For the fourth time the Wuppertal Institute awards the research prize "Transformative Science". This year's award is again aimed at outstanding researchers of a transformative science who are making relevant contributions to society with their research and distinguish themselves through scientific excellence. The prize is endowed with 25,000 euros and is funded by the Zempelin Foundation in the Stifterverband. From now on, research teams or individuals can apply until 1 June 2020.

Transformative science sees itself as a science that uses inter- and transdisciplinary methods to initiate and accompany social change by empowering relevant stakeholders. This year's research award "Transformative Science" is aimed at researchers and research teams whose transformative research is concerned with climate protection and climate adaptation projects and their social implications while working closely with relevant actors in the field. Once again, the research prize focuses on individuals and research teams whose scientific work or individual projects have influenced processes of social change and whose outstanding transformative research can be expected to continue in the future. Nominations can be submitted either as a self-application or by suggestion.

The prize money of 25,000 euros is to be used to create space and resources for the implementation of project ideas in the field of transformative research. Researchers from universities and non-university research institutions are eligible to apply. The winners will be selected by an independent jury.

The seven jury members are:

• Prof. Dr. Claudia Hornberg
  University of Bielefeld, Faculty of Health Sciences; Environment and Health
• Prof. Dr. Heike Köckler
  Hochschule für Gesundheit (University of Applied Sciences), Dean of the Department of Community Health, Professor for Social Environment and Health
• Prof. Dr. Jasmin Mantilla-Contreras
  University of Hildesheim, Institute of Biology and Chemistry; Ecology and Environmental Education
• Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Marquardt
  Chairman of the Board of Directors of Forschungszentrum Jülich Research Centre
• Dr. Volker Meyer-Guckel
  Stifterverband (Donors' Association for the Promotion of Humanities and Sciences in Germany), Deputy Secretary-General and member of the executive board, Head of Programmes and Funding
• Prof. Dr. Roland Scholz
  Danube University Krems, Chief Senior Scientist and visiting professor in the Department for Knowledge and Communication Management
• Dr. Steffi Ober
  Initiator and Head of the Forschungswende civil society platform

Selection criteria and application documents

The jury particularly evaluates the quality and degree of innovation of the transformative research approach and the social relevance of the topic. Furthermore, the transformative effects are decisive for the evaluation. In addition to a letter of motivation, the application should include a brief description of the transformative research conducted to date and the transformative impulses which were triggered by that. Furthermore, a tabular CV with a maximum of five publications and project references is expected. The application documents should be submitted in German and in electronic form as a PDF file by 11 May 2020. Annika Rehm accepts applications by E-mail at annika.rehm@wupperinst.org.

About the research award

The "Transformative Science" research prize is aimed at all forms of research that inspire society, promote social change and thereby engage the civil society. Transdisciplinary research design plays an important role in this process. The award-winners receive 25,000 euros in prize money. This money goes to support the winners in implementing their project ideas in the field of transformative science.

Last year Prof. Dr. Melanie Jaeger-Erben, head of the department "Transdisciplinary Sustainability Research in Electronics" at the TU Berlin, convinced the jury with her transdisciplinary profile and her scientific work at the interface of politics and society.

Joint press release

Wuppertal Institute
Responsible for content: Professor Uwe Schneidewind, Scientific Managing Director
Contact: Christin Hasken, Head of Communications and Public Relations
Tel.: +49 202 2492-187
Fax: +49 202 2492-108
E-mail: christin.hasken@wupperinst.org

Stifterverband
Contact: Anke Meis, Head of Communications
Tel.: +49 201 8401-204
E-mail: anke.meis@stifterverband.de