Newsroom

Interview 30 July 2020

Behind the scenes of research culture: "Black Box Science"

Freigeist Fellow Rainer Kaufmann has the courage to leave the comfort zone – his video project "Black Box Science" gives an uncompromising view of research culture. An interview about the realities of everyday life in research and the origins of the "Black Box" project.

News 15 July 2020

Making good science even better

The Volkswagen Foundation is the only funding organization from Germany to become a member of the international "Research on Research Institute", whose ambitious mission is to optimize science cultures – worldwide.

News 08 July 2020

Next step for MOONRISE: Moon dust melted under lunar conditions

Even though the MOONRISE project has not yet arrived on the moon itself, it has now successfully completed an important step on the way there: For the first time, researchers were able to produce dense material under lunar conditions in the Einstein-Elevator in Hannover.

Cover des Jahresberichts 2019
Publication of the Foundation 26 June 2020

Annual Report 2019 (in German)

News 26 June 2020

Annual Report 2019 – an overview

Record year: With a total of 253.2 million euros, the Volkswagen Foundation has approved more funding in 2019 than ever before.

News 22 June 2020

About ants and water filters - video on nanotechnologies

Entertaining and informative: The young South African scientist Dr. Anita Etale explains the benefits of nanotechnologies.

Stories

Portrait einer Frau in einem weitläufigen Flur
Story 08 October 2025

Christina Roggatz: Science that makes waves

Marine scientist Dr Christina Roggatz from the University of Bremen is leading her own team for the first time – and through her work wants to arrive at a better understanding of climate change. Here she gives us an insight into her everyday life as leader of a junior research group.

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.