Researchers in Europe without Barriers – Czech Presidency Conference “Creating attractive framework conditions and attra

1. Researchers in Europe without Barriers – Czech Presidency Conference “Creating attractive framework conditions and attracting talented junior scientists” Ilka Schießler Max Planck Society, Germany Prague, 28 April 2009

2. The Max Planck Society • Application must be preceded by knowledge. (Max Planck) • The Max Planck Society‘s research activities are • knowledge driven • open to application • oriented towards basic research • The Max Planck Society‘s scientists work • at the frontier of knowledge • at an internationally recognized level • in selected areas, whenever they • are new or • not (yet) represented at universities or • require special funding and/or must be set up for the especially long term or • enable the training of specialized junior scientists

3. Locations

4. The global knowledge-based society of the future • Research based on the solid foundation of education and qualification • Key factor in ensuring the society‘s prosperity • Programms to support excellent junior scientists • Financial and legal framework conditions Ilka Schießler

5. International competition for the brightest minds • Demographic trends in Germany and Europe • More schoolchildren must obtain university qualifications to survive in global competition • The potential of women must be harnessed to greater effect Ilka Schießler

6. Attractive scientific career opportunities • Primary importance: number of scientific job available in specific specialist fields • Problem: cut back or discontinued research fields owing to financial considerations • Better long-term prospects • Otherwise: junior scientists will look for jobs abroad or in areas outside of science Ilka Schießler

7. Reconciling family and professional life • Hertie Foundations‘s „career and family“ audit in 2006; currently being re-audited  ongoing measures are assessed, development potential is identified and continuing support is developed • Childcare situation has been improved: • existing childcare provisions have been extended or facilities have been newly established • range of childcare services and times were enhanced •  better reconciliation of family and working life Ilka Schießler

8. Equal opportunities between men and women • Support parents in continuing their scientific careers • Dual-career support • Childcare and extention of childcare times • Childcare services during congresses, meetings and evening seminars • Flexibility in terms of working hours and location • Improved opportunities for part-time employment • Internet protal „family and work“ Ilka Schießler

9. Statistical data • Women make up over 24% of scientific staff • Almost 23% of heads of junior research groups and senior research scientists, and more than 40% of doctoral students are women • In 2008, 5 of 20 newly vacant W3 positions and 21 of 41 W2 positions went to women Ilka Schießler

10. Various stages of scientific career • Permeability between various stages of a scientific career and the recruitment process are key factors for a successful science system • MPS supports junior scientist at all stages of their carrer: • Students • Doctoral students • Postdoctorals • Independent Junior Research Groups • Publically advertised in specialist publications or in the MPS‘s employment listings Ilka Schießler

11. Qualifications and advancement • Wide range of opportunities • Position of Junior Professors for qualification as a Professor or a Scientific Member • Cooperation agreements with universities on joint appointments of Junior Professors Ilka Schießler

12. More than the university degree! Employment requirements for university professors: • Pedagogical skills • Exceptional abiltiy in scientific work • Evidence of additional scientific achievement Ilka Schießler

13. Fast-track Procedures • For particularly talented students • Commonplace in Anglo-Saxon countries • Enable to join doctoral programms directly after completing a Bachelor‘s degree or after one-year preparatory Master‘s stage • Germany is currently losing the brightest junior scientists Ilka Schießler

14. Tenure-track • The MPS attaches great improtance to presenting career opportunities to the top candidates • At the same time MPS must also develop its own research profile •  tenure track positions are only offered on a very limited basis • Balance between fixed-term and permanent positions • Appointment decisions are made on a individual basis, depending on the results of scientific evaluation and scientific perspective planning Ilka Schießler

15. International standing • Opportunities in Germany are essentially attractive, even by international standards • Major problem: lack of specialized workforces; maintain a lead in innovation in future  in the field of mathematics, information technologie, natural sciences and technology • Women are under-represented in technical and scientific fields of study in Germany • Modernization of the traditional culture of work and science is required Ilka Schießler

16. Student assistants, Ph.D. students, post-docs, research scholars and guest-scientists Ilka Schießler

17. Student assistants, Ph.D. students, post-docs, research scholars and guest-scientists 2007 acc. to nationality Ilka Schießler

18. Thank you for your attention Ilka Schießler