Alexander von Humboldt Foundation program is geared towards young researchers
Photo: Bruno Todeschini
PUCRS and the Center for European and German Studies (CDEA) opened their doors to Stefan Traumann, Consul General of Germany in Porto Alegre; Christian Roschmann, board member of the Chamber of Commerce Brazil-Germany and member of the program’s selection team in Brazil, and Walter Denk, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation representative, for a lecture in support of the German Chancellor Fellowship for Future Leaders in Brazil. Future Alexander von Humboldt fellow grantees will be able to study in Germany for a year, as applications will be open until Sep 15, 2017.
The program will foster the exchange of ideas, experiences and culture. The Foundation works with a wide range of research areas which include environmental studies, art, culture, economics, among others. “Fellows will have the chance to expand their horizons and learn more. The selection committee is excited about the incredible projects that have been submitted”, claims Traumann.
During the meeting, journalist Fernanda Pugliero, PUCRS alumni, described what it was like to receive a grant to conduct research on newspaper digitalization. “We were free to work on the project. The host is very helpful and supportive. The institution is widely acclaimed in Europe, so we have easy access to the materials necessary to conduct research”, claims she. For Walter Denk, Humboldt’s representative, the Foundation’s mission is to set up scientific networks between Germany and other countries. “We provide support to people involved in research and they make long-lasting relationships.”
The program German Chancellor Fellowship is available to young researchers from Brazil, China, India, Russia and the USA who, in addition to having the chance to propel their careers, will earn a stipend for their personal and professional development in Germany. The project relies on the support from the Chancellor of the German Federal Republic, Angela Merkel, as it is an opportunity for researchers to present their projects to her. Brazil joined the program in 2013 and is the country with the largest number of applicants. Last year, there were 130 applicants and 10 researchers selected.
The German Chancellor Fellowship is available to different areas of research, such as Politics, Economics, Media, Business Administration and Culture. Additionally, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation will earn the future leaders an opportunity to conduct research on world issues as guests in cooperation actions with a host institution from Germany.
The CDEA’s Vice Director and Dean of the School of Humanities of PUCRS, Draiton Gonzaga de Souza, spoke about the activities carried out at the Center.
