City life is often colourful, loud and fascinating – and attracts more and more people. The populations of the world’s megacities will increase by more than a billion people in the next ten years. German city researchers are nevertheless optimistic: Their new digital technologies and management strategies promise more relaxation, safety, health and well-being in our cities. Find out about international pilot projects being implemented as part of the campaign “Shaping the Future – Building the City of Tomorrow” by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). You can also read why a PhD in Germany is a really good idea, learn about current funding programmes and discover our number of the month.
IN FOCUS: Shaping the Future – Building the City of Tomorrow
The future of our cities
In a few years, two out of three people in the world will have taken up residence in cities, consuming far more energy and resources than cities can provide. Ten German research networks have set out to turn our cities in viable, resilient and sustainable living areas. Supported by BMBF, about 25 outstanding German urban researchers have now teamed up with international experts to build the City of Tomorrow together. In groundbreaking projects in China, Colombia, India, Vietnam, and the USA they put their latest digital technologies and strategies to the test.
MoreSmart and beautiful – floating architecture in Vietnam & Germany
Up till now, the stunning floating houses developed by the German scientists of Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg have been popular with well-off individualists who like the idea of living self-sufficiently by supplying their own water and energy. Now a German-Vietnamese research network of the BMBF´s campaign “Shaping the Future – Building the City of Tomorrow” is looking into adapting the German concept to Vietnamese traditions. Its aim is to offer smart, sustainable and affordable homes for thousands of Vietnamese in a country at high risk of sea level rises.
MoreMore fun driving and cleaner air in China’s megacities
Last year, many millions of Chinese fulfilled their dream of owning their own car. But their driving experience is hampered by congested roads in the metropolises. German researchers of the DLR Institute of Transportation Systems were able to demonstrate in the megacity Huainan how their digital tools can be used to prevent traffic jams and accidents and to significantly reduce air pollution. They are now offering to get traffic moving again in other cities in China.
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Info for PhD students
Doing a PhD in Germany is an excellent idea – for all kinds of different reasons. It is hardly surprising then that no other country in Europe has more doctoral students. A German PhD degree is internationally renowned, the country has world class research facilities and numerous funding options are available to doctoral students from abroad. And the icing on the cake is that Germany offers a high quality of life.
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SCIENCE CURIOSITIES
A single breath to combat lung cancer
Breathe in deeply, and then out again! That’s how simple a test for lung cancer might soon be. Researchers from Bad Nauheim have developed a new early detection method that analyses the air we exhale.
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