The Aurora Fellowship is a two-week programme that we were able to establish with the support of the Förderverein der Universität Duisburg-Essen (the University of Duisburg-Essen’s sponsorship association). The aim of this programme is to invite internationally renowned researchers working within the Aurora European Universities Alliance to UDE, allowing them to engage in intensive exchange with our University’s researchers, doctoral candidates, postdocs and students. For UDE, it is particularly important to involve urban communities and the wider region, which is why the Aurora fellow is to give a public lecture for interested members of the public.
The thematic focus of the fellowship is centred on the four pilot domains that we are committed to as a university together with the Aurora network:
- Sustainability and climate change
- Digital society and global citizenship
- Health and well-being
- Culture, diversity & identity
The focus is on a different one of the four pilot domains each semester. This was started off with ‘Culture, diversity & identity’ in the winter semester 2022/23. In the winter semester 2023/2024, the focus will be on digital society and global citizenship.
The programme: As part of this programme, the University of Duisburg-Essen invites nominations once per semester for a two-week Aurora Fellowship to the amount of up to €5000. All UDE members are eligible to submit nominations. Researchers from the ten associated Aurora universities can be nominated. Alongside accommodation and the reimbursement of travel expenses of up to €2500, candidates can receive prize money of €2500.
The Aurora Fellowship helps develop skills that enable active participation in shaping contemporary social, political, environmental, economic or healthcare change. A public lecture will also present and explain exciting findings from the most recent research on major contemporary challenges in a comprehensible way to interested members of the public.
Nominations can be sent to aurora-alliance@uni-due.de until 31 October 2023. The following documents are required: a CV of the nominee and a justification of the nomination, including a project outline if applicable (max. one page). The Rectorate will name the chosen individual as a fellow.
Find more information here.