The kick-off will be a joint virtual event on 10 June 2021, which will give doctoral researchers networking opportunities as well as insights into the field of tension of the sustainability of digitalisation.
“In order to remain attractive to young scientists in international competition, a comprehensive qualification programme that includes management and social skills in addition to the teaching of research competencies is more important than ever,” says Professor Christoph Neuberger, Managing Director of the Weizenbaum Institute. “It is important that the Internet Institutes exchange experience and knowledge in the field of career development. In this way, we can jointly give new impetus to the dynamic field of digitalisation research and qualify scientific talent for the German and international job market.”
Professor Michael Baurmann, scientific director of the CAIS, adds: “In many respects, Germany is a digitally developing country – we had to painfully experience this again just now during the Corona pandemic. The joint efforts of our institutes to comprehensively promote scientific talent in digitalisation research is a contribution to the development of digital potential in the interest of the people.”
With two keynotes and several thematic sessions, the kick-off event offers doctoral researchers a framework in which research approaches and results from different disciplines can be exchanged, discussed and reflected upon. This is intended to identify interfaces and overlapping interests, which can then be pursued in further projects. In this way, hurdles in interdisciplinary work are to be further reduced and the exchange on similar topics in the still young and heterogeneous research field is to be promoted.
“The cooperation between bidt, CAIS and the Weizenbaum Institute in the area of promoting young researchers is an important step towards tackling digitisation research in Germany in a networked manner. We are looking forward to the cooperation, in which joint activities and qualification offers are to be created,” says Professor Alexander Pretschner, Chairman of the bidt Board of Directors.
In addition to the joint planning and implementation of events, the cooperation between the three institutions also includes the establishment of a pool of trainers, mutual participation in qualification programmes and the promotion of networking, for example through mutual research stays at the participating institutes. In addition, a working group will be formed for regular exchange on career promotion measures, such as the development of programme offerings, qualification standards and methods of interdisciplinary cooperation
The offer is initially aimed at doctoral students at the three institutions and is to be gradually extended to include post-doctoral students and science management staff. Networking with other digitisation institutes is planned in the future for the continuous expansion of academic career support.
ABOUT THE WEIZENBAUM INSTITUTE
The joint project Weizenbaum Institute for the Networked Society – The German Internet Institute has been supported by a research consortium from Berlin and Brandenburg since September 2017. The members are: Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin University of the Arts, Technische Universität Berlin, University of Potsdam, Fraunhofer Institute for Open Communication Systems (FOKUS) and the Social Science Research Center Berlin. The task of the Weizenbaum Institute is to research the ethical, legal, economic and social aspects of the internet and digitalisation. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research provides funding of up to 50 million euros for this purpose.
ABOUT THE BAVARIAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION (bidt)
Bidt is an institute of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities and is funded by the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts. In addition to providing policy advice and engaging in dialogue with the general public, bidt also promotes internal and Bavaria-wide external research projects, thereby contributing to a better understanding of the developments and challenges of the digital transformation.
ABOUT THE CENTER FOR ADVANCED INTERNET STUDIES (CAIS)
The CAIS is a research institute funded by the Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, at which the social opportunities and challenges of the digital transformation are researched. It sees itself as a place of innovative interdisciplinary research and as a source of inspiration for a critical public that wants to come to an understanding about guiding principles for a self-determined life in the digital society.