Newsroom

large group of people on stairs in front of a white representative building
Interview 09 March 2023

Supporting Science in Sub-Saharan Africa: Knowledge for Tomorrow with Multiplier Effect

The Foundation supported research in sub-Saharan Africa through the funding of fellowships and cooperation projects. In this interview, two of the German coordinators describe their experiences. 

Illustration with text "Ist das Fair?" (Is it fair?)
Story 21 February 2023

Is it fair? Algorithms and asylum seekers

Europe is experimenting with the application of automated decision-making to manage asylum and migration processes. Researchers in an international project are investigating whether and how the use of algorithms is able to contribute to fairness.

Illustration with a person in a swirl of objects and materials that can be recycled
Funding Offer 09 February 2023

New funding offer: Circularity with recycled and biogenic resources

The funding line 'Collaborative projects' of this initiative is primarily targeted at the natural sciences and engineering. 

Two men and a woman hold a sign with the imprint "zukunft.niedersachsen" into the camera
Funding Offer 08 February 2023

Future agenda for science funding in Lower Saxony presented

The title of the new program for the promotion of research and education in Lower Saxony is "zukunft.niedersachsen". Thanks to additional funding of 580 million euros, three future fields are to be massively developed in order to make Lower Saxony visible as a research  location, also internationally.

Illustration mit Mann, der mit der Lupe ein Globus-Modell untersucht
News 19 December 2022

Earth system science as a new leading concept for the geosciences

At a Leopoldina symposium held on December 19, 2022, the Secretary General of the Volkswagen Foundation Dr. Georg Schütte presented a new funding initiative. Fifty years after publication of the "Limits to Growth" report, the foundation creates a renewed geo-scientific focus on the Earth system as a whole. 

Gruppe von Wissenschaftler:innen im Labor
Video 14 December 2022

Video portrait of Tobias Erb: Artificial photosynthesis

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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