The "Forum Transregionale Studien" is founded
Press release from 10/19/2009
The "Forum Transregionale Studien" was founded on 16 October 2009 at the official residence of the President of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation. It is based on a recommendation by the Berlin Science Commission, which sees this type of study as a special opportunity to raise Berlin's international profile as a centre of research in the humanities and social sciences.
The forum is intended to promote research in the humanities and social sciences in Berlin that pursues important issues from a transregional perspective. The background to this is the observation that the interdependence of world regions is becoming ever closer as a result of globalisation and that orientation in the world and the knowledge base required for this, the "remote competence", is becoming increasingly important. Research in the humanities and social sciences should therefore develop a new quality. The "Forum Transregionale Studien" wants to make a contribution to this. It promotes research on transnational and transcultural interdependencies and makes them internationally visible. It works as a subsidiary to existing transregionally orientated institutions.
The association consists of the heads of the following institutions and organisations: Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Centre Marc Bloch, German Archaeological Institute, German Institute for Economic Research, German Institute of Global and Area Studies /Leibnitz Institute for Global and Area Studies Hamburg (GIGA), Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Hertie School of Governance, International Centre for Advanced Study in the Humanities "Interweaving Theatre Cultures" (Freie Universität Berlin), International Centre for Advanced Study in the Humanities "Work and Life Course in Global Historical Perspective" (Humboldt University of Berlin), Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Max Planck Institute for the History of Science, Collaborative Research Centre 640 "Representations of Social Orders in Transition" (Humboldt University of Berlin), Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin, Social Science Research Centre Berlin, Centre for Modern Oriental Studies. Other relevant institutions and organisations may join at any time.
Professor Dr Hermann Parzinger, President of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, was elected Chairman of the Forum's General Assembly. He explains: "This is a great step towards strengthening the unique regional and transregional research expertise of the scientific institutions based in Berlin. I am delighted that the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation is able to help shape this process. The topics to be addressed will also play an important role in the content of the future Humboldt Forum."
The provisional board consists of Professor Andreas Eckert, Professor Erika Fischer-Lichte and Professor Dieter Grimm, the former rector of the Wissenschaftskolleg (chair). The Forum's office will initially be located at the Wissenschaftskolleg.
As a first step, the "Forum Transregionale Studien" wants to initiate two to three exemplary projects. In the near future, funding projects with a duration of four to five years will be publicly advertised. No specifications will be made regarding the activities and forms of funding within the projects. The aim is also to try out new forms of scientific work.
Contact:
Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz
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Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin
Institute for Advanced Study
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