Welcome
Wiss-Nama Newsletter July 2024
News from Indo-German cooperation
Fraunhofer Office India Director Anandi Iyer Awarded Federal Cross of Merit by German Government
Anandi Iyer, director of the Fraunhofer Office in India, has been awarded the Bundesverdienstkreuz (Federal Cross of Merit) by the German government for her significant contributions to Indo-German relations over the past 25 years. Announced by the German Embassy in India, the award recognizes her key role in enhancing collaboration between the two nations, particularly in science and technology. With over 16 years at the Fraunhofer Office, Iyer has developed strong ties in areas like smart cities, renewable energy, smart manufacturing, and digitalization. Her involvement in the Indo-German Expert Group on Digitalisation, initiated by both countries' governments, highlights her contributions. This award coincides with the 50th anniversary of Indo-German Science and Technology Cooperation. German Ambassador to India, Philipp Ackermann, praised Anandi’s dedication, stating that her efforts have significantly advanced Indo-German relations and innovation. The Bundesverdienstkreuz, one of Germany's highest honours, underscores her exceptional role in fostering international collaboration and innovation.
Upcoming events and conferences
Panel Discussion on ‘Cross-Border Mobility’
The panel discussion “Perspectives on Cross-Border Mobility” on July 17 concludes the virtual Early Career Research Symposium for Humanities and Social Sciences on ‘Cross Border Mobility’ (15 - 17 July) and is open to the public. The panel features high-ranking experts who will provide an interdisciplinary outlook on various mechanisms intersecting with different types of cross-border mobility, including Law, Labour, Education and individual narratives, within the contexts of India, South Asia, Germany and Europe. The symposium, initiated by the Delhi-based German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the Max Weber Forum for South Asian Studies (MWF), and the Advanced Study Centre ICAS:MP, offers an excellent platform for early career scholars to showcase their research and receive feedback. The event is supported by the German Centre for Research and Innovation (DWIH) New Delhi.
DAAD Events
Web Session: Master & PhD Scholarships
The session will provide you with information on DAAD scholarship programmes across various subject fields and degrees, eligibility criteria, application procedure, deadline etc.
July 10, 4:00 PM, Online
Study and Research in Germany
DAAD New Delhi office is offering ‘Study in Germany’ information sessions!
New Delhi: July 11, 2024, 3:30 PM, DAAD Regional Office New Delhi 1 Africa Avenue, DLTA Complex New Delhi 110030
Web Session: Masters in Germany
Join this web session and get to know all that you need to know about doing a Master’s degree in Germany. Get your questions answered too!
July 16, Online
Web Session: Master & PhD Scholarships
The session will provide you with information on DAAD scholarship programmes across various subject fields and degrees, eligibility criteria, application procedure, deadline etc.
July 17, 4:00 PM, Online
My Student Journey: Dildi and Sai Krishna tell their Story
Listen to and connect with Dildi, currently a PhD student at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz in Geology and Sai Krishna, currently a PhD student at RPTU (TU Kaiserslautern/ Uni Koblenz-Landau) in Electronic Mobility. Know all that you need to know about studying in Germany and get answers to your questions.
Web Session: Master & PhD Scholarships
The session will provide you with information on DAAD scholarship programmes across various subject fields and degrees, eligibility criteria, application procedure, deadline etc.
July 24, 4:00 PM, Online
Pre-Departure Meet
The DAAD is organising a Pre-Departure Meet for students heading to Germany for this Winter Semester. It is designed to provide essential insights and guidance to ensure a smooth transition to academic life in Germany. Open for students, with admission for winter semester to study at German universities.
Pune: July 26, 2024, 4:00 PM, Conference room, DAAD Information Point Pune C/o Indo German Chamber of Commerce, 710 Nucleus Mall, 1 Church Road Pune 411001
Pre-Departure Meet
The DAAD is organising a Pre-Departure Meet for students heading to Germany for this Winter Semester. It is designed to provide essential insights and guidance to ensure a smooth transition to academic life in Germany. Open for students, with admission for winter semester to study at German universities.
Chennai: July 26, 2024, 4:00 PM, DAAD Information Point Chennai, At Indo-German
Chamber of Commerce, 3rd Floor, 32, G.N.Chetty Road, T Nagar, Chennai 600017
Web Session: PhD in Germany
Join this web session and find out all that you need to know about doing a PhD in Germany. Get your questions answered too!
July 30, 3:00 PM, Online
Web Session: Master & PhD Scholarships
The session will provide you with information on DAAD scholarship programmes across various subject fields and degrees, eligibility criteria, application procedure, deadline etc.
July 31, 4:00 PM, Online
DAAD Alumni Meet
DAAD Alumni are visiting KPIT Technologies Ltd Pune. The meet will include visit to KPIT’s plant of India’s First Green Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus followed by a motivational talk by Mr Ravi Pandit, Chairman of the Board, KPIT Technologies Ltd. Alumni also get an opportunity to visit other labs of the KPIT along with round table or individual discussions with company authorities. Entry is by invitation only.
Pune: August 3, 9:00 AM, KPIT Technologies Ltd.
Calls for proposals
European Conference for South Asian Studies
Organised by the South Asia Institute, Heidelberg University, the 28th European Conference for South Asian Studies (ECSAS) will take place in Heidelberg from October 1-4, 2025. The ECSAS has met regularly has met regularly since 1968 and provides an important opportunity to discuss current research and scholarship on topics relating to South Asia within the humanities and social sciences. The conferences operate under the auspices of the European Association for South Asian Studies (EASAS), a charitable academic association supporting research and teaching concerning South Asia. One of the objectives of the ECSAS is to encourage international collaboration, especially between scholars based in European and South Asian academic spaces, although scholars from all over the world are welcome. A call for panels in the conference is now open.
Application deadline: July 24, 2024
DAAD–DST Project-based Personnel Exchange Programme
DAAD and the Department of Science and Technology (DST) are inviting applications from university professors and scientists from German and Indian universities and those in permanent employment at independent research institutes are eligible to apply for 2 years of funding for collaborative research projects between Indian and German research groups. Young researchers get an opportunity to gain international research experience and undergo further training at an international level. The bilateral research cooperation can be used as a starting point for future cooperation. Applications need to be submitted simultaneously by Indian and German partners to DST and DAAD respectively.
Application deadline: August 31, 2024
Max Planck-India Mobility Grant (MPIMG)
Max Planck India Mobility Grants are a distinction awarded to highly qualified Indian scientists who should be in their final year of doctorate or have obtained their doctorate no longer than ten years ago. MPIMG are awarded for three years enabling the candidates to initiate and pursue research links to a Max Planck Institute of their choice. Candidates have the right to visit a Max Planck Institute (MPI) for a minimum of one month per year. Former Max Planck Partner Group Heads and former Max Planck India Mobility Grant Holders are not eligible to apply for this grant.
Applications are on a rolling basis throughout the year.
MSCA Postdoctoral scholarships 2024
The Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowships aim to improve the creative and innovative potential of researchers holding a PhD. They will help researchers acquire new skills, develop their careers, and gain international, interdisciplinary, and inter-sectoral experience by working in another country. MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships aims at supporting the international mobility of researchers within (European Fellowships) and beyond Europe (Global Fellowships). Researchers based in India willing to move to Europe for their fellowship can apply for a European Fellowship. Researchers based in Europe can apply for a Global Fellowship to carry out research of up to 2 years in a third country, in this case India, and return to Europe for 1 year. Individual researchers can submit proposals for funding written in liaison with their planned host organisation in Europe. The host can be a university, a research institution or facility, a company, small or medium-sized enterprise, a government, public institution, or body, a museum, hospital, or NGO or any other organisation.
Application deadline: September 11, 2024
The International Max Planck Research School on Earth System Modelling
The International Max Planck Research School on Earth System Modelling (IMPRS-ESM) offers a structured, interdisciplinary and international program for graduate students who want to earn a PhD degree. The main focus of this doctoral program is to advance the understanding of processes and dynamics in the Earth system as well as the prediction skills. IMPRS-ESM is a joint program by the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology (MPI-M) and the University of Hamburg (UHH). Candidates who have a strong interest in climate research and have experience in working with numerical models of Earth system or its components are welcome to apply. A Master’s degree in physics, geophysical sciences (incl. meteorology and oceanography), ecology, mathematics, computer science, engineering, economics, or political science is needed for the eligibility criteria.
Application deadline: September 15, 2024
IGSTC launches WISER programme 2024
The Indo-German Science & Technology Centre (IGSTC) launched Women Involvement in Science and Engineering Research – WISER programme for the year 2024. This scheme allows women researchers in India and Germany to participate and collaborate in an ongoing research project in the other country without applying for fresh project grant in partnering countries. With this low-threshold offer for female scientists, WISER intends to build scientific capacity, retain and promote women researchers in India and Germany. Women researchers holding a regular position in academic/research institutions/industrial research organisations in India or Germany are eligible to apply.
Applications are considered on a rolling basis.
Call for nominations for Max Planck Partner Groups
Max Planck Society is inviting applications for the Max Planck Partner Groups that are intended for highly motivated junior scientists or postdocs who have obtained their doctorate no longer than seven years ago. A particular focus of this year´s call will be on new partner groups in the following regions, Africa, Asia/Southeast Asia and Central and Eastern European countries. They must have spent a minimum of 6 to 12 months at an MPI before moving to a respective research institution in their home country or one of the regions mentioned above. The nomination of female scientists is explicitly encouraged.
Application deadline: September 30, 2024
Institute of the month
Max Planck Institute for Meteorology
The focus of the research of the institute is on understanding the processes that establish and change Earth's climate, particularly how human activities amplify the greenhouse effect, leading to global warming. Key questions include the extent and speed of warming, the movement and persistence of greenhouse gases, and the consequences for global atmospheric and oceanic circulation and weather patterns. The research also explores the impacts on ecosystems and human systems, and how these in turn influence human activities. This fusion of technology and data creates sophisticated Earth information systems, offering new insights into the planet and its future. The institute's research is organized into departments with overlapping interests, fostering collaboration. Scientific Departments within the institute are Climate Physics, Climate Dynamics and Climate Variability. The institute maintains close ties with Universität Hamburg, in particular with the Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability (CEN) as well as the KlimaCampus Hamburg. The most important partner continues to be the German Climate Computing Center (Deutsches Klimarechenzentrum, DKRZ). Within the Max Planck Society, the institute is a member of the Earth and Solar System Research Partnership (ESRP). It includes the Max Planck Institutes for Biogeochemistry in Jena, for Chemistry in Mainz, for Solar System Research in Göttingen, as well as our institute. The partnership aims to coordinate strategies and promote collaboration.
Great women in science
Linda Patridge
Linda Patridge is the founding director of the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing in Cologne and Director of the UCL Institute of Healthy Ageing. Born in 1950, she studied biology at the University of Oxford. After completing three years of postdoctoral research at the University of York, she held positions as Demonstrator, Lecturer, Reader, and Professor at the University of Edinburgh. In 1994, she became Professor of Biometry at University College London (UCL). Partridge's research focuses on understanding the evolution of ageing rates in nature and the mechanisms to extend healthy lifespan in laboratory model organisms. Her work emphasizes nutrient-sensing pathways, such as insulin/insulin-like growth factor signalling, and dietary restriction. Currently, she is working on developing pharmacological treatments to improve health during ageing. She has received numerous awards, including a DBE for services to science.
Did You Know?
Germany’s dual education system stands out globally, combining academic learning with practical training. Students opting for this path divide their time between gaining practical work experience and studying theory at a vocational school. Statistics show that about 70% of students in Germany choose the dual education system.