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Every day, Katrin Kinzelbach and Lars Lott could stand in a lecture hall explaining the Academic Freedom Index. Demand is high. So is the burden on the researchers. How can a balance be struck between science and impact? 

At the Falling Walls Science Summit 2025, leading representatives of the scientific community discussed threats to academic freedom – and how research institutions can strengthen their resilience.

Administration without queues – this could be the outcome of Prof. Dr. Anna Maria Oberländer's 'Change!' project. Her goal: people-centred digital administration.

On 10 September 2025, experts gathered at Herrenhausen Palace to take part in a symposium on the topic of why authoritarian regimes routinely attack educational institutions, what this says about the value of these institutions to open societies, and how universities can return to their core mission.

Conflicts are often so deadlocked that constructive dialogue between the opposing sides is no longer possible. Instead, social media is used to fuel stereotypes and fake news. This breakdown in communication threatens democracy. The "Testimonial Lab" project explores new forms of communication that can restore dialogue.

The VolkswagenStiftung has granted approximately €1.6 million to support nine innovative projects addressing current democratic challenges: from digital deradicalisation strategies and democratic structural reforms to protecting museums from far-right attacks. These projects adopt transdisciplinary approaches with practical relevance.