Since 2014, the Foundation's Board of Trustees has been electing ten to fifteen Freigeist Fellows each year: Young research talents in all disciplines with an extraordinary research idea, who tread new territory and are working at the borders of neighbouring fields or disciplines. What makes a "Freigeist" in the eyes of the Foundation and how can you apply for the fellowship program? Dr. Johanna Brumberg and Dr. Oliver Grewe, program directors of the initiative, answer these questions in our interview.

A new funding initiative of the Volkswagen Foundation aims to promote the responsible development of artificial intelligence systems. Interdisciplinary research consortia in the social sciences and the engineering sciences can apply for up to 1.5 million euro for up to four years. Next deadlines for applications: July 5, 2018 and July 04, 2019.

Mit dem Opus Primum Förderpreis wird alljährlich die beste wissenschaftliche Nachwuchspublikation geehrt. In diesem Jahr erhält der Schweizer Philosoph Andreas Cassee die mit 10.000 Euro dotierte Auszeichnung für sein Erstlingswerk "Globale Bewegungsfreiheit", eine aktuelle Betrachtung von Einwanderungsbeschränkungen, Gerechtigkeitsprinzipien und individueller Selbstbestimmung.

Three of Europe's biggest philanthropic foundations have joined together to award 5 million euros to tackle some of the most pressing global challenges of our time: Wellcome Trust, Riksbankens Jubileumsfond and Volkswagen Foundation have funded six research groups from across Europe to drive action through cross-border collaboration.

Nestling blue tits can discriminate between the smell of other nestlings and adapt their begging behaviour accordingly. This is the outcome of the latest study by Freigeist-Fellow Dr. Barbara Caspers and Dr. Peter Korsten from Bielefeld University.