Funding for Two RWTH Fortschrittskollegs

Recipients announced for the second round of calls in the NRW Funding Program

 

"The graduate schools link the engineering and natural sciences with the humanities and social sciences in an innovative way. Doctoral candidates collaborate early on with researchers in various disciplines and individuals active in civil society," said Minister of Science Svenja Schulze, explaining the aims of the funding program. Her decision was aligned with the nominations of the expert jury, led by Professor Armin Grunwald, head of the Office of Technology Assessment at the German Bundestag, TAB. Aside from four other projects at German universities and universities of applied science, the RWTH graduate schools ACCESS! and VERBUND.NRW will each receive 2.72 million Euros over the next four and a half years.

ACCESS!

The graduate school ACCESS!, which is under the direction of Professor Grit Walther at the RWTH Chair of Operations Management, is working on the question "What mobility will we be able to afford in the future?." The scientists are taking into consideration both future technical and infrastructural possibilities as well as social demands and global environmental objectives. Two practical projects will take both the challenges in cities – MetropoleRuhr – and those in rural areas – Kreis Heinsberg – into account.

VERBUND.NRW

The graduate school, led by Professor Peter Wuicker from the Unit of Technology of Fuels, TEER, is focused on the investigation and further development of the value added chain for composite materials and constructions in the building sector. Particular attention is being paid to increasing resource efficiency and raw materials recovery. Five RWTH Aachen faculties and three professorships at the Münster University of Applied Sciences are involved in the VERBUND.NRW graduate school.

Source: Press and Communications