Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology Participates in Bid for New Cluster of Excellence
The Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology (MPI) has submitted a joint bid for a new Cluster of Excellence on the topic “New Global Dynamics: Worlds in Crisis?” together with the Universities of Leipzig and Halle and six other elite non-university research institutions. The cluster will bring together social and environmental researchers to study the worldwide crises and transformation processes that we are facing today. The draft proposal has been submitted to the second competition phase of the Excellence Strategy of the German state and federal governments.
has been submitted to the second competition phase of the Excellence Strategy of the German state and federal governments.
Understanding New Global Dynamics
Upheavals around the world – pandemics, wars, geopolitical instability, political populism, climate change and threats to biodiversity – are often experienced as crises. Such crises set into motion far-reaching processes of change that may take on very different regional forms. The proposed research cluster will examine such processes under the heading of “new global dynamics”. “In order to understand these various global transformation processes and how they interlink, it is essential for different disciplines to work closely together”, says Ursula Rao, Managing Director of the MPI and Deputy Spokesperson for the cluster “New Global Dynamics: Worlds in Crisis?”. “I am therefore extremely pleased about the creation of this alliance between two universities and seven non-university research institutions as a promising basis for conducting research on such an important topic.”
Inauguration in July 2023: International Max Planck Research School
The topics of the proposed research cluster are closely linked with the focus of the newly established International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) “Global Multiplicity: A Social Anthropology for the Now”, which will be officially inaugurated on 17 July 2023. The IMPRS is a joint undertaking of Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Leipzig University, and FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg and has received funding for an initial period of six years. During this time, it will accept up to 40 doctoral students, making it one of the largest structured training programmes in the discipline of anthropology in Europe. The spokespersonof the IMPRS is Ursula Rao.
Selection for Next Round to be Announced in February 2024
The draft proposal for the cluster “New Global Dynamics: Worlds in Crisis?” is currently being evaluated by the Joint Commission of the German Research Council (DFG) and the Science and Humanities Council. They will announce their decision on 1 February 2024 about which projects will be invited to submit a full proposal.
More information on the joint Cluster of Excellence application
Information on the Excellence Strategy of the German Federal and State Governments