Max Planck PhDnet

🌍Shaping Policy with Science – Max Planck Science Policy Winter School in Berlin, January 2026

How can scientific evidence guide political decisions? And how can researchers take an active role in democratic debate?
These are the central questions of the Max Planck Science Policy Winter School (MP-SPWS), taking place January 25–30, 2026, in Berlin.
We invite PhD candidates and Postdocs from the Max Planck Society to come learn from experts for a week of:
✅ Lectures, workshops, and site visits in Germany’s political center
✅ Hands-on training in science communication and policy engagement
✅ Building a network dedicated to evidence-based policymaking
Confirmed speakers include: Prof. Christian Doeller (Vice President, Max Planck Society), Prof.
Robert Schlögl (Leopoldina), and Jérôme Bellion-Jourdan (Institute for Global Negotiation), …
‼️Applications open September 15 – October 18, 2025.
Learn more: https://www.fkf.mpg.de/mpsps
Application form: https://survey.academiccloud.de/index.php/273317?lang=en

🤝 Happy International Friendship Day!
📅 30th July
In the journey of a PhD, data may drive the research, but it’s friendship that keeps us going. Whether it’s a late-night paper panic, lab coffee breaks, or cheering each other on at conferences, your fellow researchers become your support system, your sounding board, and your chosen family.

Today, we celebrate the friendships that thrive within the Max Planck Society across institutes, disciplines, and cultures. These bonds are what make research environments resilient, collaborative, and human.

📸 Tag a PhD friend or lab mate who’s made your journey brighter.