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Würfel mit verschiedenen Symbolen, darunter Glühbirne und Figur mit Doktorhut, ein Würfel mit der Aufschrift "Fördermittel"
News 02 January 2025

Another 10,000 euros for reviewers

Second round for a special experiment: Anyone who reviews on behalf of the Volkswagen Foundation until December 31, 2025 will be entered into a draw and may win €10,000 in funding.

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Illustration einer Gruppe Protestierender
Story 05 December 2024

Radical democracy – How grassroots movements lead to solidarity and problem solution

5 countries, 10 cities, over 100 initiatives – in a large-scale research project, social scientist Helge Schwiertz is investigating how citizens are working together at local levels to find solutions to the major crises facing Europe.

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Frau im Portrait, dahinter Illustration mit MIkrofon
Interview 02 December 2024

Researching Research: "There is still considerable potential!"

The "Researching Research" funding initiative strengthens interdisciplinarity and internationalisation in the field – and is also intended to generate policy recommendations for policy-makers. An interview with the programme manager Johanna Brumberg.

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Eine Gruppe Erwachsener vor einem imposanten Garten
Event Report 19 November 2024

Focus on Europe: Challenges and potentials

The European idea is noticeably crumbling. Researchers funded by the Volkswagen Foundation met at the status symposium 'Challenges and potentials for Europe' to exchange views on the results of their research on the topic.  One conclusion: fortunately, joint European research on Europe is not crumbling!  

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Bunte Streifen auf schwarzem Hintergrund
Interview 14 November 2024

New perspective on neurodegenerative diseases

Biophysicist Janna Nawroth wants to find out how cilia in our brain ventricles influence the development of neuronal diseases and certain neurological conditions such as sleep. A "pioneer project".

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Blick in den unterirdischen Tagungssaal von Schloss Herrenhausen
In Brief 13 November 2024

Call for papers: Conference "Universities and the Public Good"

From September 10 to 12, 2025, the conference "Universities and the Public Good: Research, Education, and Democracy since 1945" will take place at Herrenhausen Palace, Hanover. The call for papers is aimed at established academics (general workshop) and young academics (Young Scholars Forum). Deadline: January 19, 2025

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Stories

Illustration: Reproduktion von Reichtum
Story 14 May 2025

Politics and wealth: a lopsided alliance?

A small, rich minority is becoming increasingly wealthy. Eva Wegner and Miquel Pellicer ask: How does politics contribute to growing economic inequality – and whose interests do MPs actually represent?

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Eine Frau, die aufmerksam zuhört
Story 06 March 2025

So that everyone can have their say: Citizens' assembly on AI research

Rhetoric expert Anika Kaiser researches how people can make themselves heard on the major issues of our time – artificial intelligence (AI) being a case in point. She is the right person to take care that this grassroots democratic process does not remain too detached from reality: in her first life, she trained as a painter.

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