New IMPULSE magazine: Transdisciplinarity

#Transdisciplinarity

Impulse-Magazin 2024

When researchers integrate representatives from other areas of society into their scientific work, new perspectives emerge and it becomes easier to 'do things differently'. In the new issue of our magazine IMPULSE, we introduce people who take on this challenge out of conviction. Read their stories in the PDF - or request a free printed copy (in German, only).

For the articles in the magazin IMPULSE 2024, we asked journalists to talk to the creative minds that we support. Under the title "Mal anders machen" ("Doing things differently"), the magazine brings together a wide range of projects, topics and people who are challenging the status quo with their research and discovering new solutions by integrating other perspectives.

Would you like to receive the current issue of Impulse (in German) free of charge? Order the print edition of the magazine by emailing Birgit Rosengart-Kamburis with your postal address: rosengart-kamburis(at)volkswagenstiftung.de. Or read the magazine in PDF format:

Selected Articles from the Magazine

Woman stands in a modern industrial hall and observes a machine
In Brief

Solar technology: From Hamelin to the world

Physicist Bianca Lim is responsible for strategic planning at the Institute for Solar Energy Research in Hamelin, keeping research "at the cutting edge". She wants to help bring the production of solar modules back to Germany.

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Portrait eines Mannes
Story

Preventing future pandemics through community empowerment

#Transdisciplinarity

Human societies transform the natural environment around them. If this impact is negative, it can increase infectious disease risk. Epidemiologist Joacim Rocklöv believes changing human behavior is critical to preventing pandemics from happening in the future. 

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Illustration mit drei Figuren, die Kommentare zu einer zentralen Darstellung mit Diagrammen machen
Opinion

Paradoxical participation: three challenges of successful transdisciplinarity

#Transdisciplinarity

Sociologist Andreas Bischof has summarised his view on the challenges of successful transdisciplinarity for our thematic focus ‘Transdisciplinary research’.

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A concrete-like wall can be seen, from which thin, interwoven strips of wood protrude at the top.
Story

Mushrooms instead of concrete: innovative biomaterials enable sustainable construction

#Sustainability #Transdisciplinarity

When we talk about cutting CO2, we usually think of green electricity or transforming transport. However, a less obvious area – the building sector – offers huge potential for savings. A Kassel University researcher wants to combine biomaterials with digital manufacturing technologies and make them available for architecture.

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Ein Mann steht vor einem großen Berg alter Matratzen
Story

Circular economy – New life for old mattresses

#Transdisciplinarity

Every year, hundreds of thousands of latex mattresses end up in the bulky waste in Germany. They are incinerated because there is no recycling process for them. The REFOAM research project aims to change this.

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zwei Frauen vor einer rosafarbenen Wand
Interview

An art in itself - opportunities and risks of transdisciplinary research

#Transdisciplinarity

Is it such a good idea for researchers to collaborate with stakeholders from outside the academic community? A discussion on the risks and opportunities of transdisciplinary research that took place between Berlin-based mobility researcher Sophia Becker and Henrike Hartmann, Deputy Secretary General of the Volkswagen Foundation, moderated by science journalist Christine Prußky.

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Eine Gruppe protestierender Menschen
Stories

Protest movements: How do they affect democracies in Europe?

#Transdisciplinarity #Science and the public #International focus #Democracy

Election victories for authoritarian parties, demonstrations against the right, Fridays for Future and increasing populism: democracies in Europe are coming under pressure. The "ProDem" project has analysed the impact of protest movements on the development of democracy in six European countries.

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Illustration einer Frau mit schmelzendem Eis. Im Hintergrund eine dampfende Stadt.
Stories

Heat recycling in cities: Can the heat emitted in big cities be used for the energy transition?

#Transdisciplinarity

Environmental scientist Susanne Benz wants to harvest the heat being emitted from large cities in huge quantities every day. This heat recycling could help to reduce energy consumption – an unusual idea that she will be researching in more detail in the coming years with the support of the Freigeist programme.

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