Germany’s Volkswagen Foundations wants scientists to explore “unknown unknowns,” this time, with a revamped evaluation system
Photo credits: zverge / BigStock
Germany’s Volkswagen Foundation is looking to back research ideas that could create whole new scientific fields with up to €1.3 million over three to five years.
The foundation is after projects that are “science fiction” but not “fantasy,” explained Pavel Dutow, a programme director at the foundation. “Fantasy is actually not possible, but science fiction is possible, maybe in 100 years, maybe in 300 years,” he told Science|Business last year.
Previous projects explored whether depression can be cured using blood transfusions, whether life can exist on other planets without sunlight, whether mammals transmit chemical signals that prime each other’s immune systems against diseases, as well as investigated topics such as soft robotics and mind-altering plants.
The key requirement is that ideas must attempt to break new scientific ground. Projects that are application…
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