For the second time, the University is able to award a most unusual stipend: Already in summer 2016, two politically persecuted academics from Turkey sought refuge at the University of Bremen, where they are now able to continue their studies here in a safe environment. This was made possible by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in the frame of the Philipp Schwartz Initiative, which grants stipends to researchers who are put in danger by persecution and war in their home country. The two Turkish academics will each receive a full two-year stipend. Now the Humboldt Foundation has granted several new stipends: Three of them to enable academics to work at the University of Bremen. In addition to this, the selection committee for the Philipp Schwartz Initiative awarded our University the “Best Practice” accolade, with special praise for its exceptional commitment in support of persecuted academics. The Best Practice award comes with a prize of 10,000 euros.
The three Bremen scholarship holders
Starting in January 2017, a Syrian geoscientist from Homs will be integrated in the research group led by Professor Jochen Kuss in the Faculty of Geosciences. He will be doing research on shell limestone in Central Germany or, to be more precise, on the “control factors of sedimentation processes on a carbonate platform in Anis”. The second scholarship holder, a professor of sociology from Istanbul, is researching the “neoliberal-neoconservative biopolicies of the AKP and counter strategies of feminist women in the women’s movement in Turkey”. As of January 2017, she will be working with Professor Yasemin Karakaşoğlu in the area of intercultural education belonging to Faculty 12: Pedagogy and Educational Sciences. The third scholarship holder, also from Turkey, is a political scientist researching concepts of democracy and the move of high-ranking military officers into politics. His research focuses on international comparative studies. In May 2017 he will start working with Professor Klaus Schlichte at the University’s Institute for Intercultural and International Studies.
A clear signal for the protection of persecuted academics
The program suported in the frame of the Philipp Schwartz Initiative creates a platform of solidarity in the scientific community, by means of which the Humboldt Foundation enables persecuted academics to pursue their research free from existential threats. As critical thinkers, these people are often the admonishing voice in conflict situations – which is of course the reason they are persecuted and in danger. “As hosting university, we wish to send a clear signal for the protection of persecuted academics”, says Professor Yasemin Karakaşoğlu, Vice President Diversity and International at the University of Bremen. “The Best Practice funding to expand information and mediation activities, the deepening integration in existing offers and the strengthening of visibility for the topic in the public eye are confirmation of our approach. It supports our commitment to persecuted academics and encourages our University to expand such activities going forward”.
A safe place to do research
How can we best support persecuted researchers? To draw attention to the freedom of science and issues at stake, the University of Bremen recently joined the German section of “Scholars at Risk Network”. Annette Lang, leader of the International Office, explains the University’s position: “Support for foreign researchers and their integration is a strong focus of our internationalization strategy, even more so when their research puts them at risk in their home country. We want to send a signal by joining the network”. The German section is part of the international Scholars at Risk-Network, which encompasses educational institutions all over the world.
The Philipp Schwartz Initiative
The Philipp Schwartz Initiative was set up by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in cooperation with the German Foreign Office. The initiative is named after the Jewish doctor, Philipp Schwartz, who had to flee Nazi Germany in 1933 and subsequently founded the “Notgemeinschaft deutscher Wissenschaftler im Ausland” [Emergency association of German Science]. The initiative is jointly funded by the German Foreign Office, the Alfried Krupp von Bohlen and Halbach Foundation, the Fritz Thyssen Foundation, the Gerda Henkel Foundation, the Klaus Tschira Foundation, the Robert Bosch Foundation, and the Mercator Foundation.
If you would like to have more information, feel free to contact:
University of Bremen
Dr. Annette Lang
International Office
Phone: +49 421 218 60361; Mobil +49 179/6797858
email annette.langprotect me ?!vw.uni-bremenprotect me ?!.de
