Can Science Handle Crisis? A self-critical look at the challenges of our time
Public discussion event at the Science and Technology Park Berlin Adlershof (in German)

Science follows its own logic. For many researchers, the focus is on scientific knowledge, i.e. basic research, rather than the development of ready-to-use solutions to problems or the economic and social utilisation of results.

At the same time, it was not only with the outbreak of the Corona pandemic that the importance of science for solving problems facing society as a whole came to the forefront of public attention.  The transformation of energy systems, climate protection, digitization, social cohesion - many people expect research not only to provide information and advice, but also to deliver concrete solutions and instructions for action. New technologies, starting points for solving social problems or even effective vaccines are needed - and quickly.

In the course of this, researchers are confronted with skepticism and criticism at the same time: They have to explain their work more and more, sometimes even defend it against criticism and attacks. But how are they dealing with this? What role does science see for itself in society? What is its relationship to politics? Can the science system develop quick solutions to problems and also drive their implementation?

We want to discuss this in Berlin Adlershof on October 6, 2022 with, among others, the President of the Social Science Research Center Berlin, Prof. Dr. h.c. Jutta Allmendinger, Ph.D., Prof. Dr. Jule Specht, Professor of Personality Psychology at Humboldt University Berlin, and Roland Sillmann, Managing Director of WISTA Management GmbH.

The event will be in German.

Registration via: pr(at)wista.de

Organizers: WISTA Management GmbH,  Initiativgemeinschaft Außeruniversitärer Forschungseinrichtungen in Adlershof e. V. (IGAFA e. V.) and the BR50 office

Improvement of conditions for joint appointments of professorships
Adaptation of the BerlHG makes joint appointments in the so-called Jülicher model more attractive

The upcoming VAT taxation of research cooperation from 2023 at the latest will have a strong impact on the entire science system. This will also affect jointly appointed professorships between non-university research institutions and universities under the Berliner Model (reimbursement model). In order to make appointments under the so-called Jülicher Model (leave model) more attractive, the BR50 coordinators and their administrative directors have a dialogue with Berlin science politicians, university presidents and the Berlin Senate. In particular, the limited leave periods for university teachers in the BerlHG was identified as obstruction. On June 23, 2022, the Berliner Abgeordnetenhaus decided, as part of the amendment to the BerlHG, to also remove the time limit on leave periods. It is gratifying that BR50's suggestions were considered in this process. Berlin has taken an important step towards a more competitive model for joint professorships, which are very important for the research system in the capital. We are pleased that BR50 played a role in bringing political attention to this issue.

For more information, visit IG Administrative Dialogue. The adopted amendments concerning joint appointments can be found in Drucksache 19/0415.

In case you have any questions, please contact the BR50 offices (sommerfeld[at]fv-berlin[dot]de, gregor.hofmann[at]wzb[dot]eu).

Berlin4Ukraine: Meet & Learn
A networking event for exile researchers

Together with partners, BR50 is organizing a network and career event for Ukrainian researchers that fled from Ukraine and came to Berlin. The event is organized by the Berlin Center for Global Engagement (BCGE) at Berlin University Alliance (BUA), the Berlin Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities (BBAW), Berlin Research 50 (BR50), the Clusters of Excellence SCRIPTS and NeuroCure, in cooperation with the Clusters of Excellence Science of Intelligence, Temporal Communities, and UniSysCat, the German-Ukrainian Academic Society, Dahlem Humanities Center, and others. We thank the Campus Berlin-Buch GmbH for financial support.

PhD students and researchers from all disciplines that had to flee from war, violence and political persecution often see themselves confronted with similar problems: They want to continue their scientific work but often they are unfamiliar with the German science system and the local funding culture. Moreover, they have to rebuild their academic network, sometimes almost from scratch.

The Berlin4Ukraine-event aims to convey basic knowledge of the structures and key players of the German Science System, to explain the key support offers for refugee researchers and scholars at risk in particular, as well as the system of German science funding in general. Moreover, the event is intended to provide a networking opportunity for researchers from Ukraine and from Berlin.

Further information about the event and registration procedure can be found here: https://www.br50.org/en/br50/news/ukraine-event

In case you have any questions, please contact the BR50 offices (sommerfeld[at]fv-berlin[dot]de, gregor.hofmann[at]wzb[dot]eu).

Pilot project between BR50 and the Berlin Leadership Academy of the BUA: educational training programs are open for professors from the BR50 institutions

As part of the cooperation between BR50 and the Berlin Leadership Academy (BLA) of the BUA, some of the educational training programs that were available for professors at the universities only, are now open to participants from BR50 institutions. We are very pleased that the cooperation with the BLA has started and that we work together to strengthen leadership development in the science hub Berlin.

For the pilot phase, the following four events are available for participants from the BR50 institutions. The courses are free of charge and will be held in German language:

   -   Mehrere Projekte erfolgreich managen
   -   Personalführung in der Wissenschaft – Einführung
   -   Personalführung in der Wissenschaft – Vertiefung
   -   Konflikte produktiv lösen

The events will all take place during the summer semester 2022 and more information about the conditions of participation and registration can be found here: https://www.fu-berlin.de/sites/dla/veranstaltungen/workshops/index.html#projektmanagement

After a successful pilot phase, it is planned to establish the cooperation on a long-term basis and to open a wide range of educational training programs for the BR50 institutions in the following semesters.

In case you would like to publish your activities here, please inform the BR50 offices (sommerfeld[at]fv-berlin[dot]de, gregor.hofmann[at]wzb[dot]eu).

Support activities of BR50 for Ukrainian scientists

Next to the statements and declarations of solidarity of the BR50 founding coordinators and the internal exchange and the networking activities with all scientific actors in Berlin to foster coordinated help for fled Ukrainian scientists, we now post support activities from the BR50 institutions on the webpage. At Interest Groups – IG Ukraine job vacancies, housing offers, connecting scientist activities and other relief offers and fundraising activities are listed. We try to keep the content as up to date as possible. In case you would like to publish your activities here, please inform the BR50 offices (sommerfeld[at]fv-berlin[dot]de, gregor.hofmann[at]wzb[dot]eu).

Attack on the Ukraine
War, disinformation and its consequences for the civil society, culure, science and media

An evening with speeches and discussions in cooperation with the rbb

Speakers and panelists are i.a.
Patricia Schlesinger, rbb artistic director
Martin Rennert, CEO of the Einstein Foundation Berlin
Jutta Allmendinger, President of the Berlin Social Science Center
Olafur Eliasson, Artist
Christoph Markschies, President of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanity
Hermann Parzinger, President of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation
Gwendolyn Sasse, Einstein Professor & Director of the Centre for East European and International Studies
Günter Ziegler, President of the Freie Universität Berlin

Musical interlude: Dudana Mazmanishvili, Piano

The event is a cooperation with the rbb – Berlin-Brandenburg Broadcasting and will be broadcasted by rbbKultur on the radio. It will take place from 8pm until 10pm.

Supported by: Berlin University Alliance (FU Berlin, HU Berlin, TU Berlin, Charité Berlin), Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanity, Berlin Research 50, Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, Berlin University of Arts, Berlin Social Science Center

March 13^th 2022, 8pm – 10pm (inlet 7pm)

Venue:
Haus des Rundfunks
Großer Sendesaal des rbb
Masurenallee 8-14
14057 Berlin
Google Maps

Important information: Free seating, we recommend an on-time arrival because the seats are limited. The inlet starts at 7pm. The 2G+ rules apply without exceptions, please have all relevant certificates ready. The entry is free of charge.

Contact:
Christian T. Martin
Leiter Stiftungskommunikation
Jägerstr. 22/23
10117 Berlin
+49 (0)30-20370-248
cm (at) einsteinfoundation.de

Further information can be found here: https://www.einsteinfoundation.de/index.php?id=2232

Declaration of solidarity of the four founding coordinators of BR50 with an open letter of Russian scientists in view of the war against Ukraine

With regard to an open letter by Russian scientists, Prof. Dr. h.c. Jutta Allmendinger, Ph.D., Prof. Dr. Michael Hintermüller, Prof. Dr. Ulrich Panne and Prof. Dr. Thomas Sommer, the four founding coordinators of Berlin Research 50 (BR50), declare:

“Our solidarity is particularly with those who are working for free science and cultural exchange in Ukraine and also in Russia. As Russian colleagues have expressed in a courageous open letter, this war is not only unfair, senseless and very threatening to the international order, it is also damaging to science: Research today is no longer imaginable without extensive international cooperation. Due to Russia's self-inflicted isolation and the suffering that the Russian invasion is causing to the Ukrainian society, many researchers and especially young scientists are prevented from developing their potential. These talents are not only lost for the development of Ukraine and also Russia; they can no longer work for the creation of knowledge and scientific and technological progress as a whole. They are missing. For the overcoming of challenges that should concern all of us together as humanity. We therefore take our hats off to the impressive appeal of Russian scientists and science journalists who, even in this time of need and despite looming dangers for them personally, are committed to open scientific exchange across borders. We share with them and the Ukrainian colleagues a deep desire for open, democratic and peaceful societies united in the spirit of friendship and cooperation.”

Statement of the four founding coordinators of Berlin Research 50 (BR50) on Russia's attack on Ukraine

Commenting on Russia's attack on Ukraine, Prof. Dr. h.c. Jutta Allmendinger, Ph.D., Prof. Dr. Michael Hintermüller, Prof. Dr. Ulrich Panne and Prof. Dr. Thomas Sommer, the four founding coordinators of Berlin Research 50 (BR50) say:

"We are shocked by Russia's unlawful invasion of Ukraine, a sovereign and independent member of the international community. Our thoughts and solidarity are with the people on the ground, especially those who are working for free science and cultural exchange in Ukraine and also in Russia. Science and research thrive on cross-border cooperation and international exchange. The aggression we are currently witnessing against a free country in Europe must be stopped. We call for an immediate end to Russian military action against Ukraine and for seeking dialogue instead of violence. In the spirit of international understanding, we support the statements of the Einstein Foundation Berlin and the German Rectors' Conference on the current situation."

» Declaration of the Einstein Foundation Berlin

» Declaration of the Geman Rectors' Conference

Hearing about BR50 at the Committee on Science and Research

Upon request of the parliamentary groups SPD, Bündnis 90/Die Grünen and Die Linke BR50 was invited to the 2^nd meeting of the Committee on Science and Research of the Berlin Parliament. As part of a hearing that took place on February 7^th, Jutta Allmendinger (WZB) and Thomas Sommer (MDC), two of the four founding coordinators of BR50, presented the network under the agenda item “BR50 – Research institutions get connect in Berlin – Synergies and interfaces”. After a short statement, both answered questions of the members of the committee.

The agenda of the meeting can be found here, in German language only. A verbatim transcript of the hearing can be accessed through the Parliamentary Documentation of the Berlon Parliament (in German).

The meeting could be followed via a live stream on the webpage of the Berlin Parliament (German language only).

Tune in now: BR50 podcast "Berlin Research - Research in Berlin"
Erste Folge erschienen: Wer bist Du – Mensch oder Maschine?

How smart is artificial intelligence? How fair are the research conditions in Berlin? And how challenging is climate change for the city? Questions like these are addressed in the podcast "Berlin Research - Forschung in Berlin". The Berlin Research 50 (BR50) podcast offers a scientific and science policy discussion format.

Each episode highlights an exciting topic on which two to three scientists from various Berlin research institutions engage in a controversial discussion. The discussions are moderated on an alternating basis by Nancy Fischer and Thomas Prinzler. New episodes will be published on the last Wednesday of every month.

The first episode of the BR50 podcast is dedicated to the question "Who are you - human or machine?" and focuses on research into artificial intelligence and its implications for politics and society. Moderated by Thomas Prinzler, the discussion features Prof. Dr. Jeanette Hofmann, head of the Research Group on the Politics of Digitization at the WZB Berlin Social Science Center, Dr. Aljoscha Burchardt, deputy Berlin branch spokesperson of the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence, and Dr. Thomas Müller, postdoc in the Center for Humans and Machines at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development.

More at: https://www.br50.org/podcast

The rss feed can be accessed directly at: https://www.br50.org/podcast-rss-feed/

Further channels: Google Podcasts  |   Spotify  |   Apple Podcasts

BR50 Workshop on Artificial Intelligence in Research

The term artificial intelligence (AI) has been on everyone's lips for years and is thus no longer just fiction, but object of current research and real-life applications. AI has thus made the leap from science to politics and society, is widely discussed and is considered one of the most exciting research fields of the future, not only in the natural sciences and technical disciplines, but also in the social sciences and humanities.

In the context of the BR50 Workshop on Artificial Intelligence in Research, the terms machine learning, neural networks, learning systems and data science will first be clarified and classified relative to the concept of AI. Furthermore, AI will be considered from different perspectives such as: the development of AI itself, the use for and challenges to society and the ethical, social, and legal issues involved, and the application of AI in research to advance it and also make it more sustainable.

To address these issues, experts will highlight the topic from various perspectives representing different disciplines. With short presentations, AI and AI related projects will be introduced in terms of:

• AI, machine learning, and technological challenges
• Applications of AI and machine learning
• AI and Data Science in Health and Life Sciences
• AI, society and culture

The workshop will be held in English and the full program can be found here.

In addition, the workshop offers a platform for an intensive exchange between the disciplines of AI with the aim of establishing long-term networking between scientific institutions and companies.

The daylong workshop will take place on December 13^th 2021 and held Online. To follow the live-stream, please register here for participation. Registration deadline is December 9^th, 2021.

Contact:
coordinators[at]br50[dot]org

BR50 participates in the Berlin Science Survey

BR50 is participating in the Berlin Science Survey conducted at the Robert K. Merton Center, which examines perceptions on the part of researchers regarding the changing research environment in Berlin.

Science is changing constantly  and those who work in science are often faced with new challenges. The scientists working in the project Berlin Research Landscape are interested in how individual scientists meet these challenges and deal with them in their everyday research practice. To enable them to contribute their own experiences and opinions, the Berlin Science Survey was launched, in which all scientists of the Berlin metropolitan area can take part.

The study is currently funded by the Objective 3 (Advancing Research Quality and Value) of the Berlin University Alliance (BUA). The results of the study will be used to monitor changes in the Berlin research environment and to critically reflect on initiated science policy and organizational measures (e.g. on the part of BUA as well as BR50) as accompanying research.

Researchers at Berlin non-university institutions can participate in the survey using the following link: https://umfrage.hu-berlin.de/index.php/163615

On the following page you will find more information and the project results after the survey is completed: https://www.berlinsciencesurvey.de/en/index.html?set_language=en

If you have any questions, please contact the Berlin Science Survey team at rmz-berlinsciencesurvey[at]hu-berlin[dot]de.

Panel Discussion at the Berlin Science Week
Diversity Instead of Uniformity
How Does Diversity Advance Scientific Progress?

Mehr Diversität bereichert die Wissenschaft

Text by Wiebke Peters (published in: FVB-Verbundjournal 117/2021)

Greater diversity enhances science

Wiebke Peters

Eliminating inequalities and paving the way for more diversity is a declared goal of academic research. So far, however, there has been too little progress and action in this direction. A panel discussion at Berlin Science Week 2021 revealed why this is the case, and what obstacles stand in the way of greater diversity.

The panel discussion entitled “Diversity Instead of Uniformity – How Does Diversity Advance Scientific Progress?”, held at the Museum of Natural History on the Berlin Science Week Campus on November 5, 2021, was initiated by BR50. This abbreviation stands for Berlin Research 50, an alliance of non-university research institutions in Berlin. Their goal: to strengthen Berlin as an international science metropolis. The fact that internationality and diversity are closely linked was immediately apparent from the opening statements of the four panel guests drawn from BR50 member institutions. “Diversity plays a key role in creating and sharing knowledge on a global level,” remarked Professor Luc De Meester. The Belgian Director of the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) is the only man on the panel. Dr. Franziska Emmerling and Ivona Kafedjiska agreed that diversity is the key to making science more successful and sustainable. Both scientists are committed to achieving greater diversity in research: Franziska Emmerling heads a department at the Bundesamt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM), and co-founded the Ladies Network Adlershof (LaNA). Ivona Kafedjiska is a doctoral researcher at Helmholtz Center Berlin for Materials and Energy (HZB), and is the 2021 spokesperson for Helmholtz Juniors – the network that unites all doctoral researchers within the Helmholtz association –, and a N² board member – the network that unites all doctoral researchers within the Max Planck Society, Helmholtz Association and Leibniz Association. Panelist Dr. Noa Ha emphasized the structural challenges of diversity: The main way to advance diversity, she said, is to challenge norms and change perspectives. The urban studies researcher is the deputy head of the National Discrimination and Racism Monitor at the German Center for Integration and Migration Research (DeZIM).

What does diversity mean?

Strengthening diversity means promoting talent and eliminating inequalities. Suppressing diversity means losing potential instead of developing and utilizing it. “The world needs diverse approaches if we are to find appropriate solutions to complex problems such as climate change,” stated Ivona Kafedjiska. Yet key academic positions are dominated by middle-aged, white males. Diversity looks different.

Institutions would need to change, as would our understanding of how research can become more diverse, added Noa Ha. Access to knowledge is a core problem of diversity at the global level: Who has access to specialist literature, such as journals, and is able to attend conferences? “We need to democratize knowledge and discuss it more broadly than before,” the scientist remarked.

Reduce bureaucracy, improve access opportunities

Bureaucracy is a major obstacle to greater diversity at German research institutions: Non-European researchers have to go through great efforts and pains to have their residence permits renewed, stated Ivona Kafedjiska. It drains them of energy, which is then lacking for their work. Luc De Meester called on institutes to get involved more closely, not just by providing information, for instance, but also by offering concrete support and providing services. This begins with seemingly trivial things, such as ensuring that any relevant information for employees is in two languages.

One might also think of initiatives focusing on early career scientists from the Global South. IGB established a postdoctoral fellowship specifically for a junior researcher from the Global South. The person’s potential, rather than the number of publications, is the deciding factor when it comes to filling the position.

Lack of attention

There is too little knowledge about ways to promote diversity, besides a lack of attention. Both deficits need to be addressed by offering diversity awareness workshops and training, urged Franziska Emmerling. This applies not only to researchers, but also to people who provide science support services, as Luc De Meester stressed. It may also be useful to support self-organized initiatives such as IGB’s Inclusion and Diversity Group, which works to ensure awareness of diversity and equal opportunity issues at all levels, including the institute’s management.

One consequence of insufficient attention is that when it comes to filling positions, candidates who are very similar to the current team members are often given preference, as Ivona Kafedjiska explained. Such in-group favoritism is one of the unconscious biases that lead to the systematic discrimination of certain groups, such as people of color.

Encouraging greater diversity

Tools for achieving greater diversity are already available. Ivona Kafedjiska reported on the diversity audit that was implemented at her institution, HZB. Every staff member was invited to participate. It was about sharing ideas on the subject of diversity and asking what employees need, what has to be changed. Noa Ha added that conducting such a diversity audit could also be a criterion for receiving funding.

Franziska Emmerling recommended inviting external experts to take a look at institutional routines, such as the language and work culture. Leaders’ participation in relevant seminars also helps to improve the atmosphere, making others feel more confident and better understood, and enabling them to be more open and share their ideas, added Ivona Kafedjiska. And the whole process could become sustainable: “I always call it ‘overcoming the energy barrier,’” she remarked. “Once the topic of diversity has gained a certain amount of attention, everything becomes much easier.””

Yes or no to women’s quotas?

“In spite of all the good arguments in favor of greater diversity and more women in leadership positions in research, they are still usually held by men,” emphasized Noa Ha. A quota would compel institutions to pay more attention to diversity in the long run. Luc De Meester also suggested that in the end it might become a necessity, but that it also has disadvantages. Ivona Kafedjiska would like to see “a world without quotas, where women simply have the same opportunities as men.” A quota could lead to more discrimination in Germany, with people saying “she only got this job because of the quota”. The problem lies elsewhere, namely in society: Women continue to be responsible for the household and family in most cases, and there are insufficient childcare places. Quotas are of little use in this situation; such shortcomings must first be addressed. Franziska Emmerling agreed with her: “It is primarily a cultural issue. In Sweden, men are frowned upon at work if they do not take time off to care for their children,” she reported.

At the end, another person spoke out in favor of quotas: Professor Ulrich Panne, President of the Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung, and one of the four BR50 coordinators. Without women’s quotas, he said, more diversity and less inequality in science will not happen fast enough. Professor Thomas Sommer, interim Scientific Director of the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine and BR50 coordinator, concluded by highlighting the point made by Noa Ha: diversity is a matter of democracy. This statement sums up the entire discussion very well.

The panel discussion was moderated by Julika Schmitz. 

Event webseite:
https://berlinscienceweek.com/event/diversity-instead-of-uniformity/

Video of the event on the BR50 Youtube-Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xU2z9f2iJMM&t

Contact:
coordinators[at]br50[DOT]org

Panel Discussion at the Berlin Science Week
Technological Sovereignty in Material Sciences
Better Together – Joint Perspectives from Berlin

To accomplish great challenges, technology is an essential basis. This is not only true concerning the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and digitization. Technological sovereignty is significant for economy and as well as for the society in Europe and Germany and, must be a central topic in future to become internationally competitive and autonomous in key technologies. To achieve this, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) developed an impulse paper with guidelines and flagship initiatives leading to technological sovereignty and summoned a council dealing with technological sovereignty.

One key technology, in which Berlin can be a pioneer, is the material science. The material science has a great potential, to establish a lead because of technology in already existing markets or rather enable unprecedented disruptive technologies. Berlin offers an extensive expertise in the non-university as well as the university sector to drive the material science scientifically and economically. However, a political willingness is crucial to develop, together with science and economy, strategies for a technological sovereignty.

To examine the scientific, economic and political strategies for technological sovereignty in the material science, experts from various branches debate at the panel discussion chaired by Thomas Schröder (IKZ). The importance of material science on the European level will be discussed from a political and economic point of view. To act meaningful on the scientific level, it is important to join forces and to establish partnerships among the non-university institutions and together with the universities. Therefore, science political goals must be defined, in particular for the Berlin area.

Chair:
Thomas Schröder, Leibniz-Institut für Kristallzüchtung im Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V. (IKZ)

Panelists:
Marcel Fratzscher, Deutschen Instituts für Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW) Berlin
Engelbert Beyer, Bundesministeriums für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)
Ursula Eul, Fraunhofer-Verbunds Werkstoffe, Bauteile – Materials
Oliver Kraft, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie
Bernd Rech, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialen und Energie GmbH
Jutta Koch-Unterseher, Senatskanzlei Wissenschaft und Forschung des Landes Berlin
Sabine Kunst, Humboldt Universität, Berlin University Alliance

Event Website (in German only):
https://berlinscienceweek.com/event/technologische-souveranitat-in-der-materialwissenschaft/

Video of the Event (in German only):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhwT5HUGRxc

Contact:
coordinators[at]br50[dot]org

Statement of BR50 coordinators concerning the resignation of Prof. Sabine Kunst as president of the HU

Regretfully we took note of the resignation of Sabine Kunst. She is an excellent science manager that demonstrated strategic skills and vision not only for the HU, but as well as for the BUA and the collaboration with the non-university research institutions in Berlin.

Therefore, it is even more important that Berlin’s scientific actors collectively face the upcoming challenges. The research environment Berlin lives from the interplay between the universities and the non-university institutions. Our mutual appreciation as cooperating partners is enormous and our collaboration is of fundamental importance for cutting-edge research in Berlin and for the success in the Excellence Strategy.

At the moment, Berlin is seeking a new course: BR50 is ready to work together with BUA and the responsible political players during the upcoming weeks to identify new strategies and paths to make Berlin attractive for junior researchers, as well as to develop Berlin towards a science area that guaranties enduring success and excellence for all parties and institutions. To achieve this, non-university institutions are ready to contribute.

Contact:
coordinators[at]br50[dot]org

Event series collaboration between SCRIPTS & BR50
Post-doctorate Pathways: academic and non-academic career trajectories

The roundtables “Life outside of Academia? Career paths beyond basic research” and “Professorship or nothing? Options and pathways in academia” are the first two events in a series of roundtables, workshops and coachings meant to support academics at the doctoral and postdoctoral level who are set on pursuing a career in academia or plan on exiting the university system to employ their skills elsewhere. These initial events are meant to be conversation starters, honest conversations with and helpful advice from those who have successfully made a career in or outside of academia.

We will begin with the roundtable Life outside of Academia? Career paths beyond basic research. On Monday, September 20^th from 4 pm to 5.15 pm via Zoom. For many researchers, quitting academia seems to be unimaginable. However, there is in fact a fulfilled life as a non-academic possible. In our first virtual roundtable “Life outside of Academia? Career paths beyond basic research” we will explore how such knowledge-based but not "typical" academic careers can look like. Together with Dr. Juliane Kampe from the Helmholtz Association, Philipp Rotmann from the Global Public Policy Institute and Dr. Annika-Elena Poppe, who works at IsrAID Germany e. V. as well as a freelance coach, and moderated by Dr. Gregor Hofmann from the BR50 office, we will discuss such alternative career paths.

The second roundtable Professorship or nothing? Options and pathways in academia takes place on October 28^th, 2021 from 3.30 to 6.00 pm and will be held via Cisco Webex. The purpose is not to showcase glamourous careers, but rather have an open and honest conversation with helpful recommendations and pointers for all those researchers in their qualification phase who are interested in pursuing a further career in academia. Prof. Dr. Anna Holzscheiter, Technische Universität Dresden, Prof. Dr. Simon Koschut, Freie Universität Berlin, Dr. Julia Langbein, Centre for East European and International Studies (ZOiS), Dr. Thorsten Thiel, Weizenbaum Institute for the networked society/ Berlin Social Science Center (WZB) and Assistant Prof. Hilde van Meegdenburg, Leiden University explore together with Isabel Winnwa, Dr. Isabel Winnwa, Acting Executive Director of SCRIPTS, the complex pathways of academic career development.

Participation is free of charge in all events, the series is sponsored by the Cluster of Excellence “Contestations of the Liberal Script” (SCRIPTS) and the office of Berlin Research 50 (BR50) at the WZB Berlin Social Science Center.

Please find more information about the series in our program document (PDF).

Contact: gregor.hofmann[at]wzb[DOT]eu

BR50 position paper published
Build up Berlin towards a worldwide leading research metropolis

The non-university research institutions in BR50, submit a 10-point-catalog as position paper on science policy that was developed during a general assembly on September 9^th. The position paper contains 10 demands toward the future senate that should be implemented to strengthen Berlin as science metropolis. The Berlin Senate has been committed to the interests of science and research in the capital in recent years, the paper states. This commitment should be continued and expanded. The course for this should now be set.

The position paper was published in an short version as well as in a detailed version in German and together with a press release.

Contact:
coordinators[at]br50[dot]org

Second BR50 Office established in Berlin Adlershof

Since the BR50 Office at the Berlin Social Science Center (WZB) in Berlin Mitte was set up by Gregor Hofmann, Anja Sommerfeld established the second BR50 Office located at the Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V. (FVB) in Berlin Adlershof. Anja Sommerfeld studied meteorology and has a PhD in climate physics. After receiving the PhD degree, she worked as scientific project manager at the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research and managed a large-scale project about Arctic science.

Both BR50 Offices function as dialogue platform for the non-university research institutions and as contact point for politics, the universities and for the society. Furthermore, the BR50 Offices support the BR50 coordinators and the BR50 interest groups.

Contact:

Dr. Anja Sommerfeld
BR50 Office at the Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V. in Adlershof
030 6392-3301
sommerfeld[at]fv-berlin[dot]de

Work starts at BR50 Office

BR50 sees itself as a network that facilitates coordination between non-university research institutions; that provides a central point of contact for the Berlin Senate Administration, Berlin’s universities and other actors in society and politics; and that promotes international networking in the Brain City Berlin.

And yet cooperation necessitates coordination. Gregor Hofmann recently took up his position as one of two officers of the BR50 Office. Gregor Hofmann, who has a PhD in Political Science, was previously engaged as Advisor to the Executive Director of the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF). Based at the Berlin Social Science Center (WZB), his future role will involve representing the BR50 branch in Berlin-Mitte and supporting the BR50 Coordinators and BR50 Interest Groups in their work. A second position at the BR50 Office located at the Forschungsverbund Berlin in Adlershof will start work shortly.

Berlin Research 50
Berlin Research 50, or BR50 for short, was established around a year ago, on February 18, 2020. The joint initiative now includes virtually all non-university institutes and centers in the Berlin metropolitan area, including institutes from major scientific organizations such as the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, the Helmholtz Association, the Leibniz Association and the Max Planck Society, as well as the federal government research institutes and the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation. The two offices are funded by the State of Berlin.

Contact
If you have any questions or suggestions, simply contact the BR50 Office: Dr. Gregor Hofmann, BR50 Branch in Berlin-Mitte, gregor.hofmann[at]wzb[dot]eu

BR50 at Berlin Science Week
How much working from home can research take?
Using the crisis creatively: researchers will discuss pros and cons of new working styles triggerd by Corona. A panel discussion as part of the Berlin Science Week.

The pandemic has been an exceptional situation for everyone. All but essential laboratory activities were temporarily suspended, a number of childcare centers and schools had to close, and lots of work was – and is still being – done remotely at home. But how much social distancing can science – which requires constant discussion and exchange – take?  The founding coordinators of BR 50, an association of Berlin non-university research institutions, are hosting an event to examine this issue and explore questions such as: What has worked well and what would be done differently? What do researchers want to preserve for the future? What conditions are problematic for young researchers in particular?

THE PANELISTS

From the member institutes:

• Dr. Theresa Entringer, German Institute for Economic Research (DIW)
• Felix Fehlhaber, Fraunhofer Institute for Production Systems and Design Technology IPK
• Dr. med. Dr. phil. Eva Friedel, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH)
• Dr. Edda Schulz, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics (MPIMG)

BR50 founding coordinators:

• Prof. Dr. h.c. Jutta Allmendinger, Ph.D., Berlin Social Science Center (WZB)
• Prof. Dr. Michael Hintermüller, Weierstrass Institute for Applied Analysis and Stochastics (WIAS), Leibniz Institute in Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V.
• Prof. Dr. Ulrich Panne, Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM)
• Prof. Dr. Thomas Sommer, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC)

Moderation:
Christopher Scheffelmeier

BR50 founded

On February 18, 2020, representatives of the non-university research institutions met in the Max Liebermann Haus at the Brandenburg Gate to found BR50 together. Photos: Katja Bilo/FVB