How to support scholars at risk?
The fellows of the Zukunftskolleg stand in solidarity with their fellow researchers in Ukraine who are suffering from the war and with those who oppose the war in Russia who are suffering from state repression. The fellows are horrified and shocked, and they condemn the Russian leadership’s war of aggression. Both the members of the Zukunftskolleg and the Zukunftskolleg as an institution offer affected researchers the best support they can: in kind, through offers such as office space or private accommodation, or financial support, including temporary fellowships. They coordinate their efforts with the university (uni-konstanz.de/en/university/news-and-media/topics-of-focus/solidarity-with-ukraine/uni-konstanz-helps-ukraine/informal-support-network/) and with their national and international partners. Initiated by the fellows of the Zukunftskolleg, the University of Konstanz has established a network of informal/non-financial support – ranging from tandem partnerships, scholarships and job offers to office space – for refugee students and researchers from Ukraine – to which every person at the university can contribute. Moreover, in March 2022, the Zukunftskolleg launched a new call for applications for Visiting Fellowships, which was open to early career researchers in Ukraine threatened by the current war (“scholars at risk”). The postdoctoral stipends for up to six months were awarded on a rolling basis. The “Politics of Inequality” cluster is supporting this endeavour by currently funding two out of twelve Visiting Fellowships.
The following seven Visiting Fellows joined the Zukunftskolleg between May and July 2022. Further five Visiting Fellows that joined the Zukunftskolleg in autumn 2022 will be presented in the next annual report.
“Since my arrival at the Zukunftskolleg on 10 May, I’ve received tremendous support from the team as well as from other fellows. My current research is devoted to the post-conflict reconstruction of Ukraine. The focus of my research is state-institutional resilience in the post-war period. I’m very happy to have an opportunity to make my contribution to the possible reconstruction of my country. Apart from that, this project gives me an opportunity to proceed with my work as a researcher in these complicated times.
I presented first outcomes of my research at the Jour fixe on 14 June. The fruitful discussion afterwards gave me great insights for further work. In addition, on 4 July I gave a project presentation for my local host professor Dr Nils Weidman and for the Research Group “Communication, Networks and Contention”. We already have some material to publish.
Zukunftskolleg fellows are making a significant contribution to my research by sharing their experience in post-conflict reconstruction.”
“The Visiting Fellowship 1) allows me to avoid downtime in my career because the possibility to conduct empirical research in Ukraine remains questionable at the moment. Writing a doctoral thesis, as a development in my career, will allow me to continue scientific and teaching work in Ukraine at a new career level in the future, and 2) contributes to improving both the quality of the research work and deeper cooperation between European and Ukrainian colleagues through the exchange of research experience and involvement in the European sociological scientific discussion, and 3) supports the goal of Ukrainian sociology in the post-war period of becoming one of the areas of rebuilding society – highly qualified specialists in this field will be in high demand.”
“The Visiting Fellowship means a new step in my career. It’s a great possibility to connect with other researchers and to make my project more interdisciplinary.”
“For me as a Ukrainian scholar, the Visiting Fellowship means solidarity and help for Ukrainian science in its struggle for independence. I can’t handle a gun because I’m not a soldier. But my research project is also a tool now fighting for Ukrainian independence.
I can show the face of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion to the EU’s scientific community and the influence of this disaster on nature. I do not want to repeat my political and social positions, but I would like to emphasize in my project some economic significance of the natural environment, especially protected areas, in the post-war market and society, which should increasingly attract not only the EU research community but also all representatives of the European family.
I would also like to share some good news. The first manuscript of my research project has already been published. Without the Zukunftskolleg, I would have no opportunity to continue my research during such a difficult time for Ukraine. Here is the link unwe.bg/eajournal/en/journalissues/article/23627.”
The Zukunftskolleg is grateful that the Visiting Fellows have joined the ZuKo community. The Zukunftskolleg can only provide a limited number of fellowships, but does its best to create ideal conditions for those researchers to develop and advance their research independently and to establish strong networks between the University of Konstanz and Ukrainian academic institutions. The Visiting Fellows maintain all legal and academic ties to their home institution in order to be able to return home at any time. In this way, the Visiting Fellowship is creating sustainable, long-term cooperation. The Zukunftskolleg has built this bridge because its members stand in solidarity with their fellow researchers in Ukraine and want to maintain it long after the war has ended. This is why the double affiliation – with strong departmental integration – is so incremental to the programme. Participation in the Zukunftskolleg programme and its successful completion will allow the beneficiaries to achieve several goals: (1) It supports the beneficiary’s academic career, as it will avoid breaks in the career path due to unstable research conditions in Ukraine. (2) The exchange of research experience and involvement in the European academic discussion will improve the quality of research work and deepen cooperation and communication between European and Ukrainian colleagues. (3) The programme particularly supports early career scholars during a crucial period in their careers and will help to increase the number of young people in research who have a long academic career ahead of them – be it in Ukraine, Europe or worldwide.
Working together with the central services at the university, the Zukunftskolleg is seeking to create a network that contributes to European research communities and compensates for a small but important part of the effects of the war. The Zukunftskolleg is thankful to its colleagues at the International Office and the Welcome Centre that continuously strive to support Ukrainian scholars and students alike: “We are proud to be part of their team and honoured that the University Council has granted this year’s prize to the Ukraine Support Team.”