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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.

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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.

 

 

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.

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.

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.

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

  • Christian Hof

    Contact

    Christian Hof
    Biology
    Technische Universität München
    Christian Hof more
  • Bernadett Weinzierl

    Bernadett Weinzierl
    Atmospheric Physics
    Universität Wien (Österreich)
    Bernadett Weinzierl more
  • Diana Göhringer

    Diana Göhringer
    Electrical Engineering and Information Technology
    Technische Universität Dresden
    Diana Göhringer more
  • Jakob Macke

    Jakob Macke
    Neurosciences/ Machine Learning
    Technische Universität Darmstadt, Centre for Cognitive Science
    Jakob Macke more
  • Julia Pongratz

    Julia Pongratz
    Meteorology
    Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
    Julia Pongratz more
  • Tobias J. Erb

    Tobias J. Erb
    Microbiology / Synthetic Biology
    Max-Planck-Institut für terrestrische Mikrobiologie
    Tobias J. Erb more
  • Silja Klepp

    Silja Klepp
    Ethnology, Human Geography
    Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel
    Silja Klepp more
  • Magdalena Nowicka

    Magdalena Nowicka
    Sociology
    Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
    Magdalena Nowicka more
  • Cornelis Menke

    Cornelis Menke
    Philosophy of Science
    Universität Bielefeld
    Cornelis Menke more
  • Moritz Schularick

    Moritz Schularick
    Economics / Economic History
    Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
    Moritz Schularick more
  • Julia Tjus (geb. Becker)

    Julia Tjus (geb. Becker)
    Physics / Astrophysics
    Ruhr-Universität Bochum
    Julia Tjus (geb. Becker) more
  • Alkomiet Hasan

    Alkomiet Hasan
    Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Clinical Neuroscience
    Klinikum der Universität München
    Alkomiet Hasan more
  • Tobias Kümmerle

    Tobias Kümmerle
    Geography
    Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
    Tobias Kümmerle more
  • Emanuel V. Towfigh

    Emanuel V. Towfigh
    Jurisprudence
    EBS Universität für Wirtschaft und Recht
    Emanuel V. Towfigh more
  • Hans Jakob Wörner

    Hans Jakob Wörner
    Physical Chemistry
    ETH Zürich (Schweiz)
    Hans Jakob Wörner more
  • Viktoria Tkaczyk

    Viktoria Tkaczyk
    Cultural Studies / Science History
    Max-Planck-Institut für Wissenschaftsgeschichte, Berlin
    Viktoria Tkaczyk more
  • Frauke Rostalski

    Frauke Rostalski
    Law
    Philipps-Universität Marburg
    Frauke Rostalski more
  • Simon Lentner

    Simon Lentner
    Mathematics / Theoretical Physics
    Universität Hamburg
    Simon Lentner more
  • Evelyn Runge

    Evelyn Runge
    Political Science / Media and Cultural Studies / Journalism / Photography
    The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Israel)
    Evelyn Runge more
  • Jule Specht

    Jule Specht
    Psychology
    Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
    Jule Specht more
  • Dirk Pflüger

    Dirk Pflüger
    Informatics
    Universität Stuttgart
    Dirk Pflüger more
  • Fabian Krämer

    Fabian Krämer
    History of Science
    Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
    Fabian Krämer more
  • Ulrike Endesfelder

    Ulrike Endesfelder
    Biophysics
    Max-Planck-Institut für terrestrische Mikrobiologie & LOEWE Zentrum für Synthetische Mikrobiologie
    Ulrike Endesfelder more
  • Thomas Böttcher

    Thomas Böttcher
    Chemistry/biological Chemistry
    Universität Konstanz
    Thomas Böttcher more
  • Kristina Musholt

    Kristina Musholt
    Philosophy
    Universität Leipzig
    Kristina Musholt more
  • Carina Schmitt

    Carina Schmitt
    Political science
    Universität Bremen
    Carina Schmitt more
  • Florian Meinel

    Florian Meinel
    Law
    Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg
    Florian Meinel more
  • Lena Henningsen

    Lena Henningsen
    Chinese Studies
    Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
    Lena Henningsen more
  • Christian Stein

    Christian Stein
    Literature, Linguistics and Informatics
    Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
    Christian Stein more
  • Christoph Lundgreen

    Christoph Lundgreen
    Ancient History
    Technische Universität Dresden
    Christoph Lundgreen more
  • Bettina Keller

    Bettina Keller
    Theoretical Chemistry
    Freie Universität Berlin
    Bettina Keller more
  • Anuscheh Farahat

    Anuscheh Farahat
    Law
    Max-Planck-Institut für ausländisches öffentliches Recht und Völkerrecht
    Anuscheh Farahat more
  • Xiaoxiang Zhu

    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

    Fabian Schmidt
    Astronomy, Astrophysics
    Max-Planck-Institut für Astrophysik
    Fabian Schmidt more
  • Jonas Peters

    Jonas Peters
    Mathematics, Statistics
    University of Copenhagen (Dänemark)
    Jonas Peters more
  • Jessica Burgner-Kahrs

    Jessica Burgner-Kahrs
    Engineering, Informatic, Continuum Robotics
    Leibniz Universität Hannover
    Jessica Burgner-Kahrs more
  • Wolfram Pernice

    Wolfram Pernice
    Physics/Electrical Engineering
    Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster
    Wolfram Pernice more
  • Sebastian Matzner

    Sebastian Matzner
    Classics/Comparative Literature
    King’s College London (UK)
    Sebastian Matzner more
  • Caspar Battegay

    Caspar Battegay
    German Literature and Jewish Studies
    Universität Basel
    Caspar Battegay more
  • Michael Bies

    Michael Bies
    German Literature
    Freie Universität Berlin
    Michael Bies more
  • Robert Kretschmer

    Robert Kretschmer
    (Inorganic) Chemistry
    Universität Regensburg
    Robert Kretschmer more
  • Timo Rademacher

    Timo Rademacher
    Law
    Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
    Timo Rademacher more

Whether it is junior professors or the reform of the Framework Act for Higher Education, questions of gender equality in academia, sense and nonsense of research ratings or the intertwining of careers in academic relationships: With its surveys and position papers on science policy, the Junge Akademie has made itself heard again and again.

Occasionally, the Junge Akademie has been labelled the voice of young academics by the press. This description is not strictly true, since members do not take on representational functions. But it does emphasise the significance and responsibility the Junge Akademie has concerning questions of university and research policy.

 
 
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