The FINANCIAL -- The Bayer Science & Education Foundation is
providing a total of EUR 200,000 to sponsor 41 talented and committed
young people in the fields of natural science and engineering, medicine,
teacher training in natural science subjects and non-academic teaching
professions.
It is also supporting continuing education for teachers in chemistry at the University of Cologne.
"We need the best minds to shape our future. That’s why we set up the Bayer Fellowship Program to support postgraduate and complementary courses both in Germany and abroad, as well as internships, dissertations, doctoral projects and career-training projects abroad,” remarks Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Plischke, member of the Board of Management of Bayer AG responsible for research.
The scholarship program follows the tradition of the first Bayer scholarships initiated by Dr. Carl Duisberg, former Managing Director of the Bayer Group, in 1923. Duisberg was born 150 years ago – on September, 29th 1861– in Wuppertal / Barmen. He was a pioneer for intensive cooperation between industry and academia as well as for the social engagement of companies. Scientific committee member Dr. Carl-Heinz Duisberg – the youngest grandchild of program founder – explains: "My grandfather wanted to provide good training opportunities for young people, because he saw this as a means to ensure long-term benefits for society. He is also quoted as saying 'We must spend every spare penny on science – it is the best investment we can make'.”
Alongside the Bayer and Carl Duisberg scholarships, the Bayer Fellowship Program also includes the Kurt Hansen and Hermann Strenger scholarships and the school scholarships. The main target group comprises students currently engaged in their main course of study, trainees and graduates and young professionals who have completed their studies and/or training within the past two years.
The academic subjects sponsored this year include biology, biotechnology, chemistry, molecular medicine, medical informatics, physics, pathology/archaeology and medicine. The foundation also funds six Kurt Hansen scholarships for teacher training in biology, chemistry, physics and general education for young children. The new Bayer Fellows will work on their projects in 16 different countries over the next few months including the United States, Canada, various European countries, Australia, Brazil, China, India, Namibia, Tanzania and Uganda. They come from universities and colleges in Aachen, Bonn, Dortmund, Erlangen-Nürnberg, Freiburg, Gießen, Göttingen, Halle, Karlsruhe, Koblenz, Marburg, Potsdam and Regensburg, and from the LMU and TU Munich, the Charité in Berlin and ETH Zurich. One scholarship holder comes from abroad (India) and will undertake research as a biologist at the German Institute for Cancer Research in Heidelberg.
The scholarships in the academic sector are being supplemented by Hermann Strenger scholarships to support young people looking to gain initial work experience abroad as part of a non-academic training program. This year, 13 young people from Bielefeld, Engelskirchen, Leverkusen and Munich are being sponsored. They are planning to spend time abroad in various European countries and Australia, China, Canada and Vietnam as part of their training as a physical therapist, commercial assistant, technical assistant in biology and chemistry, sports and fitness commercial assistant, mechatronics technician and IT assistant respectively. One scholarship holder comes from Bulgaria and will work as a physical therapist at a specialized clinic in Bad Pyrmont / Germany.
The Bayer foundation also sponsors the "Kölner Modell" (Cologne Model). This is an information and further education project developed by teachers for teachers at the Chemical Institutes of the University of Cologne. Since its foundation in 1979, it has conveyed to chemistry teachers the latest findings relating to applied chemistry, technology, industry and society, which they are then able to pass on to their students during chemistry lessons.
The Bayer Science & Education Foundation is launching the fifths round of its funding program offering targeted support for scientific exchanges and international work experience for young people. It is aimed at creative, highly motivated and socially committed young people with above-average grades.
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