german Anniversary Special german research 3 / 2018 Celebrating 50 Years of research CRCs Magazine of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft Cover: AG Krämer Arabidopsis halleri in the Giebelwald 3 / 2018 in the Siegerland region. Understand- ing the plant’s ability to store high amounts of heavy metals leads re- searchers to modern-day applications. Editorial Katja Becker Leading the Way, Setting the Pace 2 Collaborative Research Centres – Lasting impacts on a diversified research system Stimulus for Research, Food for Thought 4 Celebrating a unique success story In their own words … 6 CRC stakeholders share their thoughts and experiences “More Important than Any Other Funding Instrument” 8 An interview with Indologist and long-serving CRC spokesperson Axel Michels Did you know …? 10 Fact or fiction: Test your knowledge of the CRC programme Humanities and Social Sciences Barbara Stollberg-Rilinger The Throw of the Dice 12 Random decision-making from a cultural-historical perspective Life Sciences Ute Krämer The Plants that Suck Up Metal 18 Benefitting from the survival strategy of the Arabidopsis halleri Engineering Sciences Christian Hatzfeld, Nataliya Koev, Roland Werthschützky From Hand to Heart 24 A new assistance system for cardiac cathertisations Humanities and Social Sciences Péter Maitz and other authors Arabidopsis halleri: The Plants that Suck Up Metal | Collaborative Research Rediscovering a German Creole 28 Centres: Leading the Way, Setting the Pace | Randomness in Cultural History: Unserdeutsch – An almost forgotten language is examined for the first time The Throw of the Dice | Enhancing a Routine Procedure: From Hand to Heart | News Language Lessons from Unserdeutsch: Rediscovering a German Creole Leibniz Prizes 2019 34 National Research Data Infrastructure 35 2 KapitelobertitelEditorial german research 3 / 2018 german research 3 / 2018 3 joint, interdisciplinary basis at the highest international became obvious. Finally, the transition in 2015 from level. At the same time, they help establish and refine local concentration to concentration at the applicant Katja Becker clearly defined core research areas at the host universi- university or universities facilitated the participation of ties. In this way, they provide a vital impetus for ongo- external partners, which has also had a positive effect. ing structural development, for example in structured These examples illustrate how, over the course of early career support or more equal opportunities with their history, Collaborative Research Centres have respect to career options. At a time when universi- served as sensors for change, leading the way and set- Leading the Way, ties are obligated to finance a growing proportion of ting the pace. Part of the reason for the programme’s their research through third-party funding, it is espe- success is the fact that it maintains characteristic fea- cially important to have a clearly defined profile and tures that today are taken for granted but are just as Setting the Pace a healthy competitive position. Preparing, establish- important as they were 50 years ago if not more: the ing, and coordinating a Collaborative Research Centre concentration of expertise in different disciplines in one is perfect “training” for universities as they seek to location, resulting in regular personal dialogue across DFG Collaborative Research Centres are structurally adapt and carve out a unique profile for all qualification levels – both planned and spontaneous. celebrating their 50th anniversary. How the future. Particularly in a time of web-based communication, this kind of dialogue often provides an important, even have they stimulated new directions he conditions are certainly right for Collabo- decisive, impetus for innovative research activities and in the German research system, and rative Research Centres to continue fulfilling approaches. their role and function in the research land- how will they continue to do scape in the years ahead. Indeed, in retrospect inally, it’s important to note that the funding pe- so? A look back at the future Tit is clear what a lasting impact they have had – and riod of up to twelve years, used flexibly and with continue to have – on a diversified research system. the right focus, enables researchers to engage Schepp / In 1997, for example, the DFG introduced CRC in- with research questions and problems from a dependent junior research groups to enable early career Flonger-term and quality-focussed perspective. Given the researchers to gain leadership experience and prove ever-increasing pace of basic research, many applicants their abilities at an early stage in their careers. The regard this as an important benefit. The programme has Illustration: DFG Emmy Noether Programme, launched in 1999, into never specified particular topics; researchers are free to which the CRC independent junior research groups design their own research programmes and the number n German, Collaborative Research Centres go by Over the years, these and other programmes have were later integrated, pursued the same goal. of individual projects within a CRC is more variable than the rather unwieldy name of Sonderforschungs- given rise to an extremely diverse research funding But a look back over the past 50 years also reveals is often supposed. bereiche (“special research areas”) – the meaning landscape. But when the first Collaborative Research many more achievements, including a better balance As to the question of what future standards will of which perhaps isn’t immediately obvious. To Centres were set up by the DFG 50 years ago, they were between family and research career, an area in which be set by CRC and how they will position themselves Iunderstand why this name was chosen, you need to largely isolated features in that landscape. In this, their Collaborative Research Centres set the bar high from in relation to other programmes such as Clusters of know something about the turbulent phase that science anniversary year – a key topic in this issue of the DFG an early stage. Many CRC also make research-gen- Excellence and international programmes, only time policy went through in the late 1960s and appreciate magazine and the focus of this editorial – we can see erated knowledge available to industry and society. will tell. But it is clear that the challenges involved something of the mood of those years. The emphasis how they have grown from a small seedling to a huge, Since 1996, for example, researchers have had the op- will not decrease. Recognising these and other future then was on emancipation and enlightenment, reject- widely branching tree. They have earned researchers tion of proposing transfer projects together with an issues early on will help ensure success and maintain ing everything with even the slightest whiff of elitism in Germany the envy of colleagues abroad. To continue application partner. Collaborative Research Centres the diversity of the German university landscape. left over from a legacy of tradition. Clusters of Excel- with the same metaphor, what role does this tree play also request and make good use of additional funding lence – as a concept and a reality – were still a long way in an ecosystem characterised by constant change? for exhibitions, schools labs, and other forms of science off, and the prestigious Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize Does it still have an important contribution to make, communication. Funding is also available to establish had not yet been established as a means of recognising or is it losing its ecological niche as a result of competi- an efficient, professional infrastructure for managing outstanding researchers. It would be another 40 years tion? And what are its future prospects? scientific data as an individual project within the CRC – Prof. Dr. Katja Becker before the European Research Council and its much Collaborative Research Centres offer highly quali- an option introduced over a decade ago, long before the is a Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Justus Liebig sought-after grants saw the light of day. fied researchers a chance to carry out research on a importance of networked research data management University Giessen and Vice President of the DFG. “Collaborative Research Centres (CRCs, Sonderforschungsbereiche) are joint interdisciplinary research centres based at universities and other doctorate- granting higher education institutions. They promote research cooperation within the framework of interdisciplinary research programmes. Collaborative Research Centres enable researchers to pursue ambitious, elaborate and long-term projects by focusing and coordinating the resources of universities.” (From: “Guidelines Collaborative Research Centres Programme”, DFG form 50.06 – 07/18) 4 german research 3 / 2018 german research 3 / 2018 5 began have created, supported or leveraged disciplinary and interdis- ciplinary research dynamics, with lasting impact. In this way, they have become indispensable “agents for major research at universities”. The insider perspective was fol- lowed by an outsider’s viewpoint from Prof. Dr. Klement Tockner, president of the Austrian Science Fund. Making reference to Aus- tria’s Special Research Programmes, he praised the achievements of the research groups in both Germany and Austria as the “backbone of European basic research”. Another insider perspective, this time from a decision-maker, was provided by Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Leininger, a long-serving member of the Senate and Grants Commit- tee for CRCs.