Space as the ultimate destination

On 3,000 square kilometres of land in the Argentin-­ian prairie, far from the nearest town, the Pierre Auger Observatory measures cosmic radiation from space whose energy is hundreds of times higher than the radiation in accelerators on Earth. The facility serves as the laboratory for the German-Argentinian double PhD programme DDAp; it sees researchers explore for example the “muon mystery” – a discrepancy between theoretical predictions and experimental measurements in heavy elementary particles.

Doctoral students from the programme, which is jointly run by the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in Germany and the Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM) in Buenos Aires, conduct research in binational teams, are supervised by both universities and spend at least one year in the respective partner country. “We train scientists who can solve problems,” says the physicist Johannes Blümer, who helped set up the programme. Be it in data science or industry – what matters is the universal approach, believes Blümer: “Understand what the problem is, ask the right questions and gradually work your way to a possible solution.”

The DAAD funds the programme via the German-Argentinian University Centre (DAHZ). DAHZ Director Daniel Zimmermann sees its organisational structure as its strength: “It is successful because the cooperation is structurally solid – with both partners sharing responsibility for selection and funding.”

www.iap.kit.edu/english/ddap.php

While satellites thousands of kilometres up in the sky scan the Earth, the precision of their measurements is determined at desks in institutes of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) down on the ground. Data from all over the world is collated here on high-performance computers in dust-free cleanrooms. Thanks to the DLR-DAAD Research Fellowship Programme, the labs are springboards for international careers.

The programme gives international doctoral students, graduates and postdocs the chance to spend time researching at DLR institutes. The topics they address cover everything from satellite technology and quantum error correction to battery development for moon missions. “The DAAD uses its high-profile position and global network to draw attention to the programme and select suitable candidates,” explains Carsten Walbiner, DAAD Head of Section Research Fellowship Programmes.

Talents from places such as Brazil or India have expertise to contribute that “is not necessarily available in Germany,” says Project Coordinator Katrin Bußmeier. “The DAAD and DLR are prioritising internationalisation.” Thanks to its close ties with industry, the fellowship leads not infrequently to a permanent position at DLR or with partner organisations. —

www.daad.de/daad-dlr/

Showcasing Germany as a centre of science and academia: the platform “Research in Germany”, an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space. A new page devoted to “Research in focus: Pioneering the future of space in Germany” takes a look at German space research. From groundbreaking projects at the German Aerospace Center and academic excellence at German univer­sities to innovative contributions from industry, the website presents key technologies, explains the close co­operation between science and industry and highlights the opportun­ities open to international researchers in this dynamic sector.

www.research-in-germany.org/en/researchers_in_us/aerospace_research.html