To promote and stimulate integration of the Berlin research space, the Berlin University Alliance (BUA) has issued a seed funding call. Six proposals were successful and will receive funding to enable them to generate third-party-funding applications for the expansion of existing or the establishment of new research infrastructures in the humanities and social sciences. Among the topic areas of the funded projects are theater of images, lab procedures in social and medical sciences, and an archeological digital archive. The seed projects last for one year and will receive the total amount of 275,000 Euro.

The selection committee has regarded all submissions as highly relevant, innovative and of high scientific quality. Projects had to demonstrably strengthen bonds between partners and show a high degree of innovative capacity/originality, e.g. include new disciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches, inherent transferability to other disciplines or collaborations in the field of digital humanities. Committee members added that the selected projects are thematically diverse, contain interdisciplinary approaches, and are promising candidates for successful third-party funding applications.

The projects are funded within the BUA Objective Sharing Resources.

Projects which have obtained seed funding

Berlin Contemporary China Network (BCCN): Establishing a digital platform for China knowledge exchange — fostering teaching and research collaborations
Prof. Dr. Sarah Eaton, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Prof. Dr. Genia Kostka, Freie Universität Berlin
Proposed infrastructure: interactive digital platform for sharing knowledge and material among BUA partners and wider public

Uniting laboratory procedures across the social and medical sciences (UniSocMed)
Dr. Pia Knöferle, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Dr. Christine Mooshammer, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Dr. Agnes Villwock, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Dr. Fabian Klostermann, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Proposed infrastructure: aligned laboratory procedures across linguistics, rehabilitation and medical sciences

Theater of Images. Studies on Image Based Teaching in Theater Studies and Art History (ToI)
Dr. Peter Jammerthal, Freie Universität Berlin
Prof. Dr. Jan Lazardzig, Freie Universität Berlin
Dr. Georg Schelbert, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Prof. Dr. Claudia Blümle, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Proposed infrastructure: joint interdisciplinary research project and platform to assess and make available, for several purposes, archival material from various sources

The Archeologic Virtual Archive (A VIA)
Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Zarnekow, Technische Universität Berlin
Prof. Dr. Axel Gering, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Proposed infrastructure: IT infrastructure for the creation, exchange, and visualization of 3D models of archaeological finds; the project aims to create a virtual (VR) and augmented reality-based (AR) archive in which these finds can be exchanged, edited, and exhibited.

ORGANON terminology toolbox – eine digitale Plattform für interdisziplinär relevante Begriffe (OrgaTerm)
PD Dr. Werner Kogge, Freie Universität Berlin
Prof. Dr. Markus Asper, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Prof. Dr. Jan Slaby, Freie Universität Berlin
Proposed infrastructure: interactive online platform aiming at facilitating the terminology-related work of research collaborations and networks

Taste divers(e) on the go (Tango)
Prof. Dr. Nina Langen, Technische Universität Berlin
Prof. Dr. Susann Wicke, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Proposed infrastructure: mobile installation with sensory booth and mobile kitchen for citizen science-projects on the topics biodiversity, taste, and food

Contact

Dr. Ingeborg Lasser, Coordinator Core Facilities
Tel.: +49 30 / 838-52886
Email: ingeborg.lasser@berlin-university-alliance.de