Announced for the last time in 2021: The Volkswagen Foundation’s “World Knowledge – Structural Support for Small Subjects” funding program. The funding initiative has existed since 2017 and focuses on many disciplines, from Egyptology, classical archaeology and restoration science to the history of science and futurology The so-called small disciplines often stand for a large, important and forward-looking body of knowledge, for interdisciplinarity, internationality and innovation. […]

Announced for the last time in 2021: The Volkswagen Foundation’s “World Knowledge – Structural Support for Small Disciplines” funding program. The funding initiative has been in existence since 2017 and focuses on many disciplines from Egyptology, classical archaeology and restoration science to the history of science and futurology

The so-called minor subjects often stand for a large, significant and forward-looking body of knowledge, for interdisciplinarity, internationality and innovation. Their complex subjects encourage problems to be addressed from multiple perspectives and thus make a key contribution to the multi-layered exploration of the world and holistic “world knowledge” that is so important in view of the current global challenges. At the same time, these areas of knowledge are often characterized by precarious structures at universities.

The funding program therefore aims to sustainably strengthen structurally precarious areas of knowledge in research and teaching. It is intended to encourage representatives of these fields of knowledge to develop innovative ideas for structurally strengthening their areas and to invite university management to adopt a sustainable perspective on the small subjects.

Funding amount 1 million euros, maximum seven years

The funding offer is aimed at full-time professors from the small subjects together with representatives of the university management. Subject area: all minor subjects, up to 1 million euros, maximum 7 years. The focus is on many disciplines from Egyptology, Classical Archaeology and Restoration Sciences to History of Science and Futurology.

Applications can be submitted in the form of strategically oriented concepts consisting of different funding measures. The aim is to create cross-institutional and international networks that form the basis for collaborations that extend beyond the funding period.

Further information can be found here.

Editor-in-chief Fabian Peters takes you to the Nordic Pavilion at the 2021 Venice Architecture Biennale.

Editor-in-chief Fabian Peters is currently in Venice. He is taking you on a tour of the pavilions, like here in the Nordic countries pavilion.

Curator Martin Braathen and the Norwegian National Museum are responsible for the Nordic Countries Pavilion in this Biennale year. They commissioned the architectural firm Helen & Hard, experts in the field of co-housing, to design Sverre Fehn’s large and bright exhibition space. The architects worked closely with the members of the Vindmøllebakken co-housing project in Stavanger. In workshops, they further developed the idea of the project and, based on their experiences, discussed which functions could be moved from the private living areas to semi-public zones. The result can be seen in the Nordic Countries Pavilion in the form of a living landscape in light-colored wood. The fascinating thing about this temporary interior is how immediately visitors to the Biennale take to it. This could already be observed during the press days. After having to take off their shoes on entering, as is customary in Scandinavian homes, young and old used the living landscape almost as if they had moved in. This may not be of the highest scientific value, but it is an impressive demonstration of the qualities of Scandinavian wooden interior design.

After the Architecture Biennale was postponed by one year, the exhibition will take place from May 22 to November 21, 2021 under the title “How will we live together”. Find out more in the digital insight into the projects of the Architecture Biennale 2021.

All photos: Fabian Peters