberwolfach Report (2017) No. 2: 89-91, doi: 10.4171/OWR/2017/2
• Oswald, N. Historical paper folding - a case study. Contributions to Mathematics Education (2017): 741-744, edited by: Ulrich Kortenkamp & Ana Kuzle, GDM Annual Conference Potsdam, Münster: WTM, dx.doi.org/10.17877/DE290R-18605
• Oswald, N. Evidence without words with adolescent refugees. GDM Communication (2017), Issue 102: 5-11
• Oswald, N. Hilbert's basis theorem in the mathematical diaries of Adolf Hurwitz. in: Nuncius Hamburgensis, Proceedings of the Christoph J. Scriba Memorial Meeting - History of Mathematics. (ed. Wolfschmidt, G.) (2017) vol. 36: 340-353
• Oswald, N. The "cooling out" effect in socio-mathematical networks. Gender Equality Journal MagazIn, University of Wuppertal WS 2016/17: 31-32
• Benstein, N., Oswald, N. Combining concept maps and network maps to visualise History of Mathematics - Case study on Walther Lietzmann. online proceedings ICME Hamburg (2016)
• Oswald, N. Geometry of numbers. A historical overview. (2016), open access: arxiv.org/abs/1605.04146
• Benstein, N., Oswald, N. Network maps as a visualisation tool. Contributions to mathematics education (2016): 1513-1514, published by: Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science at Heidelberg University of Education, GDM Annual Conference Heidelberg, Münster: WTM
• Oswald, N. Curious and entertaining facts from the mathematical diaries of Adolf Hurwitz. Proceedings, XII Austrian Symposium on the History of Mathematics (2014): 74-87

Academic curriculum vitae

• August 2025, habilitation in mathematics, University of Würzburg
• March 2025, habilitation in mathematics, University of Wuppertal
• since August 2023, Managing Director of the WueLAB Sustainability Lab at the University of Würzburg
• since July 2023, Academic Counsellor at the WueLAB Sustainability Lab at the University of Würzburg
• Summer semester 2023 - winter semester 2024/25 Research assistant (Mathematics and Diversity), University of Würzburg, Chair of Mathematics in the Natural Sciences
• WS 2022/23 Visiting Professor "Gender and University Didactics in Mathematics", Bielefeld University, Faculty of Mathematics
• July 2021 - October 2022 Research Assistant (Mathematics and Society), University of Würzburg, Number Theory Group
• Since winter semester 2019/20 Assistant lecturer in higher education, University of Wuppertal, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, History and Didactics of History of Mathematics working group (currently on leave)
• WS 2017/18 - SoSe 2018 Visiting Professor (W3), focus: Gender and Diversity in Mathematics, University of Hannover, Department of Mathematics Education
• Summer semester 2017 Substitute professorship (W3), replacing Professor Dr Klaus Volkert, History and Didactics of History of Mathematics working group, University of Wuppertal, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
• August - October 2016 Academic guest at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zurich
• May 2015 - September 2019 Post-doctoral position with Prof. Dr Klaus Volkert in the History and Didactics of History of Mathematics group, University of Wuppertal, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
• November 2014 PhD in Number Theory with Prof. Dr Jörn Steuding, University of Würzburg, Institute of Mathematics, Chair of Function Theory

Research interests

• Socio-ecological transformation research
• Sustainability sciences
• Co-creative methods for cooperation between city and university
• Impact measurement of transformation processes

Current

• Summer semester 2026: Digital study programme "Interdisciplinary Sustainability Sciences"
• Winter semester 2025/26: Lecture series "Sustainability and Global Responsibility", Thu 12-14, fortnightly

Past

• WS 2025/26 Lecture series "Sustainability and Global Responsibility" with a focus on "Participation and Transformation"
• Summer semester 2025 Interdisciplinary seminar "Shaping sustainability"
• WS 2024/25 Lecture series "Sustainability and Global Responsibility" with a focus on "Biodiversity and Democracy"
• Summer semester 2024 Lecture together with empirical cultural studies "Shaping a sustainable campus"
• WS 2023/24 Lecture series "Sustainability and Global Responsibility" with a focus on "Interdisciplinary Sustainability Research at the University of Würzburg"
• Summer semester 2023 Exercise organisation "Introduction to number theory", 2 hours, Tue 10-12,14-16 S0.106, "Introduction to Number Theory", Wed 10-12 HS 4 ; Thu 10-12 HS 2 (together with Jörn Steuding)
• WS 2022/23 Seminar "Aspects of gender-sensitive teaching and mathematics" (Bielefeld University)
• SoSe 2022 Seminar Mathematics and Gender (University of Würzburg)
• WS 2021/21 "Selected Chapters of Analysis" (University of Würzburg, Co.-Org.)