NEWS & EVENTS

Results as word cloud for this year's Max Planck Schools Day
The atmosphere was vibrant at the former industrial site in Berlin: Almost 200 participants came together on October 16 to celebrate the annual Max Planck Schools Day with this year's leading theme "The Role of (Fundamental) Science Amidst a Global (Climate) Crisis". Once again, the day provided fascinating insights into the research of the three Schools, exciting discussions and, above all, the opportunity to get to know each other and get together. In keeping with the motto of the Max Planck Schools Day "3 Schools, 1 Community", the new cohort in particular was welcomed to the program. more
The Deputy Federal Chairman of the BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN, Heiko Knopf, in conversation with the Chairman of the Management Board of the Wübben Foundation for Science, Peter-André Alt
A conversation with Peter-André Alt and Heiko Knopf: Initially intended as a dialog interview between two “alumni” of the Max Planck Schools, the conversation between the deputy federal chairman of BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN, Heiko Knopf, and the chairman of the management board of the Wübben Foundation for Science, Peter-André Alt, quickly developed into a lively discourse with a stirring dynamic of its own. The variety of topics ranged from Thomas Mann and the social responsibility of science to the role of a Post-It that proved very helpful for Heiko Knopf’s successful PhD thesis. more
Anne Felsenheimer is one of nine PhD candidates in the newly established Clinician Scientist Program at the Max Planck School of Cognition.
Anne Felsenheimer started last fall as one of nine candidates in the newly created Clinician Scientist Program of the Max Planck Schools of Cognition. She was named for the fellowship program by ZEIT as Zia - "Visible Women in Science". In the interview, she talks about her career, first experiences in the novel clinical doctoral program, and her motivation for wanting to dive deeper into research in the field of cognitive science.  more
Prof. Bernhard Eitel, Rector of Heidelberg University (left), and Göttingen University President, Prof. Metin Tolan (right), signed the agreement. From now on, the universities of Heidelberg and Göttingen will offer a joint master's degree in the interdisciplinary "Matter to Life" study program.
It is official: The partner universities in Heidelberg and Göttingen finalize the unique joint degree within the Max Planck School Matter to Life. Last Thursday the two university heads from Heidelberg and Göttingen, Rector Prof. Bernard Eitel and President Prof. Metin Tolan, signed an agreement for a joint Master's program based on the already close cooperation between the two universities within the Max Planck School (MPS) Matter to Life – an interdisciplinary joint degree program which is now unique in Germany. more
The three new decision-makers in the strategically most important committee of the Max Planck Schools: Prof. Anja Steinbeck, Prof. Ulrike Cress, and Prof. Anita Schöbel

Three Women, three questions

January 30, 2023
New additions to the Max Planck Schools Steering Committee: At the end of last year, three new members joined the strategically most important body of the Max Planck Schools - Anita Schöbel, Anja Steinbeck, and Ulrike Cress are now contributing their expertise and multi-faceted experience to the programm. With this interview, we would like to not only briefly introduce the three scientists, but also convey the importance of such a decision-making body - consisting of representatives from the partner institutions involved in the Schools - for our cross-organizational program. more
Asifa Akhtar, Vice President of the Max Planck Society and Director of the Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics in Freiburg
Leading in Top-Level Science: Asifa Akhtar is Vice President of the Biology and Medicine Section of the Max Planck Society and Director of the Max Planck Institute for Immunobiology in Freiburg, where she is heading the Department of Chromatin Regulation. In the interview conducted by Christiane Walch-Solimena, who is heading the Science Policy and Strategy Department at the Max Planck Society’s Administrative Headquarters, she talks about her time as a PhD student, her career path and what is needed today to make leadership positions more attractive for young scientists. more
"Passion for Science" is the motto of the Max Planck Schools
Festive welcome: After two years of virtual get-togethers, the Max Planck Schools Day took place again at the Harnack-Haus in Berlin on September 05. With this year's leading theme "Interdisciplinarity - Chances and Challenges for Research and a Career in Science", roughly 170 participants across all three Schools gathered on site to get to know each other, to exchange ideas and to celebrate the start of the new academic year together. In addition, the fourth student cohort at the three Max Planck Schools – Cognition, Matter to Life, and Photonics – was warmly welcomed. more
The Max Planck Schools call on forward-thinking scientists in the interdisciplinary research fields "Cognition", "Matter to Life" and "Photonics" to apply for the positions as Max Planck Schools Fellows.
The Max Planck Schools call on forward-thinking scientists in the interdisciplinary research fields "Cognition", "Matter to Life" and "Photonics" to apply for the positions as Max Planck Schools Fellows. Apply now and become a Fellow of the Max Planck Schools. Application deadline is October 13, 2022. more
Students and members of the Max Planck School Matter to Life celebrate the first master's cohort of the same-titled study program at Ringberg Castle.
© Axel Griesch / MPS Matter to Life
In a ceremony around the five-day Matter to Life Symposium at Ringberg Castle on Lake Tegernsee, the Max Planck School Matter to Life welcomes the first graduates of the Master's program by the same name, which is jointly awarded by Heidelberg University and the University of Göttingen. In addition to members of the School, Professor Eitel, Rector of Heidelberg University, and Professor Stratmann, President of the Max Planck Society, personally attended the ceremony. more
Partner Insights - Photonics: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Carsten Rockstuhl is Professor at the Institute of Theoretical Solid State Physics and Head of Department at the KIT Institute of Nanotechnology and Fellow of the Max Planck School of Photonics (MPSP). In our partner insight interview, he talks about his career, what is special about the work as a Fellow of the Max Planck School of Photonics, and what distinguishes KIT, founded in 2009, as a central partner of the Max Planck Schools. more
Emma, Brianda and Caedyn, three PhD candidates at the Max Planck Schools, who presented their PhD projects at the last Max Planck Schools Day in October 2021 at the Harnack-Haus in Berlin.

© Bettina Ausserhofer
Interview with PhD candidates Emma Celina Brambila Tamayo, Brianda Lopez-Santini, and Caedyn Stinson. The three of them each presented their PhD projects on the ocassion of the Max Planck Schools Day 2021. They talk about how it was to stand in front of the camera presenting their research to almost 150 people during the virtual event, and how this experience influenced their further work.  more
Newly established Clinician Scientist Program
The Max Planck School of Cognition's novel Clinician Scientist Program will start in fall 2022 and invites ambitious young scientists to combine clinical specialization with scientific training and study in the context of a unique network of outstanding scientists. more
Cutting-edge Research and a virtual Photonics Escape Room
The Max Planck Schools of Photonics is one of the six winners of the "Community Prize" of the "Research in Germany" initiative of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). With its creative idea of a "Photonics Escape Room", the Max Planck Schools of Photonics has successfully competed against its opponents and won the prize money of 20.000 Euro for the implementation of this unique proposal.  more
All Good Things Come in Threes
The third Max Planck Schools Day took place online on October 13, 2021. It showcased the strength and scope of the Max Planck Schools’ network while critically reflecting on the leading topic “Diversity in Science”. While welcoming the third cohort of students at the three pilot Schools – Cognition, Matter to Life and Photonics – the Max Planck Society and the German Rectors’ Conference invited all Schools’ members as well as diversity experts to virtually celebrate the start of the new academic year. more
Partner Insights - Matter to Life: Heidelberg University
Heidelberg University, founded in 1386, is Germany’s oldest university and one of Europe’s most research-intensive institutions. With a long tradition of shaping the future, Heidelberg University offers a wide range of subjects and disciplines, and is committed to broadening and harnessing its knowledge and skills for the benefit of future generations. more
Interview with Martin Stratmann in "Forschung und Lehre"
Martin Stratmann, President of the Max Planck Society and Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Max Planck Schools gives an interview about the outcome of the interim evaluation of the Max Planck Schools.
© Picture: Studio Nippoldt more
Positive Interim Evaluation of the Max Planck Schools
From December 2020 to April 2021, a panel of experts led by Prof. Karl Max Einhäupl, former chairman of the German Council of Science and Humanities and former CEO of Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, conducted an interim evaluation of the Max Planck Schools. more
Strong Partners, Close Network
Quantum communication is a "hot topic". With the help of entangled quantum states, data transmission can be tap-proof and super-fast – whether within small microchips or over distances of kilometers. What still sounds a bit like science fiction to many of us is already being developed by young scientists at the Max Planck School of Photonics in collaboration with Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering (IOF). more
Members of the Max Planck School of Cognition join the "Festival der Philosophie"
Two PhD students of the Max Planck School of Cognition, Bojana Grujicic and Pietro Nickl as well as our Fellow Dylan Haynes will take part in this year's "Festival der Philosophie". more
Max Planck Schools expand network of Fellows
134 scientists from German universities and research organizations have been appointed as “Fellows of the Max Planck Schools” by the President of the Max Planck Society, Martin Stratmann and the President of the German Rector’s Conference (HRK), Peter-André Alt. more
Digital Learning and Teaching at the Max Planck Schools
From the classroom to the screen, from piles of books to educational games, from passive knowledge consumption to proactive knowledge acquisition: At the Max Planck Schools, Students and Fellows are interconnected by virtual campuses that provide ideal conditions to exchange ideas, to acquire and share knowledge or to stay in touch. more
Matter to Life Spring Days: Spring is coming!
And we wanted to greet it appropriately with our Matter to Life Spring Days on 15 & 16 April last week. We have had two great days on gather.town with all of our Master and PhD students as well as members of our faculty. Together we enjoyed not only the discussions and meeting possibilities on this excellent platform, but especially appreciated excellent speakers giving us insight into the Matter to Life Science.  more
Recap of our "Women in Photonics" Event Series
There are already many great women in science - but not nearly enough! In photonics in particular, many intelligent young women shy away from a career as a scientist. In our "Women in Photonics" event series, we therefore asked three of female PhD candidates of the Max Planck School of Photonics to share their experiences as role models and encourage other young women. In a female empowerment workshop, we further empowered young women in physics and engineering to pursue a career in science. more
Step up and say "I want to become a professor!"
Isabel Dziobek, Professor at the Berlin School of Mind and Brain at Humboldt University and Fellow of the Max Plank School of Cognition talks about her passion for science, how important it is to develop self-confidence as a scientist and how this can be supported by targeted leadership programs. more
“Meet the brightest minds on the planet”: Falling Walls x Berlin Science Week 2020, November 1st – 10th, featuring Professor Katrin Amunts
The Max Planck School of Cognition is proud to announce that our speaker and fellow Professor Katrin Amunts, who is also Director of the Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine at the Forschungszentrum Jülich and Professor of Brain Research at University of Düsseldorf in Germany, has been selected as one of the finalists for this year's Falling Walls Conference. more
Navigating Photonics Graduate School Abroad
On November 13, 2020 (4 pm UTC) the Max Planck School of Photonics will host a virtual information event together with the Optical Society (OSA) and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). We want to answer international students' questions about higher education in Optics and Photonic in Germany. Join in! more
Looking back at Max Planck Schools Day 2020
The virtual Max Planck Schools Day on Friday, 11th September 2020 showcased the strength and scope of the Max Planck Schools’ network. more
Open Call for Applications: Fellows of the Max Planck Schools
The Max Planck Schools call on the most forward-thinking researchers in the respective disciplines "Cognition", "Matter to Life" and "Photonics" to apply as Fellows. For more information, please see the Open Call for Applications. more
Max Planck Schools Day 2020
This fall, the three Max Planck Schools - Cognition, Matter to Life, and Photonics - are looking foward to welcoming new students for the second time. We cordially invite you to attend the annual Max Planck Schools Day. We will celebrate the Max Planck Schools and their partners on September 11, 2020 from 2 p.m. (CEST) onwards. more
Max Planck Schools Virtual Lecture Series

Max Planck Schools Virtual Lecture Series

Meet our Fellows and expand your knowledge horizon in the "Lecture Series" of the three Max Planck Schools. You can register for the free virtual lectures on the respective event pages of the Max Planck School Matter to Life and the Max Planck School of Photonics.
SynCell2020 Virtual Symposium

SynCell2020 Virtual Symposium

MAY 26-28, 2020 A three-day virtual symposium on engineering synthetic cells and organelles hosted by the Max Planck School Matter to Life and the University of New Mexico. 
More details and registration on the conference website.
Opening Ceremony of the Max Planck Schools
The three pilot Schools officially welcome their first students at the Harnack House more
The first PhD students start at the Max Planck Schools
The selection and admission process for the first round of applications of the Max Planck Schools has been completed. The first doctoral students will begin their studies on September 1st, 2019. more
Cooperation agreements signed for Max Planck Schools
The agreements set out the legal basis for the collaboration during the pilot phase more
An expedition into ever smaller dimensions of the microworld
This is what fascinates Ferenc Krausz from the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics about his work more
Laser - The world's fastest flash
Ferenc Krausz from the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics in Munich is considered the founder of attosecond physics. His goal is to develop new laser techniques to track the movement of electrons in atoms, molecules and solids in real time and thus observe quantum mechanical processes directly. more
Insights into the nanoworld
Optical microscopes cannot distinguish between objects that are closer together than about 200 nanometers – about one two hundredth of a hair's breadth. The reason for this is the wave nature of light, the half wavelength of which roughly corresponds to those 200 nanometers. The STED microscopy developed by Stefan Hell is the first optical microscope technology to go beyond this magic barrier, enabling researchers to gain fascinating insights into the nanoworld. more
Light connects
In this interview, Andreas Tünnermann, Spokesperson of the Max Planck School of Photonics, talks about the Schools’ curriculum, which focuses on excellent, research-oriented education and training and which consequently opens up perspectives for graduates in the fields of science and business. more
“We offer intensely research-based Master’s/PhD education”
The Max Planck School Matter to Life is open to graduates from the departments of Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Material Sciences. Anyone who has secured one of the 30 places available each year can advance their projects at one of Germany's 20 most famous laboratories. An interview with spokesman Joachim Spatz on the school's curriculum and research. more
“Speaking a common language”
The human cognitive and brain sciences, which are at the heart of the new Max Planck School of Cognition, bring together different disciplines such as psychology, physics, computer science, philosophy, biology and medicine. This makes it all the more important for doctoral students to become familiar with innovative methods and understand each other above and beyond the boundaries of their own discipline, says Arno Villringer, spokesperson of the novel, multidisciplinary graduate school. An interview about the curriculum, the supervision of the students, and exciting research projects. more
Concentrated excellence – first Max Planck Schools selected
Germany has gained a new graduate education brand with international appeal: in 2018, three selected Max Planck Schools will open for an initial five-year pilot phase, announced German Federal Minister of Education and Research Johanna Wanka, the President of the German Rectors' Conference Horst Hippler and the President of the Max Planck Society Martin Stratmann in September 2017. more
Thematically broader, larger scale and more high profile
The support framework for PhD students is being expanded with the introduction of Max Planck Schools as larger entities. Vice President Ferdi Schüth is driving the project forward. more
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