Paderborn University now has a new service for academics from all faculties in the form of the ‘Centre for Gender as a Category of Analysis in University Research and Knowledge Contexts’ (GeFoWiss). The structural project, funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) with around 520,000 euros, supports academics in taking appropriate account of gender aspects in their research projects. Project coordinator Dr Susanne Richter, gender researcher and sociologist at Paderborn University, knows that this is an important requirement of good science in almost all disciplines: ‘In order to produce knowledge that benefits all members of society, continuous reflection on gender relations and the application of well thought-out strategies in the research process are required.’ Based on strong gender research at Paderborn University, the project serves to systematically create interfaces, knowledge and knowledge transfer between the technical, engineering and cultural sciences and to establish gender aspects as a self-evident category of analysis in research and development across all disciplines. ‘GeFoWiss’ is one of 13 projects currently being funded throughout Germany as part of the BMBF funding programme. It is headed by Prof Dr Antje Langer from the School Education and Gender Studies working group at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities.
The extensive range of services includes counselling for researchers from all subjects and status groups at Paderborn University. Tailored to subjects, resources and needs, the role that gender aspects play in research is jointly determined. In addition to workshops for various target groups, specialist conferences, lunch talks and a ‘Gender Salon’ are also planned for non-university target groups in cooperation with the city of Paderborn. According to Richter, there will also be a podcast, training courses for disciplinary multipliers and a platform with networking opportunities, digital resources and best practice examples from projects in which gender aspects are already being innovatively integrated or directly researched.
At the opening ceremony, Prof Dr Friederike Eyssel from Bielefeld University will talk about gender aspects in robotics and give an impression of the relevance of gender in technology and engineering. Interested parties are cordially invited to celebrate the launch of the specialist unit on Thursday 14 November from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in room Q0.101. Please register by sending an e-mail to gefowiss@upb.de.
This text was translated automatically.
