Science Policy

The Research Group

The RG Science Policy focuses on surveys, proposals and events on the different aspects in the context of science and politics.

This task has an academic as well as a science political dimension: Not only does it demand a verdict on the efficiency of funding regarding the set goals and the non-intentional consequences of the measures, as far as they can be predicted, it also demands the weighing of contradictory goals as well as a verdict on the reasonableness and the desirability of the goals themselves. These questions have to be asked with a view to the currently politically feasable possibilities as well as with a view to the long-term perspectives of the science system's development.

Since its very beginning, science policy has been a focal point of the Junge Akademie. Again and again, members publish position papers and statements on topics of university and research policy, which are often widely discussed. They also organise public debates and send out invites for expert hearings.

Moreover, the Junge Akademie gets involved in European research policy. For instance, together with other European Young Academies, it warned the European heads of governments of cutting the budget of the European Research Council (ERC).

Symposium

Replacing professorial chairs with departments: a model for the future?

Following last year's publication of the opinion piece "Departments statt Lehrstühle", the research group Science Policy organised a symposium to expand on the discussion of the opportunitites and challenges which the introduction of the departmental system would pose to the German Higher Education system.

Programm

Contribution to public debate

Proposal for a Department Structure

Is the personnel structure of German universities up-to-date? Answers to this questions are given by five members of the Junge Akademie with this new proposal.

The authors are Jule Specht, Christian Hof, Julia Tjus, Wolfram Pernice and Ulrike Endesfelder.

Download (pdf, in English)

Contribution to public debate

Proposal for a Federal Professorship: Prospects for an Academic Career

Excellent scholarship requires sharp minds and long-term opportunities. However, the German academic system currently lacks long-term support tailored to individual needs. Members of the Junge Akademie seek to counter this lack and have recently published their own contribution to the public debate. In this contribution, they present a proposal for the establishment of a Federal Professorship. Supported through long-term federal funding, this position would provide successful young academics with a permanent contract and enable them to teach and conduct independent research at a university of their choice.

The authors of the contribution to the public debate Jule Specht, Ulrike Endesfelder, Tobias J. Erb, Christian Hof and Wolfram Pernice were supported in their work by 31 active members and alumni of the Junge Akademie.

Download (pdf-Format)

Survey on the junior professorship

A new survey undertaken by the Junge Akademie shows grave differences in the organisation of junior professorships. The survey reveals that there remain substantial disparities in the standards of implementation and appointment of new junior professors.

Download (pdf-Format, in German)

Position Paper by the RG Science Policy: after the Excellence Initiative

Personnel Structure as the Key to Better Performing Universities

In a position paper on the personnel structure of German universities, the Research Group Science Policy of the Junge Akademie puts forward new proposals in the debate on the future of the academic system after the excellence initiative. Thus, 30 members and alumni of the Junge Akademie call for the gradual replacement of the traditional Lehrstuhl system and a corresponding rise in the number of professorships as the key to better performing universities.

Download (in German)

Peer Review

Peer Review is a science simulation game for 4 to 6 Players. Its goals are to educate junior scientists and encourage self-reflection in established scientists, as well as to give a broader interested public some insight into the mechanics of the scientific system.

to the project page

Members

Contact
Christian Hof
Biology
Technische Universität München
Christian Hof more
Bernadett Weinzierl
Atmospheric Physics
Universität Wien (Österreich)
Bernadett Weinzierl more
Diana Göhringer
Electrical Engineering and Information Technology
Technische Universität Dresden
Diana Göhringer more
Jakob Macke
Neurosciences/ Machine Learning
Technische Universität Darmstadt, Centre for Cognitive Science
Jakob Macke more
Julia Pongratz
Meteorology
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Julia Pongratz more
Tobias J. Erb
Microbiology / Synthetic Biology
Max-Planck-Institut für terrestrische Mikrobiologie
Tobias J. Erb more
Silja Klepp
Ethnology, Human Geography
Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel
Silja Klepp more
Magdalena Nowicka
Sociology
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Magdalena Nowicka more
Cornelis Menke
Philosophy of Science
Universität Bielefeld
Cornelis Menke more
Moritz Schularick
Economics / Economic History
Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
Moritz Schularick more
Julia Tjus (geb. Becker)
Physics / Astrophysics
Ruhr-Universität Bochum
Julia Tjus (geb. Becker) more
Alkomiet Hasan
Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Clinical Neuroscience
Klinikum der Universität München
Alkomiet Hasan more
Tobias Kümmerle
Geography
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Tobias Kümmerle more
Emanuel V. Towfigh
Jurisprudence
EBS Universität für Wirtschaft und Recht
Emanuel V. Towfigh more
Hans Jakob Wörner
Physical Chemistry
ETH Zürich (Schweiz)
Hans Jakob Wörner more
Viktoria Tkaczyk
Cultural Studies / Science History
Max-Planck-Institut für Wissenschaftsgeschichte, Berlin
Viktoria Tkaczyk more
Frauke Rostalski
Law
Philipps-Universität Marburg
Frauke Rostalski more
Simon Lentner
Mathematics / Theoretical Physics
Universität Hamburg
Simon Lentner more
Evelyn Runge
Political Science / Media and Cultural Studies / Journalism / Photography
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Israel)
Evelyn Runge more
Jule Specht
Psychology
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Jule Specht more
Dirk Pflüger
Informatics
Universität Stuttgart
Dirk Pflüger more
Fabian Krämer
History of Science
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Fabian Krämer more
Ulrike Endesfelder
Biophysics
Max-Planck-Institut für terrestrische Mikrobiologie & LOEWE Zentrum für Synthetische Mikrobiologie
Ulrike Endesfelder more
Thomas Böttcher
Chemistry/biological Chemistry
Universität Konstanz
Thomas Böttcher more
Kristina Musholt
Philosophy
Universität Leipzig
Kristina Musholt more
Carina Schmitt
Political science
Universität Bremen
Carina Schmitt more
Florian Meinel
Law
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Florian Meinel more
Lena Henningsen
Chinese Studies
Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
Lena Henningsen more
Christian Stein
Literature, Linguistics and Informatics
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Christian Stein more
Christoph Lundgreen
Ancient History
Technische Universität Dresden
Christoph Lundgreen more
Bettina Keller
Theoretical Chemistry
Freie Universität Berlin
Bettina Keller more
Anuscheh Farahat
Law
Max-Planck-Institut für ausländisches öffentliches Recht und Völkerrecht
Anuscheh Farahat more
Xiaoxiang Zhu
Remote Sensing and Earth Observation
Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR) Institut für Methodik der Fernerkundung (IMF)
Xiaoxiang Zhu more
Fabian Schmidt
Astronomy, Astrophysics
Max-Planck-Institut für Astrophysik
Fabian Schmidt more
Jonas Peters
Mathematics, Statistics
University of Copenhagen (Dänemark)
Jonas Peters more
Jessica Burgner-Kahrs
Engineering, Informatic, Continuum Robotics
Leibniz Universität Hannover
Jessica Burgner-Kahrs more
Wolfram Pernice
Physics/Electrical Engineering
Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster
Wolfram Pernice more
Sebastian Matzner
Classics/Comparative Literature
King’s College London (UK)
Sebastian Matzner more
Caspar Battegay
German Literature and Jewish Studies
Universität Basel
Caspar Battegay more
Michael Bies
German Literature
Freie Universität Berlin
Michael Bies more
Robert Kretschmer
(Inorganic) Chemistry
Universität Regensburg
Robert Kretschmer more
Timo Rademacher
Law
Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
Timo Rademacher more