Opportunities

Our Common Future
Please, submit your application before July 31, 2009.

Call for Applications
Global Challenges and the Conference “Our Common Future”

At the beginning of the 21st Century we are experiencing social, environmental, cultural, and technological changes at an unprecedented pace. Even under rapidly changing circumstances it still holds true that the best way of approaching future challenges is actively confronting them, in suggesting and discussing strategies and solutions as well as mapping out new concepts and approaches for the way ahead. Therefore, the Volkswagen Foundation, the Deutsche Messe and the Stiftung Mercator will provide a platform for leading intellectuals, researchers, business people, and politicians as well as promising young researchers and future leaders in all branches of society to enter into a dialogue culminating in the conference “Our Common Future” to be held from 2 to 6 November 2010 in Hanover and Essen.

Invitation to a Dialogue between Generations

It is the objective of the conference to further the exchange of ideas among established as well as upcoming young researchers, politicians, business people, and decision-makers. Eminent speakers such as Sir Timothy Berners-Lee, Homi K. Bhabha, Paul Collier and Nancy Birdsall have already confirmed their participation. The Volkswagen Foundation offers up to 100 grants for highly motivated young researchers from all over the world and invites them to attend the conference, take part in the plenary sessions, topical workshops, and panel discussions.

Applicants can choose between the following five research areas coached by the scientific advisors listed below:

Climate Change and Energy
Scientific Advisors:
Prof. Dr. Hans-Joachim Schellnhuber (Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research), and Prof. Dr. Reinhard F. Hüttl (German Research Centre for Geosciences, also at Potsdam).
Technology: Communication; Mobility; Factory of the Future
Scientific Advisors:
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Wahlster (German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence, Saarbrücken), Prof. Jutta Allmendinger, PhD; Prof. Dr. Andreas Knie (both Social Science Research Center Berlin), and Prof. Dr. Fritz Klocke (Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology, Aachen).
Economic and Urban Development
Scientific Advisors:
Prof. Stephan Klasen, PhD (Chair of Development Economics, University of Göttingen) and Prof. Dr. Frauke Kraas (Chair for Urban and Cultural Geography, University of Cologne).
Global Health and Molecular Medicine
Scientific Advisors:
Prof. Dr. Axel Haverich (Hanover Medical School) and Prof. Dr. Karl Lenhard Rudolph (Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Ulm).
Human Rights; Migration and Integration; Religion and Values
Scientific Advisors:
Prof. Dr. Jutta Limbach (former President of the Goethe Institute, Munich), Prof. Dr. Dieter Grimm (former Rector of the Institute for Advanced Study - Wissenschaftskolleg, Berlin), Prof. Dr. Klaus J. Bade (Chairman of the Expert Panel of German Foundations on Integration and Migration), Prof. Dr. Michael Bommes (Institute for Migration Research and Intercultural Studies, University of Osnabrück), and Prof. Dr. Hans Joas (Max-Weber Kolleg, Erfurt).
Getting Prepared

In preparation for the conference “Our Common Future” an international and interdisciplinary self-organizing network of young researchers, the “Global Young Faculty”, will meet regularly over the course of the year 2010. The “Global Young Faculty” is initiated and funded by the Stiftung Mercator in cooperation with the Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities (KWI). The grants offered by the Volkswagen Foundation also include travel funds for the cooperation with the “Global Young Faculty”. Joint workshops will be held in June or July 2010 in Germany. These workshops will provide ample opportunities for fresh thinking and mutual learning from each other.

The Initiative

“Our Common Future” is a conference to be held from 2 to 6 November 2010 in Hanover and Essen.

The Volkswagen Foundation invites applications from highly skilled and motivated young researchers (PhD candidates, research assistants, postdocs, junior research fellows, assistant and junior professors) from all over the world.

Funds will cover travel and accommodation expenses for the conference and the preparatory workshops.


Contact

For further information, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

http://www.volkswagenstiftung.de/funding/off-the-beaten-track/our-common-future.html