Martina Münch, Brandenburg’s Minister for Science, Research and Culture, and Prof. Oliver Günther, Ph.D., President of the University of Potsdam, brought home positive results from their trip to Argentina. Münch and Günther led a delegation from the University of Potsdam that visited universities, research institutions, museums and schools in Argentina from September 14 to 18, where they discussed opportunities for cooperation.
Minister Münch: “A diverse array of productive contacts have developed between the University of Potsdam and institutions in Argentina, and that really showed in our discussions, events and meetings over the past few days. Both sides will profit in the future from existing projects, good contacts and mutual inspiration. By cultivating and expanding its international contacts, the University of Potsdam is demonstrating once more that it is one of Germany’s largest and strongest research-oriented universities. The excellent results in various national and international rankings has also provided evidence of this,” said Münch. “The University of Potsdam, as a relatively new university, is very well positioned in the research and teaching landscape, and it is one of the leading scientific institutions in the Berlin-Brandenburg region. The outstanding interconnections with extramural research also provide additional stimuli and very good opportunities, especially for the next generation of scientists and scholars. The University’s latest successes this year – the acquisition of two new special research fields from the German Research Society (DFG) and its distinguished performance in the ‘Innovative University’ competition among Germany’s federal states – underline once more the University of Potsdam’s high level of performance.”
University President Günther: “Our journey showed, in an impressive way, how support from our state government for internationally visible top research is now producing concrete results. Brandenburg is increasingly being perceived as a region for scholarship and science. Highly talented young people from all over the world are coming to the University of Potsdam, to teach and to study, to found companies. This is good both for Brandenburg’s economy and for the state’s culture and demographics. Our encounters in Argentina were wonderful, without exception. Our joint research projects – for example, in the geo- and biosciences – are proceeding well, and there is an intensive discussion among scientists and students, including many who are studying to become teachers. All of this benefits both sides.”
The delegation met with representatives from the Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM) and the Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), among others, to discuss the results of existing cooperative arrangements, to sound out the potential for new scholarly cooperation as well as ideas for even closer collaboration between the University of Potsdam and these two universities. Concrete agreements have been signed with both universities, which will drive forward joint research, for example in Jewish studies as well as in earth and environmental science. There were discussions with the German Hospital in Buenos Aires about possible cooperation in the form of internships for students and young scholars from Brandenburg’s upcoming Health Campus. A meeting was also held with CONAE, Argentina’s national aerospace agency, resulting in cooperative agreements pertaining to the analysis of remote sensing data. Agreement was also reached with the president of CONICET, Argentina’s National Scientific and Technical Research Council, as well as representatives from Argentina’s Ministry of Science, that Argentina will plan funding for the “StRATEGy” PhD research group in the geosciences. CONICET continues to be interested in Brandenburg’s technology transfer program. A joint expert workshop will be held in 2018.
A meeting with the administrators and pupils of the German-language Pestalozzi School in Buenos Aires focused on opportunities for cooperation, for example, the University of Potsdam offering trial studies for Argentinean high school graduates. At a visit to the Jewish Museum in Buenos Aires, the focus was on the “Digital Objects of Exile” project at the Moses Mendelssohn Center at the University of Potsdam, which collects, presents, evaluates and digitalizes objects related to German-Jewish immigration in Central and South America. Overall, the University of Potsdam is planning to work together with the state of Brandenburg and its regional partners to significantly expand its engagement with Argentina.
Contact: Dr. Silke Engel, Press Officer, University of Potsdam
Tel.: +49 331 977-1496
Email: silke.engeluuni-potsdampde
Photo: University President Prof. Oliver Günther, Ph.D. (Uni Potsdam), Rector Carlos Ruta (UNSAM) and Minister of Science Dr. Martina Münch (from left to right) (Photo: Pablo Carrera Oser)
Press Release 19-09-2017 / No. 147
Silke Engel
University of Potsdam
Department for Press and Public Relations
Am Neuen Palais 10
14469 Potsdam
Tel.: +49 331 977-1474
Fax: +49 331 977-1130
Email: presseuuni-potsdampde
Internet: www.uni-potsdam.de/presse
Published online by: Marieke Bäumer
Contact the online editorial office: onlineredaktionuuni-potsdampde