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Outreach Activity of German Organisations in Kolkata

The German Research Foundation (DFG) Office India, in collaboration with representatives from the Max Planck Society, Freie Universität Berlin, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Heidelberg University, and the German Consulate General in Kolkata, jointly organized a weeklong outreach initiative in Kolkata from 25 to 29 August 2025. With its rich intellectual heritage and vibrant academic ecosystem, Kolkata served as an ideal hub for fostering science and technology cooperation.

The weeklong program was organized alongside the XXXVIII International Ethological Congress – Behaviour 2025(externer Link). The German delegation hosted a “Research in Germany” booth at the scientific meeting, engaging with attendees from all over the world. Participants explored opportunities for research careers and funding in Germany, the “Land of Ideas.” Being the largest conference in the field of behavioural science in the world, the meeting brought together researchers from various countries and provided a prime opportunity to showcase the German research landscape, institutions, and opportunities for international collaboration with German researchers.

Group picture in front of the booth

“Research in Germany” Booth at Behaviour 2025. L to R: Dr. Vaibhav Agarwal, DFG; Dr. Suboor Bakht, University of Heidelberg; Dr. Poonam Suri Sehgal, Max Planck Society; Ms. Vibhuti Sukhramani, Freie Universität Berlin; Ms. Sandra Kristin Muskalla, DFG

© DFG

The delegation also reached out to leading research institutions in Kolkata and organized institutional visits and faculty–student interactions. The team promoted Indo-German collaboration and disseminated information on research opportunities in Germany at the following institutions:

At both institutions, the delegation held insightful discussions with senior administrators on institutional strengths and potential areas of cooperation. This was followed by interactive sessions with faculty and students, where German representatives presented various funding programs and pathways for higher studies and research careers in Germany.

To reach a wide variety of researchers in Kolkata and familiarize them with excellent research being conducted in Germany, the DFG, in partnership with the Max Planck Society, the Bose Institute, and the German Consulate General in Kolkata, organized a Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Lecture at the Bose Institute(externer Link) on 27 August 2025. The lecture, titled “Large-Brain Neuroscience of Elephants”, was delivered by Prof. Dr. Michael Brecht, a Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize recipient (2012) from Humboldt University Berlin. Prof. Brecht’s pioneering work in neurobiology and computational neuroscience, particularly his development of in vivo whole-cell recording techniques, has significantly advanced our understanding of neural circuits in freely moving animals.

Leibniz Lecture by Prof. Michael Brecht

Leibniz Lecture: “Large-Brain Neuroscience of Elephants” by Prof. Michael Brecht, Humboldt University Berlin, at Bose Institute, Kolkata

© DFG

The lecture was chaired by Prof. Kaustuv Sanyal, Director of the Bose Institute, in the presence of Ms. Barbara Voss, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Kolkata. Delivering the inaugural address, Prof. Sanyal warmly welcomed the audience and provided an overview of the Bose Institute’s legacy, highlighting its international partnerships, particularly with German institutions. Ms. Voss emphasized the deep-rooted, multidimensional Indo-German cooperation, with a special focus on collaboration in science and technology. Explaining the history and significance of Germany’s most prestigious research honor, the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize, Dr. Vaibhav Agarwal, Deputy Director of the DFG India Office, highlighted that the Leibniz Prize, Germany’s highest research distinction, is conferred annually by the DFG on exceptional scientists and scholars based in Germany, in recognition of their groundbreaking contributions across diverse fields of research. These laureates also serve as German research ambassadors, delivering Leibniz Lectures around the world to showcase Germany’s scientific excellence and foster international collaboration. The lecture was warmly received by the audience, which included scientists, students from in and around Kolkata. 

This outreach initiative successfully showcased Germany’s dynamic research landscape to the academic community in Kolkata and participants of Behaviour 2025, and was highly appreciated by the institutions and universities involved.

Further information

Behaviour 2025

IACS Visit

Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science(externer Link)

Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Lecture at Bose Institute

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