Price for the best research environment 2024: Apply and win now!

Price for the best research environment 2024: Apply and win now!

The young academy and the Volkswagen Foundation have launched a joint initiative to award outstanding research environment. For the first time, the “Best Research Circulation 2024” price is awarded, and an application is possible until November 18, 2024. An incentive in the form of ten prices of 10,000 euros each is awarded to the selected teams. These funds are to be used to promote team culture, to organize retreats or to create further training opportunities.

In a sign of appreciation for the importance of a supportive research environment, members of global research networks that work in the German science system can submit their applications. The award emphasizes how important it is that everyone involved in a research environment contributes to scientific development. The award ceremony is scheduled for June 7, 2025 in Berlin.

The motivation behind the price

Gisela Kopp, the initiator of the prize and former spokeswoman for the Junge Academy, explains: "With this award, we would like to appreciate special efforts to create good research jams." She criticized the fact that the important work that is done in these areas is often not the attention that she deserves. Especially for aspiring scientists, it is crucial to work in an environment that offers orientation and promotion.

Antje Tepperwien from the Volkswagen Foundation emphasizes the intention of stimulating a discussion about the characteristics of an optimal research environment. The price should help to establish the quality of such environments as an important feature of science organizations and to promote their conscious design.

For the awarding of the price, a jury of members and alumni of the young academy as well as representatives of the Volkswagen Foundation and renowned personalities of the science community will create a shortlist of 25 research revenues. From this, the ten winners are determined by a lottery procedure. The selection committee will evaluate various aspects such as the transparency of the communication structures and the future planning of the research environment.

The young academy, founded in 2000, is the first of its kind for early and mid-career scientists. It has established itself as an important voice in the German science system and is committed to the exchange and suggestion within the scientific community.

The Volkswagen Foundation itself has been promoting the development of the science system in Germany for many years and has set itself the goal of causing structural changes. Their activities include a focus on the variety of science cultures and their reflection.

For those interested, there is extensive information about the price, the selection criteria and the online application on the website of the Junge Academy. Further details on the price "Best Research environment 2024" can be accessed on the platform of the Junge Academy.