Actively shaping the research landscape

Doctoral researchers are currently being called upon to elect their representatives to the DFG's review boards and thus help shape the research landscape of the coming years. In this interview, Katharina Al-Shamery, Vice President for Research and Transfer, explains why it is important to take part in the election. Question: Ms Al-Shamery, the review board election of the German Research Foundation (DFG) is just around the corner. What is it all about? Al-Shamery: All postdoctoral researchers in Germany have the opportunity to elect their representatives to the DFG review boards. These are the first instance to decide whether funding proposals should be recommended, for example for individual proposals, a Research Training Group or a Research Unit. The review boards are also consulted when it comes to priority programmes. In other words, they set the research priorities in their subject. Depending on the type of proposal, their recommendations then go through other instances, such as the DFG University Senate. However, the latter usually follows the review board's assessment. They therefore have a key role that is very decisive for what actually happens in the research landscape. Why should as many Oldenburg academics as possible take part in the election? Al-Shamery: As a university, we have a particularly good chance of being well represented in the DFG this time, because we have a very high number of candidates: 32 academics are on the electoral list. Last time, in 2011, there were fourteen. This is a historic situation. We owe this success to a great campaign by the Nordverbund. These are seven northern German universities that have joined forces in the selection of the candidates to be put forward. We also received additional selective support from individual universities in Lower Saxony. Only those nominated by a particularly large number of institutions make it onto the list according to a new procedure. It is very important to me that they are now also elected. Incidentally, you can not only distribute your votes within your subject, but also look left and right for Oldenburgers on the list. How do local academics benefit from electing a colleague - or having themselves elected? Al-Shamery: There are many advantages. Not only do the review board members participate directly in the DFG's decision-making processes and thus have a say in future research focuses. They also learn a lot about how the DFG's review process works. If they later submit a proposal themselves, they will know the rules of the game and what to look out for. They can also pass this knowledge on within the Institutes. For the local researchers, in turn, it means that they can obtain direct advice for their proposals on site, even if their colleagues are not involved in the actual review process due to bias. And for me there is another aspect: for responsible academics, it should simply be part of the job to take part in such elections. It strengthens the reputation of the university and ultimately also the reputation of the individual academics. How does the election work? Al-Shamery: Unfortunately, the election procedure is a little more complicated. You first have to register on the electoral roll. All you have to do is fill in a simple form and submit it to our Elections Office. You will then receive a letter with the access key to the online voting procedure, which starts on 26 October at 2 pm and is open for four weeks. You can still register on the electoral roll during this time if you have not done so yet. In my view, it is very important that everyone takes part - not just professors, but all academics with a doctorate. It would be a great pity if we didn't use the votes we have. Contact Elections Office University of Oldenburg
Elections Office
26111 Oldenburg About the person: Prof Dr Katharina Al-Shamery has been Vice President for Research and Transfer at the University of Oldenburg since 2010 and took over the office of University President on an interim basis from April 2014 up to and including July 2015. She heads the Nanophotonics and Interfacial Chemistry working group at the Institute of Chemistry. She is a member of various professional societies and scientific organisations and their committees. In September, she was elected to the Presidential Board of the German Chemical Society.