Newsroom

Portrait of a man in front of a dark background
Story 11 September 2023

New climate models for reliable future scenarios

Climate researcher Niklas Boers works on optimizing climate models with the aim to improve predictions about extreme weather events and potential tipping points in the Earth system – out of a deep sense of responsibility for future generations.

Funding Offer 23 August 2023

Theme Week on Ethics of Science

The Volkswagen Foundation is hosting a "Theme Week on Ethics of Science: Ethical Dimensions of AI Research and AI in Research" from August 07 to 09, 2024. It invites applications for scientific symposia that address the nexus of artificial intelligence and scientific research from an ethical perspective. Deadline for applications: Dec. 12, 2023

Photo from inside a greenhouse
Story 22 August 2023

A protected space for creative and surprising thoughts

What makes a life with science so special, and what framework conditions must be in place to make it possible for universities as our high-performance academic institutions to offer opportunities and fulfillment? A conversation between Enrico Schleiff, President of Goethe University Frankfurt, and the Secretary General of the Volkswagen Foundation, Georg Schütte – moderated by Christine Prußky.

Eine Frau und ein Mädchen laufen vor einem Mann und einem Jugendlichen durch einen Wald.
Story 16 August 2023

Biodiversity - A family of researchers

In the very large thematic area of biodiversity, Joachim Haug works on very small objects: insect and crustacean larvae. His wife is also an enthusiastic zoologist. So, it's hardly surprising that the passion for research also took hold of their two children at an early age.

Demonstrators with "thumbs up" and "thumbs down" signs
Interview 20 July 2023

New funding offer: Democracies under change

In a two-part funding offer, the Foundation is looking for transdisciplinary project teams to draw up recommendations on how democracies must develop in order to master the multiplicity of societal challenges. Application deadline for 'task forces': Sept. 19, 2023

mehrere Ausgaben des aktuellen Impulse-Magazins auf einem Tisch ausgebreitet
Publications of the Foundation 05 July 2023

Living science - "Impulse" magazine 2023

In its 2023 issue, the foundation magazine "Impulse" introduces scientists who combine passion and profession and who are following their very own path. Let yourself be infected by the enthusiasm of these researchers - read their stories on the website download or in the print edition. 

Illustration: Reproduktion von Reichtum
Story 14 May 2025

Politics and wealth: a lopsided alliance?

A small, rich minority is becoming increasingly wealthy. Eva Wegner and Miquel Pellicer ask: How does politics contribute to growing economic inequality – and whose interests do MPs actually represent?

Eine Frau, die aufmerksam zuhört
Story 06 March 2025

So that everyone can have their say: Citizens' assembly on AI research

Rhetoric expert Anika Kaiser researches how people can make themselves heard on the major issues of our time – artificial intelligence (AI) being a case in point. She is the right person to take care that this grassroots democratic process does not remain too detached from reality: in her first life, she trained as a painter.