The “Hamburg Sie” is a form of addressing someone using their first name and the formal German “you” (“Sie”). This practice can aid in balancing the power inequality between teaching staff and students and therefore create a more welcoming environment. Addressing people with their first names and “Sie” can also allow for communication without gender classification – by avoiding addressing people with “Frau” or “Herr”, the – in the scientific community unnecessary – reminder of gender classification isn’t always present. Furthermore, unpleasant situations caused by improper pronunciation of someone’s last name can be avoided. This form of address can promote the inclusion of students with a migrant background or international students, since they are not always reminded of their “non-German” last name and the conveyed “difference” between them and other students. When implementing the “Hamburg Sie”, it is important for both sides to use it, so the imbalance of power isn’t emphasized even more.