MAX PLANCK COMMUNITY

In Good Hands

Developing the best possible advisory service for foreign employees and guests

group in particular expressed a strong de- local authorities. This service existed before sire for greater professionalization of the I took up my position and it will, of course, role. Our aim would be to have full-time vis- continue to be available in the future. An- itor advisor positions at these institutes, other idea would be to organize regional too. A small number of Max Planck insti- Welcome Days, which several institutes tutes already have “International Offices.” could coordinate together.

Which issues or tasks did the institutes con- How would you describe the general goals of sider to be particularly urgent? What specific your work? measures have you developed based on this Katrin Sillem: I would like to increase information? awareness of the fact that intercultural Katrin Sillem: In addition to increasing competence should be considered a cru- the number of visitor advisor positions, cial, rather than a supplementary basic there was also a specific request for more qualification in the MPS. The MPS took its intercultural training. We will be expand- first visible step in achieving this objective ing the range of training courses in this by signing the Diversity Charter in March. area accordingly. As an additional urgent In addition, we are constantly increas- Katrin Sillem, Integration Issues Officer requirement, many institutes also suggest- ing our efforts to attract outstanding for- ed that we have a manual in which foreign eign scientists. When deciding in favor of scientists and guests can find all types of or against a research facility, it is no long- As the new Officer for Integration Issues at useful information on such topics as resi- er just the scientific environment, but also MPS Administrative Headquarters, Katrin dence permits, childcare facilities, the me- the support provided for the individual re- Sillem has been working with the insti- dia, etc. – an A to Z of life in Germany, as it searcher and his or her family that is a ma- tutes since mid-February on expanding the were. We are currently in the process of pre- jor consideration. The competition from advisory service for foreign employees and paring such a manual. It should be availa- universities and non-university research guests. ble in hard copy and electronic form by fall. facilities cannot be underestimated. It thus Financing integration activities is quite seems to me to be extremely important MaxPlanckResearch: What sparked your a tricky issue as, to date, no resources have that we provide a level of support that not interest in the issue of integration and “in- been budgeted for the necessary expendi- only involves the handling of all adminis- terculturalism”? ture. We are making every effort to find a trative issues, but also includes activities Katrin Sillem: For one thing, I pursued cul- long-term solution that will allow us to that foster integration. This will help us at- tural studies at the university. For another, continue to expand our activities. If noth- tract foreign scientists and guests and en- before I came to the MPS, I worked for a ing else, it is important for the institutes to sure that they feel at home with us. They long time in an international environment, have a main contact person who is familiar can then pursue their research work with where I learned a lot about the co-existence with the legal issues surrounding, for ex- fewer worries and, in a best case scenario, of different cultures. ample, visas, or who is available to act in an promote the MPS in their home country as

advisory capacity if there are problems with an employer that cares. Photo: MPS Early this year you sent a questionnaire on the subject of “Advising and integrating for- eign employees” to all institutes. How do you rate the survey results in general? Katrin Sillem: To start with, I am very sat- MPS Signs Diversity Charter isfied with the response rate, as almost 100 percent of the questionnaires were re- turned. This is an indication of how seri- An environment that cultivates acceptance and mutual trust, where employees ously the issue is taken at the institutes. are shown appreciation – regardless of gender, race, nationality, ethnic origin, The survey revealed that roughly one-third religion or world view, physical ability, age, sexual orientation and identity – in of the institutes employ full-time visitor ad- short, one that embraces and harnesses diversity: this is what the MPS has com- visors. In around two-thirds of the insti- mitted to by signing the Diversity Charter. Launched in 2006 by a number of Ger- tutes, this function is performed on a de- man companies, the Charter has Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel as its patron. centralized basis, which means that, in Minister of State Maria Böhmer, Federal Government Commissioner for Migra- many cases, institute employees look after tion, Refugees and Integration, presented MPS Secretary General Barbara Bludau our foreign employees and guests. This with the certificate of signature at a ceremony in Munich’s Haus der Bayerischen

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Personal Contacts That Matter

How do other people do it? Research School coordinators learn from one another

Sometimes it’s not so much the intellectual issues that many visitors feel the need for personal contacts in a for- pose problems for scientists. For many of them, especial- eign land. Therefore, the Centers offer scientific lectures, ly when spending time abroad, the first priority is to find discussion groups, concert evenings and other leisure en- a suitable home for the family or a good kindergarten. Vis- counters. One is even affiliated with a kindergarten and a iting scientists at German universities and Max Planck In- school. stitutes receive help in matters like these from the Inter- Due to the different ways in which they are organized, national Centers (IBZs) and Guest Houses. Representatives however, the Centers often find themselves dealing with of these organizations met in Munich in December to ex- problems on their own. Audit offices, for instance, dispute change ideas. whether operating a guest house should even be one of the This was their fourth meeting since 2002, and it prompt- tasks of a scientific institution. Some participants were con- ed considerable interest. Some 28 IBZs and Guest Houses cerned that as funds become scarcer in the coming years were represented, even though there has so far been little these problems will intensify. And yet, in an age of increas- networking between them. So when the participants met ing globalization, paralleled by a growing skepticism to- for a Bavarian sausage breakfast, they were not short of ward foreigners, the IBZs and Guest Houses are now more things to talk about. Items on the agenda ranged from in- important than ever. In order to present a more united front tegrating different cultures to financing and administrative in the future, the representatives attending the meeting matters, through to “meet-and-greet lounges” and operat- agreed to reinforce their “brand” by forming an alliance. ing instructions for washing machines in Chinese. The meeting was also an opportunity to exchange prac- The IBZs and Guest Houses can trace their history back tical experiences. On a guided tour of the newly renovated to the 1960s when the first Guest Houses – already a com- Munich IBZ, the female participants – the IBZs are mostly mon feature in the Anglo-Saxon countries – were estab- operated by women – drew inspiration from the interior de- lished in Germany. The next stage saw the establishment sign features. With utility costs included in the rents of the IBZs, with the buildings initially financed by the Al- charged by most Centers, it is often a challenge to persuade exander von Humboldt Foundation. Over time, a variety of residents to be economical in their use of electricity and different forms of financing have developed, and the sys- water. tem of organization is by no means standardized. The band- Working at the IBZs and Guest Houses also requires ex- width ranges from autonomous associations to university tensive interpersonal skills to strengthen communal life. endowments. At a local level, the IBZs have strong links The atmosphere is also aided by the requirement written with one another. The Munich association, for example, into the rental agreements for residents to give presenta- combines the universities and the Max Planck Society. tions of their own work. The participants from Munich in The IBZs and Guest Houses are united by an underlying particular were concerned that intercultural exchanges at sense of purpose that one representative from Berlin de- the IBZs might suffer from being too dependent on the scribed as the “philosophy of academic coexistence.” The work of volunteer program planners – one reason being that goal is for scientists from abroad to feel at home in Germa- many of the female scientists who previously gave gener- ny. On the one hand, this means finding suitable accom- ously of their time now have professional commitments of modation without undue difficulty. On the other hand, their own.

Wirtschaft in early March. “Diversity is a fundamental factor in successful international competitiveness and future economic growth,” stressed the Minister of State in her speech. By signing the Charter, the MPS joins a group of roughly 800 companies and institutions that are committed to the Charter’s ethos.

Barbara Bludau (left) and Maria Böhmer at the signing of the Diversity Charter. Photo: Gerhard Blank MAX PLANCK COMMUNITY

Science Guided by Ethics

Max Planck President Peter Gruss comments on the new rules for dealing with scientific risk as adopted by the Max Planck Society’s Senate in 2010

Science is of central importance to all areas ical weapons, computer viruses or unethi- of modern life, and scientific discoveries cal interrogation techniques, or for terror- form the basis of our entire modern living ism or military purposes. environment. Therefore, we often – rightly – In this context, the Max Planck Society say that we live in a “scientific society.” Sci- considers it particularly important to for- ence and research are essential drivers for mulate unambiguous rules that serve as growth in forward-looking economies. At guidelines for responsible scientific prac- the same time, they are fundamental to our tice with regard to scientific freedom and cultural wellbeing. Yet we also live in a “risk risk, without running the risk of over-regu- society” – and that applies to science, too. lating. In March this year, the Senate of the The scientific community must know Max Planck Society thus adopted the “Max This memorial tablet is a reminder of how to deal with risk, as scientific findings Planck Society Instructions and Rules on the discovery of nuclear fission – a scientific can be misused when they end up in the the Responsible Use of Scientific Freedom achievement of dual use. wrong hands, for instance with computer and Dealing with Scientific Risk.” The rules hackers and dictators, or even art forgers. are meant to help scientists become more Those who wish to develop a defense sensitive to possible cases of misconduct, This means that scientists must calculate against bioterrorism attacks must under- even – and especially – in cases where it is the risk associated with their research in the stand the technologies available to the at- not obvious, and to facilitate action by sci- event of misconduct, and weigh the princi- tacker. When conducting materials re- entists in critical matters of conscience. ple of scientific freedom and transparency search and research into nanotechnology The instructions amend the existing “Rules against any dangers. To reduce risk, every in the area of defense and weapons tech- of Good Scientific Practice” in the Max scientist must take the appropriate security nology, we run the risk of developing offen- Planck Society. measures. This might mean providing spe- sive weapons. Those who investigate mo- With this, the MPS is taking up an issue cial protection for particularly dangerous lecular plant genetics must also bear in that has recently increasingly attracted materials in the laboratory, choosing coop- mind the possibility of using seeds for bio- public and political attention. In 2007, the eration partners from politically sensitive logical attacks. German federal cabinet introduced a re- states more carefully or refraining from pub- However, to claim that the risk of mis- search program for civil security, with ini- lishing findings – or in extreme cases, from conduct is limited to the natural sciences tial funding lasting through 2010. The aim conducting unjustifiable research. would be to miss the mark. Scientists who of the program is to address, through intel- In the Max Planck Society, the newly es- deal with issues in witness psychology ligent security research, the increasing tablished Compliance Office and the Legal must anticipate the use of their results on dangers that can originate especially in Department at Administrative Headquar- terror suspects and prisoners of war. New natural disasters – but it is not entirely un- ters in Munich will help with questions techniques for tracing booby traps may just controversial in the political landscape. The about the legal constraints on research. For find use at airports – and misuse by dicta- German program is operated in the context questions concerning ethical boundaries, torships. Sociological research may violate of European security research. The Europe- any scientist is free to contact the three per- the rights to privacy and data protection of an Union also launched its first research manent members of the MPS Ethics Com- test persons. program for civil security from 2007 to 2013. mission. If the Ethics Commission becomes Research results may be used, but of In this context the Max Planck Society involved, it may request opinions from the course they may also be misused. We there- guidelines seek to sensitize scientists at Director of the institute and the staff, as fore speak of “dual use,” which means that the individual level to any risks when plan- well as from the Scientific Advisory Board of there must be rules for how to handle re- ning and conducting research and collabo- the institute in question. search topics that may be misused. At the rating with colleagues, and also to support With these new rules and procedures, same time, research (especially basic re- them as far as possible in case of doubt or the Max Planck Society is deliberately draw- search) hinges on scientific freedom – a questions. The general underlying principle ing on the lessons from the research of its freedom that is unequivocally protected in of the guidelines is that: “The research con- precursor organization, the Kaiser Wilhelm Germany’s Basic Law, art. 5, para. 3. Only ducted by the Max Planck Society shall Society, which, primarily during the Nation- scientists who are free to exchange ideas serve to gain knowledge and shall be com- al Socialist era, ignored ethical boundaries. and publish their findings can become com- mitted to the good of humanity and the The legacy of the Kaiser Wilhelm Society is petitive internationally. In contrast, scien- protection of the environment. Scientists thus a great source of motivation for the tific freedom must be limited in cases must therefore avoid or minimize direct Max Planck Society to consider the possible where a scientist violates ethical rules or and indirect damage to people and the en- misuse of scientific findings early on, and to

where science is misused to create biolog- vironment, to the greatest possible extent.” tackle it as effectively as possible. Photo: wikipedia

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