Social cohesion is a global challenge. Understanding social transformations is a key to successful coexistence in a complex, heterogeneous world. After a two-stage selection process, the Berlin University Alliance has identified six so-called “Exploration Projects”. These projects research in various disciplines and academic institutions on the dynamics, perspectives, and limits of what holds our societies together at their core. They will be funded from October 2020 with a total volume of 7.1 million euros over the next three years.
The selected projects
“Museums as spaces of social cohesion”: The aim of the project is to re-examine, with regard to social cohesion, the social role of museums, which, in conjunction with universities, are central places for knowledge transfer and community building.
“Transforming Solidarities. Practices and infrastructures in the migration society”: In Berlin as a “laboratory” of the migration society, the project investigates in the fields of work, housing and health what solidarity is and under what conditions it is created where and in what form
“The Laws of Social Cohesion (LSC) – On the importance of law for the democratic shaping of social cohesion”: LSC examines how exactly the law actively shapes coexistence, promotes social cohesion, where its integrative limits lie or to what extent it may even endanger social cohesion.
“Social Cohesion and Civil Society. Interaction Dynamics in Times of Disruption”: Social cohesion is an essential factor in shaping our society and is constantly unfolding anew in exchange with one another. The project examines how these interactions are organised differently under the constraints of the current crisis and what this means for our social cohesion.
“Social cohesion, food and health. Inclusive food system transitions”: Questions of social cohesion are inseparably linked to our food systems and nutrition-related health and are closely interrelated. This project is the first systematic study of this relationship.
“Beyond social cohesion – Global repertoires of living together (RePLITO)”: The project aims to create a digital archive of marginalised, often neglected or invisible forms of living together in order to broaden our understanding of other forms of living together and rethink social cohesion from a transregional perspective.
Prof. Dr. Martina Löw, member of the steering committee for the Grand Challenge Initiatives, is pleased with the selection of the projects: “The projects cover a wide range of topics highly relevant for social cohesion: starting with cultural inclusion, problems in civil societies, current issues of health and nutrition, migration and legal questions. They complement each other in their questions and thus enable a comprehensive analysis of the great challenge of Social Cohesion”.
What are the Grand Challenge Initiatives and their “Exploration Projects”?
The Grand Challenge Initiatives of the Berlin University Alliance will establish larger interdisciplinary research alliances in Berlin that focus on pressing social issues of the future. The first Grand Challenge Initiative is dedicated to questions of social cohesion. The funded “Exploration Projects” are intended to form a specifically Berlin-based approach to these questions. This approach networks the research of the partner institutions in the Berlin University Alliance, bridges the distance between the disciplines and involves non-academic actors from society and politics. With this transdisciplinary approach, the “Exploration Projects” make a significant contribution to the further development of the Alliance’s Grand Challenge Initiatives and strengthen Berlin as a research location in a global comparison.
Prof. Löw comments on the fact that the first Grand Challenge is dedicated to the topic of social cohesion: “Many people are noticing a decline in social cohesion. This impression must be taken seriously. Especially in times of radical social change, the forms of cohesion must be re-examined.
The “Exploration Projects”, Verbund (Network) also presents a special range of support measures. Prof. Dr. Rainer Haag, spokesman of the steering committee, emphasizes: “Most public funding measures in science allow only a low degree of trans disciplinarity and long-term orientation. This is now to be overcome with the Grand Challenge Initiative of the Berlin University Alliance. The selected consortia address social problems, are to research new solutions and show innovative ways of imparting knowledge. The best two consortia will have the opportunity to apply for a so-called Einstein Research Unit after the end of the three-year funding period to ensure a certain sustainability of the research alliance in case of success. Einstein Research Units are supported by the Einstein Foundation Berlin within the framework of a new funding line.
Inter-institutional cooperation between science and society
Applications could be submitted by all doctoral academic members of one of the partner institutions of the Berlin University Alliance. At least two institutions of the alliance should be involved in each consortium applying for funding. The object of research and methods of the six “Exploration Projects” should have a particular appeal. In addition to a novel and innovative approach, the decisive selection criteria were interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary cooperation, a diverse and high-calibre group composition, concepts for the promotion of young researchers and science communication, participation of social actors in Berlin, and long-term orientation.
Prof. Haag explains the procedure: “The task of the steering committee for the Grand Challenges was to establish an efficient and transparent process for the selection of exploration projects within the short start-up phase. We have had many intensive discussions but are very satisfied with the results of the first selection round”.
The Berlin University Alliance
The Berlin University Alliance is the association of the three Berlin universities Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin for the joint shaping of science in Berlin. The four partners have joined forces to further develop Berlin as a centre of science and research into a joint research area that ranks among the world’s top universities. The cooperation focuses on joint research into major societal challenges, strengthening the exchange with society, promoting young researchers, questions of the quality and value of research, and overarching projects in research infrastructure, teaching, diversity, equal opportunities and internationalisation. The Berlin University Alliance is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the State of Berlin as part of the Excellence Strategy of the Federal Government and the Länder.