German Federal Ministry of Education and Research celebrates more than 180 awarded Green Talents with largest alumni meeting to date

Berlin: For the eighth time the “Green Talents – International Forum for High Potentials in Sustainable Development” culminated in a festive award ceremony where the latest 25 awardees have been honoured by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research for their innovative green ideas from various fields of research and to promote the international exchange.

This year the award ceremony formed part of the largest Green Talents alumni meeting to date. More than 250 attendants of the German research landscape, former “Green Talents”, politicians and other distinguished members followed the opening speech of Research Minister Prof Johanna Wanka, panel discussions with participants from industries, politics and awardees or exchanged ideas in different workshops.

In her speech Minister Wanka emphasized the importance of international collaboration to solve the pressing sustainability questions of our time: “We need programs like Green Talents to enable exchange between relevant sciences, experts and young talents from all over the world. Not only one country or research discipline alone can identify a holistic solution for further environmental protection and sustainability challenges ahead.” A recently published alumni survey shows that the goal to create cooperation between Green Talents and German research institutes is well met. 96 % of awardees see their career positively influenced by being part of Green Talents. 84 % of alumni and participating experts indicated to still being in contact with the Green Talents network. The German research landscape also benefits of being part of the program: 80 % of the researchers who hosted a fully funded research stay, which the Green Talents are invited to complete within the year after the award, are still in contact with the awardee they coached.

Please refer to www.greentalents.de for further information about the background of the program as well as this year’s awardees.