Wiss-Nama Newsletter

WISS-NAMA is the newsletter of the Science and Technology Department of the German Embassy, New Delhi. The title is a combination of a German and an Indian word: WISS, an abbreviation of the German word 'Wissenschaft' (meaning science), and NAMA, a word used in Sanskrit and Persian contexts, standing for 'compendium' or 'handbook'.

News from Germany and India

DST commits 500 Crores for PM’s Vision on Startup India

NIDHI (National Initiative for Development and Harnessing Innovations), an umbrella program is pioneered by the Department of Science & Technology(DST), Government of India, for nurturing ideas and innovations (knowledge-based and technology-driven) into successful startups. In order to realize the Prime Minister’s ambitious Initiative on Startup India, DST aims to bring both speed and scale to transform the Startup Ecosystem in the country and has committed 500 crores to implement these new programs in next few years. This was announced by the Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, in New Delhi on September 6. 

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News from Indo-German Cooperation

Smart Cities workshops in Kolkata, Kochi, Pune and Bangalore

Under the umbrella of the German House for Research and Innovation (DWIH) in New Delhi, prominent institutes from Germany and India, conducted four Indo-German workshops in India that focused on Smart City: Mobility & Infrastructure in the 21st century. These workshops were part of a series of pre-events leading to the DWIH annual conference CityScapes from 29th September to 1st October. The workshops were organised in Kolkata, Kochi and Pune and Bangalore on August 9, 11, 19 and September 16 respectively. Topics of the workshops included smart transportation, inclusive cities, urban infrastructure and planning, social infrastructure and waste management and energy. 

DWIH Conference "CityScapes 2016"

Ambassador Dr Martin Ney inaugurated the Indo-German Conference "CityScapes" of the German House of Innovation and Research (DWIH) on September 29, 2016 in New Delhi. Following the inauguration the winners of two competitions, BMBF Initiative “City of the Future” and DWIH CityScapes Poster competition were awarded certificates by Stephan Lanzinger, Head and Counsellor, Science and Technology Department, German Embassy. The three-day conference addressed topics like Smart Energy & Construction, Climate & Environment, Smart Cities, Cities and Migration, Mapping Human Skills, etc. Around 30 experts from India and Germany held presentations and discussed the various aspects of the development of smart cities. The German House for Research and Innovation New Delhi is a 'one-stop shop' for students, researchers and potential partner institutions in India. DWIH disseminates information about higher education, the research landscape and funding sources in Germany. 

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DBT-DFG co-funded Research Unit launches at the University of Agricultural Sciences in Bengaluru

Launch programme of the German Research Foundation DBT - DFG co-funded Research Unit (FOR 2432) at the University of Agricultural Sciences in Bengaluru (UASB) in association with the University of Kassel and University of Göttingen, Germany, was organised on August 15, 2016. The Research Unit: “Social-Ecological Systems in the Indian Rural-Urban Interface: Functions, Scales, and Dynamics of Transition” (FOR 2432), jointly funded by Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and German Research Foundation (DFG), is a long term project of 6 years being undertaken by a consortium of several Indian universities and institutions. About 30 scientists from India and 15 scientists from Germany are involved in developing this comprehensive programme that has 14 projects from Germany and 12 projects from India, all interlinked on specific themes.

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2016 DAAD Prize: Best Foreign Student Comes From India

An Indian graduate of HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management received the award as the best foreign student in Germany. Sayantan Chattopadhyay, 43, was awarded with the EUR 1,000 endowed prize of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) during the graduation ceremony. The Indian Ambassador in Germany, Mr. Gurjit Singh, was also in attendance. 230 out of the approximately 320,000 foreign students in Germany received the award this year. It is given to students from abroad who are enrolled at a German Graduate school and who stand out due to their excellent academic performance and their social or intercultural commitment.

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Max Planck Alumnus, Dr. Vinayak Sinha receives NASI-Scopus Young Scientist Award 2016

In 2009, National Academy of Sciences India (NASI) and Elsevier jointly initiated the NASI-Scopus young scientist award to recognise exceptional work by young Indian scientists residing in India. This year, one of the recipients of the award is Max Planck Alumnus, Dr. Vinayak Sinha, IISER-Mohali who received this distinction for his excellent work under the category of Earth, Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences. 

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Members of the Ministry of Economy, Science and Digital Society in Thuringia in India

A delegation of 30 members of the Ministry of Economy, Science and Digital Society in Thuringia, led by State Secretary Georg Maier, visited India from September 21-27. During the visit, they met their Indian counterparts and a new Thuringia International Office India was inaugurated in New Delhi. Two MoUs have been signed in the field of education, first one being between Delhi State and Freistaat Thüringen, and another between Jamia Milia Islamia University and Fachhochschule Erfurt. The aim of Jamia-Erfurt MoU is to provide for cooperation on academic activities that will strengthen mutual understanding, foster friendly cooperation and promote sustainable and productive academic collaboration and exchange between faculties, researchers and students of both parties. 

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Upcoming events and conferences

Science Circle Lecture "Air Pollution, Climate Change and Health" by Prof. Dr. Rainer Sauerborn in New Delhi

A Science Circle Lecture on the topic "Air Pollution, Climate Change and Health" by Prof. Dr Rainer Sauerborn, Heidelberg University will be organized on October 25, 2016 at India Habitat Centre, Gulmohur Hall, New Delhi. Dr. Rainer Sauerborn is a physician by training. He worked as district health officer from 1979-1982 in Burkina Faso, gathering first-hand information of a health system in a low income country. In the past 15 years, he increasingly developed his focus on the impacts of climate change on population health and how households and health services can adapt to protect health.

To participate in the lecture

3rd Indo-German Dialogue on Excellence in Research and Education at IISER Pune

'Indo-German Dialogue on Excellence in Research and Education', an initiative by DWIH New Delhi , aims at bringing together Indian and German decision makers, stakeholders and leading experts, to jointly and comprehensively discuss the multifaceted and all-encompassing aspects of excellence in research and education, to exchange ideas and experiences  with regard to the challenges and opportunities and to identify areas of mutual interest. The 3rd edition of Indo-German Dialogue will focus on industry-academia cooperation and is being organised in cooperation with IISER Pune on November 10 at IISER Pune. 

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DAAD Events

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) will be organizing a series of events for Indian students and researchers interested in pursuing studies or research in Germany and webinars for students joining German Universities shortly.

Webinar: Study and Research Germany

October 27, 15:00 hrs IST, any place convenient to the participant with a good internet connection.

To register  

The Freshman program at the FH Aachen - University of Applied Sciences

November 17, 15:00 hrs IST, any place convenient to the participant with a good internet connection.

To register  

Management Education for Engineers at NIT TU Hamburg Harburg

December 15, 15:00 hrs IST, any place convenient to the participant with a good internet connection.

To register  

Information Events/Workshops in India

DAAD organizes interactive sessions in different cities to focus on various aspects of Germany. 

Study & Research in Germany and Interaction with Young Ambassadors Srikrishna Bhogaraju and Narayan Prasad

Bangalore: November 22, 14:30 hrs, Goethe-Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan, CMH Road, Indiranagar 1st Stage, Bangalore

To register

International Education Fair & Seminar

Chennai: October 26, 09:30 hrs, Jeppiar College of Engineering, Old Mahabalipuram Road, Chennai 600119

Register at the Venue

Research in Germany – Information Seminar for Young Researchers

Hyderabad October 15, 09:00 hrs, Auditorium, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), Uppal Road, Tarnaka, Hyderabad 500007

To register

ReDiscover Germany - Higher Education and Beyond

Mumbai: November 2, 09:00 hrs, Goethe-Institut/ The Gallerie, Kala Ghoda, Mumbai

To Register

Study and Research in Germany

New Delhi: 18 October, 15:00 hrs, German House, 2, Nyaya Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi

To Register

Calls for Proposals: Funding Opportunities and Scholarships

PhD applications for International Max Planck Research School on ‘Solar System’

The International Max Planck Research School for Solar System Science at the University of Göttingen is offering a research-oriented doctoral programme covering the physical aspects of Solar system science. It is jointly run by the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (MPS) and the University of Göttingen. The research will cover three main areas: ‘Sun and Heliosphere’, ‘Solar and Steller Interiors’ and ‘Planets and Comets’. The Solar System School recruits and supports excellent junior researchers, offering them training towards a PhD degree in physics at an international graduate school. 

Application deadline: November 15, 2016

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PhD applications at the IMPRS for Astronomy & Astrophysics in Bonn, Cologne

The International Max Planck Research    School (IMPRS)    for Program Astronomy     & Astrophysics calls for applications for PhD posts at the IMPRS in Bonn and Cologne. IMPRS of Astronomy and Astrophysics is a joint doctoral program between the Max Planck Institute for Radioastronomy (Bonn) and the Universities of Bonn and Cologne. The call is open to research students from all countries. 

Application deadline: November 15, 2016

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Lindau Nobel Laureates Meeting 2017

The 67th Lindau Nobel Laureates Meeting 2017, dedicated to Chemistry and closely related topics this time, is going to held be from June 25-30, 2017 . A group of Indian students and young researchers is sent every year to Lindau, Germany, by the Indian Department of Science and Technology and the Lindau Council to discuss major issues of importance to their fields with Nobel Laureates and also with other students from around the world. Participants should be below 35 years of age. Master students, doctoral and post-doctoral researchers can apply. Selected researchers will get an opportunity to stay in Germany for two weeks. The second week will include a trip to select German institutes of repute and is sponsored and organized by the German Research Foundation (DFG).

Application deadline: November 30, 2016

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Job Vacancy

MPG India Office Manager in New Delhi

The Max Planck Society is Germany’s most successful research organization.
Currently, 83 Max Planck Institutes conduct basic research in the service of the general public in the natural sciences, life sciences, social sciences, and the humanities. Max Planck Institutes focus on research fields that are particularly innovative, or that are especially demanding in terms of funding or time requirements. Applicants should hold a PhD or equivalent doctoral degree in sciences, engineering or medicine with a work Experience of at least three years, preferably in the area of science communication or science administration in Germany. 

Application deadline: November 30, 2016

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Did You Know?

The average human body carries ten times more bacterial cells than human cells.

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