Newsroom

Story 22 May 2018

Give Chance a Chance

For the first time, the lot luck decides in the funding initiative "Experiment!" on the eligibility of project applications. With this procedure, the Volkswagen Foundation enters new territory in the funding landscape.

News 17 May 2018

On the contentious issue of ethnographic objects – 1.2 million euro for provenance research in northern Germany

The history surrounding the ethnographic collections in Hanover, Göttingen, Oldenburg, Hildesheim and Braunschweig will be the focus of a large collaborative project over the next three years.

News 04 May 2018

How to Become a Freigeist Fellow - Interview with the Program Directors of the Initiative (2/2)

Since 2014, the Foundation's Board of Trustees has been electing ten to fifteen Freigeist Fellows each year: These young research talents have an extraordinary research idea and are working at the borders of neighbouring fields or disciplines. In our second part of the interview, Dr. Johanna Brumberg and Dr. Oliver Grewe, program directors of the initiative, answer questions about the way to submitting an application and about the review process.

News 18 April 2018

Sensitive whiskers turn seals into master hunters

The Marine Science Center in Rostock has come up with new findings on the sensory perception of seals - Publication and animated short film

News 20 March 2018

"Freigeist-Fellows are not in the mainstream with their research projects" – Interview with the initiatives program directors (1/2)

Since 2014, the Foundation's Board of Trustees has been electing ten to fifteen Freigeist Fellows each year: Young research talents in all disciplines with an extraordinary research idea, who tread new territory and are working at the borders of neighbouring fields or disciplines. What makes a "Freigeist" in the eyes of the Foundation and how can you apply for the fellowship program? Dr. Johanna Brumberg and Dr. Oliver Grewe, program directors of the initiative, answer these questions in our interview.

Cover Impulse 2018
Publication of the Foundation 01 March 2018

Impulse 2018: "Wir müssen reden!" (in German)

Stories

Portrait eines Mannes
Story 09 July 2025

How does working with AI impact on research?

As a tool of science, artificial intelligence entails numerous risks, opportunities, and ambivalences. These need to be identified and classified. However, there is no revolution in sight, according to Jens Schröter.

Eine Illustration einer Person mit Handy, die schlangenhaft von Social media Beiträgen angegriffen wird. Eine Person, die einen protesteanten interviewt. Die Karte von Deutschland, aus der schwarz-rot-goldene Tropfen heraustropfen.
Story 22 May 2025

What fascinates young people about the far right?

Hostility towards democracy is on the rise in Germany. Yet politicians and academics pay little attention to the attitudes of a particularly important group: young voters. An interdisciplinary project in eastern Germany is determined to change that.