Dear DAAD Friends and Alumni!🎓

Welcome to our October 2022 Edition of the DAAD Australia Newsletter.

Setting sails together - this year we have seen great examples on how we can achieve our goals as a team. Joined projects, collaborations, exchange and networking are the robes we are pulling to move onwards.

Stay up to date with what has been happening and what to look out for in regard to DAAD's activities in Australia and Germany!

This Newsletter includes information and updates on our key topics:



● Recent Event: Falling Walls Lab Australia 2022

● DAAD Interview: 'Science Diplomacy'

● DAAD Australia Alumni Association News

● Insights: Australian Research Projects supported by the DAAD

● Real is Not Real Enough - Unpacking the Real Part 3: Podcast Project about Günther Anders 

● Upcoming Conferences

● Scholarships, Grants & Programs

We hope you will enjoy reading this edition.

Stay in touch with our DAAD IC Team in Sydney,

with kind regards, 

Katharina McGrath, Silke Schoppe und Michael Rieke

For enquiries and information, please contact

the DAAD Information Centre in Sydney:

Telephone: +61272088119

Email: info@daad-australia.org

Teleconferencing: please contact us via email, and our friendly staff will arrange an appointment and provide you with an access link.

Recent Event Highlight:

Falling Walls Lab Australia 2022

The Australian Academy of Science hosted the seventh Falling Walls Lab (FWL) finale on Monday 26 September 2022 to identify the national winner to take part and represent Australia in the global event in Berlin in November 2022.

The ten contestants were selected in heats held at Falling Walls Lab Sydney, organised by DAAD, the German Academic Exchange Service and EURAXESS and Falling Walls Lab Brisbane, organised by the Queensland University of Technology.

Their research work, business model or unique initiative were highlighted in a three-minute presentation to a broad audience from science and industry, including a jury of distinguished academics and businesspeople. The jury, chaired by Australian Academy of Science President Professor Chennupati Jagadish, selected the three most innovative and promising ideas as winners to represent Australia at the hybrid Falling Walls Conference 2022 in Berlin alongside the other 97 global winners, and the top 10 global finalists will compete in the Falling Walls Pitches on 7 November in the Emerging Talents category.



The three winners are

Merryn Fraser from the Australian National University is the winner of the this years' event. Her work explores the biology of Plasmodium parasites which cause malaria.

Second place went to Clara Jiang from the University of Queensland, whose idea of repurposing drugs which share similar gene expression fingerprints, like statins and anti-depressants, could save time and money.

Mars Buttfield-Addison from the University of Tasmania took third place, with her idea of using existing sensors such as astronomical radio telescopes to track space debris.



The recording of the event can be watched here.

Science Diplomacy’s Key Role Building Peace

In an era of increasing political conflict and instability around the world science diplomacy has become a pillar of German foreign policy. In an exclusive interview with University World News, Professor Joybrato Mukherjee, President of the DAAD, talks about the crucial role that science diplomacy can play in building trust and reducing conflict, even in partner countries that do not share the same values. He also explains how the DAAD is supporting the work that institutions and individuals do in this field, as well as how it helps them negotiate a way through the challenges.

Read the full interview here

New German Ambassador visits DAAD Office

This month Dr Markus Ederer, the new Ambassador at the German Embassy in Canberra, visited the DAAD office in Sydney. He discussed with the DAAD opportunities to strengthen existing relationships with Australian scientists, students and alumni who worked, researched and studied in Germany as part of their academic career. The DAAD is excited to extend the collaboration with the German Embassy on this and wishes the Ambassador in Canberra and his family all the best for their new home in Australia.

DAAD Australia Alumni Association News

Save The Date: End of Year DAAD Alumni & DAAD Scholar Event

9 December 2022

Dear DAAD Alumni and current DAAD Scholars,

The end of the year is approaching, and our main objective is to meet as many of you as possible in person. We will therefore celebrate a face-to-face End of Year & Christmas Networking Event at the Goethe Institut Sydney on Friday, 9 December at 6pm.

We will introduce ourselves and look forward to getting to know you all and hearing more about your backgrounds and expertise, your passion, and your ideas on what the DAAD Alumni group could offer in the future. We would like to actively involve as many of you as possible!

We will also share the topics and dates of our upcoming events we have planned for 2023.

To stay in touch with the DAAD Alumni Group, please join us on LinkedIn under DAAD Alumni Association Australia.

We look forward to seeing you on the 9 December. Light refreshments will be served after the welcome, introduction and discussion round.

Claudia Nelson, President – DAAD Alumni Association Australia and Executive Team 

Research Project:

German Radio Transmitter on Insects

Tracking the Queen

Researchers are tracking invasive bumble queens in Tasmania by connecting a German radio transmitter on their back. This new form of insect-tracking will give researchers a deeper understanding on how bumblebees interact with native species and how they contribute to an increase of pollination. Data from the study, funded by Universities Australia and the DAAD through the Australia Germany Joint Research Scheme, will guide future research on bumblebee behaviour in Tasmania and uses of insect-tracking technology. 

Read more about the research project here.

Bilateral Academic Exchange with Down Under (State of Victoria)

As part of the “Bilateral Academic Exchange Program”, the DAAD has entered into a new cooperation agreement with the partner organisation veski for the Australian State of Victoria. The first grant recipient, the virologist Prof. Jason Mackenzie, has completed his residence in Germany.

The program is intended for university employees, and its short duration of between 14 days and a maximum of three months means it is compatible with teaching-free periods. Each applicant can specify their desired funding period. All faculties at universities in Germany and the State of Victoria are eligible to take part.

Photo: Exchange between scientists - German PhD student Florian Gohr, Prof. Jason Mackenzie, Australian PhD student Alice Trenerry and researchers Prof. Dr. Florian Schmidt (left to right) outside the University of Melbourne.

Read about the program and Prof. Mackenzie's experience in Germany here.

AI Made in Germany - 

DAAD’s Konrad Zuse Schools

The DAAD’s new Konrad Zuse Schools of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence programme is funded by the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung. The three Zuse Schools, run by three German universities, provide excellent research-based training and a cross-locational network for international master's and PhD students.

Find more information about this DAAD program, which scientific aspects of AI the Zuse Schools cover and how the application process works here. 

This short video presents the Zuse schools and their programme in a nutshell.

Alliance of Science Organisations in Germany

The Alliance of Science Organisations in Germany is a union of the most important German research organisations, including the DAAD. It issues statements relating to research policy and funding and the structural development of the German research system. The Alliance has recently launched an online portal which presents comprehensive information about the organisation, its members and activities.

Find more information here

Podcast: Eyes and Ears

This time, the podcast series ‘Unpacking The Real’ takes the audience behind the scenes of the project ‘Real is not Real Enough’ which reports about the life and work of German philosopher Günther Anders. The latest episode gives a portrait of two artists who helped to bring Günther Anders’ Hollywood diary to life: Swiss/German actor Edgar Eckert and cartoonist, illustrator and fine artist Eric Löbbecke.

‘Real is Not Real Enough’ is an audio experience developed by a university research team in Sydney and is supported by the DAAD Australia.

Listen to the episode ‘Eyes and Ears’ here

Scholarships, Grants & Programs

Call for Applications

Study Scholarships - Postgraduate Studies in the Field of the Performing Arts 

This scholarship program offers you the opportunity to continue your education in Germany with a postgraduate or continuing course of study. The scholarships also promote the exchange of experience and networking amongst colleagues.

Application deadline: 02 November 2022

(for stays that start in October 2023)

Further information is available here

Call for Applications

Study Scholarships - Postgraduate Studies in the Fields of Fine Art, Design, Visual Communication and Film

This scholarship program offers you the opportunity to continue your education in Germany with a postgraduate or continuing course of study in the fields Fine Art, Design, Visual Communication and Film. The scholarships also promote the exchange of experience and networking amongst colleagues.

Application deadline: 30 November 2022

(for stays that start in October 2023)

Further information is available here

Call for Applications

DAAD – VIC Research Funding Scheme

This funding scheme is a part of the Victoria-Germany Bilateral Academic Exchange Programm, delivered by veski and the DAAD. It is designed to improve international relations and encourage reciprocal research cooperation with German universities. Applications are invited from academics and scientists who have completed a doctoral degree and work at a university in Victoria. The programme is open to applicants across all fields.

Application deadline: 14 November 2022

Further information is available here

Call for Applications

DAAD Berlin Artists-In-Residence Program

The DAAD Artists-in-Berlin Program is one of Europe’s most prestigious grants. Each year, around twenty outstanding practitioners from diverse cultural backgrounds are invited to Berlin to focus on their work and actively engage with the city’s vibrant cultural scene. To be eligible for this fellowship, artists must have developed their own distinguished artistic voice and body of work. The grant is not awarded to students, however, there is no age limitation upwards.

Application deadline: 1 December 2022

Further information is available here

Research in Germany - October Newsletter

Nobel Prize 2022 for Svante Pääbo

Successful research with an excellent research structure in Germany: This year, the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine goes to Svante Pääbo, the director of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig. He is honoured for his pioneering work in the field of palaeogenetics, of which he is considered the founder. One of his most important scientific successes was the decoding of the Neanderthal genome.

Watch this video about Svante Pääbo as a pioneer of paleogenetics here.

Read the latest news on Research in Germany here.

DAAD Conference 'Moving Target Digitalisation '

Digitalisation is fundamentally changing international higher education. Collaboration across borders and new forms of mobility offer a multitude of potentials in a globally networked world. From 30th November to 2nd December 2022, the DAAD conference "Moving Target Digitalisation" will address key issues in this context. The event will take place in a hybrid format, on site in Berlin and online. 

Read about the conference program and register here

Humboldtian Research towards a

Sustainable World

The 19th Biennial Conference of the Australian and New Zealand Associations of von Humboldt Fellows will take place at the Deakin University, Waterfront Campus, Geelong (VIC) from 18th to 20th November 2022. The conference theme is 'Humboldtian Research towards a Sustainable World'. This Biennial Symposium will have a broad academic focus, seeking to bring together the sciences and the humanities in conversation on a sustainable future for our global community. 

Read about the conference program and register here

Berlin Professional School

Study in Berlin:

MBA & International Master’s Programmes

Improve your leadership skills. Gain digital know-how. Study management in English. Become part of an international student body. Benefit from many corporate activities, valuable career consultation and coaching. Discover Berlin Germany’s startup hub, low cost of living, culturally rich and colourful.

 Further information is available here.

ESB Business School at Reutlingen University

Study truly international in Germany

ESB Business School offers top-ranked undergraduate, graduate and executive programmes in business administration and business engineering (German and/or English), providing a strong network of partner companies and international partner universities all over the world.

Further information is available here.