Newsroom

Zwei Hände halten einen grünen Sack mit Reishülsen
Story 10 September 2024

Affordable Water-Purification from Waste

Trained as a mechanical engineer, the Kampala-based researcher Peter W. Olupot has spent the last decade finding ways to produce affordable water purification systems using rice husks, a common byproduct of rice production.

Portrait eines Mannes
Story 03 September 2024

Preventing future pandemics through community empowerment

Human societies transform the natural environment around them. If this impact is negative, it can increase infectious disease risk. Epidemiologist Joacim Rocklöv believes changing human behavior is critical to preventing pandemics from happening in the future. 

Viele Menschen sitzen um einen ovalen Tisch in einer Besprechung
News 02 September 2024

New faces on the Volkswagen Foundation's Board of Trustees

Lower Saxony's Science Minister Falko Mohrs takes over as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Volkswagen Foundation, Germany's largest private science funding organisation. The federal cabinet and the state government of Lower Saxony have appointed a total of three new members to the foundation's highest decision-making body.

Zwei Frauen sprechen vor einer Gruppe von Zuhörerinnen
News 21 August 2024

Women's Impact Award: the three shortlisted winners have been announced

Together with ‘Falling Walls Female Science Talents’ and other partner organisations, the Volkswagen Foundation supports the Women's Impact Award. The first three shortlisted winners have now been announced - congratulations!

Illustration with two people next to a telescope pointing at the sky
Funding Offer 15 August 2024

Pioneer Projects – Impetus for the German Research System

The Volkswagen Foundation wants to offer experimental spaces for fundamental innovations and significant improvements in all areas of the (German) research system. To this end, the Foundation will fund promising ideas for pioneer projects from the academic community. Deadline for draft proposals: October 15, 2024

Eine comichafte Zeichnung von jungen Menschen, die Arm in Arm laufen und in deren Mitte ein Smartphone mit ihnen ebenfalls Arm in Arm läuft. Um sie herum sind viele Social Media Icons abgebildet. Alle haben gute Laune.
Story 14 August 2024

Virtual companions through digital worlds

A digital companion that supports rather than lectures children and young people and is also entertaining: this is what the interdisciplinary and international consortium "COURAGE" is working on.

Stories

Satellitenansicht der Innertropischen Konvergenzzone
Story 09 June 2026

Climate Research Using Old Ship’s Logs: the Wind Leaves no Trace on the Sea

Did a volcanic eruption in 1783 shift the tropical rain belt? Old ship’s logs could provide the answer – and also shed light on the future climate for millions of people living around the equator.

Mehrere Personen sitzen zusammen, eine Frau erzählt etwas, ein Mann tippt dabei an einem Laptop. Im Hintergrund sind Bananenpflanzen und ein Dschungel-Wald zu sehen.
Story 27 May 2026

A Pharmacy From the Rainforest: Remedies for the Mind

Fabien Schultz is searching for natural materials that can be used to treat mental health conditions. To this end, he is working with indigenous communities in Uganda and Tanzania – and with monkeys.

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