European Centre for Advanced Studies - ECAS

19/12/2024

Don’t forget to apply for the 6th UK-German Frontiers of Humanities Symposium on until 8 January 2025 for a unique funding opportunity!

You can find all necessary information in the attached post. Good luck!

Funding Opportunity!

Applications are now open for the 6th UK-German Frontiers of Humanities Symposium on Belonging! This event, jointly hosted by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and the British Academy, offers a unique platform for early career researchers to explore interdisciplinary ideas and forge international collaborations.

When: 7–9 May 2025
Where: Berlin (Travel, accommodation and meals will be covered)
Why Apply?
Collaborate with top researchers across disciplines.
Access seed funding for international projects and grants for short working visits through the Humboldt Foundation’s CONNECT programme.
Eligibility:
Researchers in Germany with a PhD completed within the last 10 years, a proven interest in Belonging, and experience in interdisciplinary research.

Deadline: Apply by 8 January 2025 at www.humboldt-frontiers-of-research.net/application.

If you are interested in applying for the symposium and have any further questions or require support, please do not hesitate to contact us directly as we are happy to support you. For further information on the application, please refer to the Alexander von Humboldt Website.

28/11/2024

Funding Opportunity!

Applications are now open for the 6th UK-German Frontiers of Humanities Symposium on Belonging! This event, jointly hosted by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and the British Academy, offers a unique platform for early career researchers to explore interdisciplinary ideas and forge international collaborations.

When: 7–9 May 2025
Where: Berlin (Travel, accommodation and meals will be covered)
Why Apply?
Collaborate with top researchers across disciplines.
Access seed funding for international projects and grants for short working visits through the Humboldt Foundation’s CONNECT programme.
Eligibility:
Researchers in Germany with a PhD completed within the last 10 years, a proven interest in Belonging, and experience in interdisciplinary research.

Deadline: Apply by 8 January 2025 at www.humboldt-frontiers-of-research.net/application.

If you are interested in applying for the symposium and have any further questions or require support, please do not hesitate to contact us directly as we are happy to support you. For further information on the application, please refer to the Alexander von Humboldt Website.

21/11/2024

Fellow Conference 2024 - Day 2: Recap

The second day of Fellow Conference 2024 continued to foster academic collaboration through powerful career advice, academic discussions and research presentations. The first item on the agenda was an in-depth career input from Prof. Dr. Gwyn Gould of the University of Strathclyde, who offered our Fellows career-focused advice and practical insights into academic and personal development based on his 30 years of diverse expertise.

The first research topic of the day was presented by Oscar Ampofo (University of Göttingen) and Melissa Mesek (Glasgow Caledonian University), exploring the motivations and challenges of tenured refugees engaging in entrepreneurship within the agri-food sector with the aim of informing policies that support refugee labour participation, rural development and sustainable economic growth.

In a subsequent presentation, Dr. Anne-Eva Nebovsky (Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg) and Dr. Paula Jacobs (University of Edinburgh) examined dementia care relationships in comparing informal family care and live-in migrant carers to understand how these models shape the experiences of both people with dementia and their caregivers, aiming to inform better care practices and policies.

Afternoon sessions included a project overview by Dr. Layla Engelhardt (University of Göttingen) and Dr. Jonathan Wilkin (Abertay University) on consumer preferences for brown seaweeds as a sustainable ingredient in plant-based milk drinks. The study highlighted the potential for regional innovation in sustainable food products.

The final presentation, by Ali Ahmadi (Clausthal University of Technology) and Adetomiwa Aderemi (Heriot-Watt University), explored geothermal energy opportunities through research mine infrastructure, demonstrating the value of repurposing industrial sites for sustainable energy solutions.

The Fellow Conference has once again contributed to an institutional emphasis on the value of interdisciplinary dialogue and international collaboration, bridging regions and disciplines. We at ECAS look forward to the future contributions of the current beneficiaries of the Lower Saxony – Scotland Tandem Fellowship Programme and to welcoming new ones next year!

20/11/2024

Fellow Conference 2024 - Day 1: Recap

The Fellow Conference 2024 took place as a hybrid event on 4 and 5 November 2024 at the Osnabrück University. The initiative is an integral part of the Lower Saxony – Scotland Tandem Fellowship Programme – a mobility funding scheme for young researchers from both regions funded by the Lower Saxony Ministry for Science and Culture (MKW) and organised by the European Centre for Advanced Studies (ECAS).

The conference has brought together distinguished academics, researchers, and fellows for a dynamic exchange of ideas, with notable contributions from various institutions. The first day began with a warm welcome addresses from ECAS Academic Director, Prof. Dr. James Conroy alongside Prof. Dr. Susanne Menzel-Riedl, President of Osnabrück University and Vice-President of the German Rectors' Conference. The opening speeches underscored the importance of international partnerships and the role of ECAS in fostering cross-border research collaborations that advance knowledge and innovation.

The first Fellows to present their Tandem research were Riaan Philipp Schmidt (German National Metrology Institute (PTB)) and Richard Aguiar Maduro (University of Glasgow), whose topic explores the interaction of structured vector light with magnetised atomic media, with a focus on applications in laser-frequency locking, quantum technologies, and polarisation spectroscopy.

In the next session, Anna Karoline Rüßeler (Leibniz University Hannover) and Michael McKinlay (University of Glasgow) delved into their Tandem project on advances in photonic technology with the aim to develop a miniaturised piezoelectric electro-optical modulator for compact and energy-efficient photonic circuits as well as enhancing electro-optic modulation for communication systems and sensor technologies.
The first day of the conference concluded with a networking dinner for the attendees to unwind, reflect on the day's discussions and build new professional relationships.

The recap for Day 2 is coming up soon!

08/11/2024

Funding Opportunity: UK-German Humanities Research Initiative

The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) are calling for proposals for joint UK-German research projects in the humanities! Here’s what you need to know:

Deadline: 19 February 2025 (Submit via DFG's elan portal by 11:59 p.m. German time)
Project Duration: 24 to 36 months, expected to start early 2026
Funding: Up to £420,000 (UK component), with AHRC contributing 80% of FEC. The DFG part of the funding will be financed through its individual research grant programme. Projects should have balanced contributions from both UK and German partners. Eligible projects should aim for substantial, field-advancing research in the humanities, underscoring the
value of UK-German collaboration. While funding requests do not need to be identical on both sides, proposals should be integrated.
Equity and Diversity: DFG encourages applications from researchers of all genders, backgrounds, and abilities.

Don’t miss the chance to participate in a prestigious initiative advancing global humanities research!

21/08/2024

The sixth Tandem beneficiaries, Layla Engelhardt from the University of Goettingen and Jonathan Wilkin from Abertay University, have been selected for the Lower Saxony – Scotland Tandem Fellowship Programme 2024 with the following research proposal: “Assess the consumer preference of brown seaweeds added to Ultra Heat Treated plant based milk drinks in Lower Saxony & Scotland”.

This project examines consumer acceptance of a seaweed-enriched oat drink, aiming to create a sustainable and nutritious product by combining regional oats with nutrient-rich brown seaweeds from the North Sea. Through sensory evaluations and advanced technologies, the study assesses preferences and off-flavours, comparing responses from both regions to understand cross-cultural food acceptance. Findings will be presented at international conferences and published in a peer-reviewed journal, promoting advancements in functional foods.

More details on the project can be found at: https://ecas-academia.org/engelhardtwilkin/.

19/08/2024

The fifth Tandem grantees, Paula Jacobs from the The University of Edinburgh and Anna-Eva Nebowsky from the Universität Oldenburg, will explore the dynamics of care for people with dementia and their caregivers in their following research proposal: "Dementia and Everyday Experiences of Care and Caring Across Formal and Informal Care Relationships" for the Lower Saxony – Scotland Tandem Fellowship Programme 2024.

The project examines how these relationships function within broader social and policy contexts in Lower Saxony, Germany, and Scotland. Utilising the 'ethics of care' framework, the study compares Scotland's informal family care with Germany's use of live-in migrant carers, analysing qualitative data to understand daily care experiences and improve care practices and policies for dementia care.

More details on the project can be found at: https://ecas-academia.org/jacobsnebowksy/.

14/08/2024

The fourth Tandem researchers, Anna Karoline Rüßeler from Laser Centre Hannover and Michael McKinlay from the University of Glasgow, are developing a "Novel Miniaturised Piezoelectric Electro-Optical Modulator for Space- and Energy-Saving Photonic Circuits" within their project for the Lower Saxony – Scotland Tandem Fellowship Programme 2024.

This proposal aims to create a compact, energy-efficient modulator to enhance photonic circuits, which are crucial for handling increasing digital data traffic. Combining thin-film miniaturisation from Laser Zentrum Hannover with new piezophototronic layers, the modulator will improve electro-optic modulation for fibre optical networks. The innovation supports the thin-film industry in Lower Saxony and Scotland, with findings shared in an open-access paper to benefit the industry.

More details on the project can be found at: https://ecas-academia.org/russelermckinlay/.

12/08/2024

The third Tandem beneficiaries, Ali Ahmadi from Technical University of Clausthal and Adetomiwa Ademeri from Heriot-Watt University, are investigating the geothermal potential of the Reiche Zeche mine.

Their project, "Geothermal Potential in Reiche Zeche: Leveraging Research Mine Infrastructure for Sustainable Energy Solutions" for the Lower Saxony – Scotland Tandem Fellowship Programme 2024, aims to use geothermal heat from abandoned, flooded mines as a renewable energy source. By converting these mines into 'geo-batteries' to store excess heat from solar and wind energy, the study will model low enthalpy geothermal applications and develop methods for other locations. This collaboration involves creating a 3D geomechanical model, simulating heat storage, and analysing the impact of flooding on stability and energy efficiency.

More details on the project can be found at: https://ecas-academia.org/ahmadiaderemi/.

09/08/2024

The second Tandem researchers, Melissa Mesek from Glasgow Caledonian University and Oscar Ampofo from the Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, are conducting "A critical comparative analysis between Lower Saxony and Lanarkshire on refugee entrepreneurship in the agri-food sector" as their project funded by the Lower Saxony – Scotland Tandem Fellowship Programme 2024.

This study aims to understand how refugee entrepreneurship can enhance labour market participation and drive rural socio-economic development. By examining the roles of refugees with asylum and work permits in the agri-food value chain, and the impact of institutional and social factors, the research seeks to inform policies that support refugee integration, economic growth, and sustainable development.

More details on the project can be found at: https://ecas-academia.org/mesekampofo/.

08/08/2024

The first Tandem grantees, Riaan Philipp Schmidt from the National Metrology Institute in Braunschweig (PTB) and Richard Aguiar Maduro from the University of Glasgow, are investigating “Structured vector light for advanced spectroscopy and metrology” within the Lower Saxony – Scotland Tandem Fellowship Programme 2024.

This research explores the unique properties and applications of structured vector light beams. Collaborating with Andrey Surzhykov's group at PTB Braunschweig, Sonja Franke-Arnold's team at the University of Glasgow, and Ilja Gerhardt's Light & Matter Group at Leibniz University Hannover, the project focuses on optimising polarisation structures, studying temperature effects on light interaction, and investigating magnetic field influences. The goal is to enhance understanding of vectorial light-matter interactions and polarisation spectroscopy. Findings will be disseminated through publications and conferences.

More details on the project can be found at: https://ecas-academia.org/schmidtmaduro/.

06/08/2024

ECAS is pleased to warmly welcome twelve outstanding early-career scholars chosen to join the Lower Saxony – Scotland Tandem Fellowship Programme.

After the recent application period and thorough review, the Selection Committee has chosen six tandems with excellent research proposals. The selected projects cover a variety of fields and delve into highly specific topics in both nature and social science.

For detailed information on each of the tandems, please visit: https://ecas-academia.org/lower-saxony-scotland-projects/