Open call: Humboldt residency in Germany

The residency programme offers participants the opportunity to cooperate intensively on this year’s topic, Power and Knowledge, and work together to generate tangible new ideas and communicate them to a broad audience. It brings together a transdisciplinary, international group of 12 participants consisting of ‘humboldtians’ and junior researchers with a diverse range of disciplinary backgrounds with writers, artists, civil society actors and social entrepreneurs.

During the six-week residency in Brandenburg/Berlin, participants will meet daily in shared working spaces. They will have the unique opportunity to enjoy the time and freedom to gain an in-depth understanding of each other's work and thinking, build transdisciplinary bridges, explore synergies, pose bold questions and connect with relevant stakeholders in Berlin and internationally.

While the participants themselves will benefit by learning from each other, they will also select and implement innovative formats to communicate their key messages to target audiences outside of academia. These could include debates with stakeholders, media appearances, bar talks, interactive workshops, blog and social media posts or publications. In 2024, the goal of the programme is to formulate and advertise a policy paper with the participants’ key messages. The programme will address this topic by asking: how the exchange of knowledge between the Global North and the Global South can be structured in the science system and beyond. The aim is to create synergies out of existing knowledge and integrate the voices of more local actors in global strategies.

The key questions are:

• How can we counter inequalities in access to knowledge and in the visibility of different forms of knowledge?
• What resources are required to diversify access to the existing system?
• What possible ways are there of re-establishing traditional knowledge systems that have been destroyed by colonialism?
• How can researchers and political actors from the Global North be sensitised to persistent colonial structures as well as to the value of existing local and indigenous knowledge?

Programme dates

The project will run from June to November 2024 and involves:

• Virtual kick-off meeting – 25 June.
• Two-week residency at the Cultural Foundation Schloss Wiepersdorf – 5 to 16 August.
• Four-week residency in Berlin – 16 August to 13 September.
• Remote finalisation of output formats – September to November.
• Virtual wrap-up event – 26 November.

In-person participation during the entire residency from 5 August to 13 September is a requirement for participating in the programme.

Funding specifications

Funding for participation in the Humboldt Residency Programme includes:

• A monthly allowance during the six-week residency period in Berlin/Brandenburg.
• A travel allowance for the trip to and from Germany.
• Accommodation at Schloss Wiepersdorf (two weeks) and at an aparthotel in Berlin (four weeks).
• A budget for arranging public event formats or end-of-year output.
• For participants traveling with dependent family members, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation will provide suitable family accommodation and support participants in arranging childcare.

Selection criteria

The participants will comprise:

• A creative lead, an alumnus/a of the Humboldt Foundation who is an experienced researcher and science communicator and will facilitate the group's work (this role is not open for applications).
• Three alumni/ae of the Humboldt Foundation who have received any form of fellowship or award in the past but are not involved in one of the Foundation's programmes at the start of the residency programme (June 2024); they will not currently be based in Germany.
• Three junior researchers who are either working on their PhDs or completed their PhDs in the last four years; they will not currently be based in Germany.
• Five individuals from civil society, journalism, the arts or social entrepreneurship who are not currently working for an academic institution; previous experience with science communication or in academic contexts is an asset. Previous experience with science communication or in academic contexts is an asset.

Applications from individuals from all (academic) disciplines who can demonstrate a relevant connection to the annual theme either in their work or other engagement are welcome. Applications from those with innovative or creative approaches to the key questions are welcome.

The selection committee will evaluate applicants based on:

• The compatibility of their motivation with the programme’s objectives.
• The relevance of their perspective or approach to the annual topic.
• Their professional achievements.
• Their suitability with regard to science communication and outreach and trans-disciplinary cooperation.
• The programme’s potential impact on their future professional development.
• Beyond evaluating individual applications, the selection committee will ensure the diversity of the group by taking into account discipline, geography and gender.

How to apply

An application to the Humboldt Residency Programme should include:

• Application form.
• CV (max. three pages, PDF format).
• Self-introduction video (max. 60 seconds, see the application form for details).
• Applicants should send their applications via email at residency@avh.de before 4 March using the subject line ‘Application Humboldt Residency Programme 2024’.

The selection committee will meet in early April, and applicants should expect to receive feedback mid-April.

View the original call here.