interview

Working conditions at universities “Human and anti-science ”

Status: 06/24/2021 5:03 a.m.

Chain contracts, extra work and a lack of prospects: under the hashtag #IchBinHanna, scientists mobilize against difficult working conditions. At their pressure, the Bundestag is also dealing with the subject today. tagesschau.de: With #IchBinHanna, working conditions in science make it into parliament. How did the hashtag come about? Sebastian Kubon: Until recently, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research had a video on its website in which an animated figure named Hanna explains the legal basis of employment, the Science Contract Act. This is a special right of fixed-term employment that regulates that scientists in Germany can be employed for a maximum of six years before and six years after completing their doctorate. Thereafter, the time limit must be extended. But that doesn’t happen due to a lack of jobs, so most of them are thrown out of the system by then at the latest – with all their qualifications and knowledge that are then lost to science. And in addition to this immense loss for Germany as a research location, there is always a personal fate. If there is such an explanatory video to explain this absurd situation, then in my opinion it is anti-human and anti-science. Therefore, Dr. Amrei Bahr, Dr. Kristin Eichhorn and I give the scientists a face – with the hashtag #IchbBinHanna.

To person Dr. Sebastian Kubon is a research associate at the History Department at the University of Hamburg, currently on parental leave. He is mainly concerned with public history and food history. At the moment, criticism of the German science system is at the center of his commitment. To do this, he and Dr. Amrei Bahr and Dr. Kristin Eichhorn created the hashtag #IchBinHanna.

tagesschau.de: What are your main points of criticism and what are your specific suggestions? Kubon: I hardly know where to start. The short-term contracts are particularly bad. Instead of doing research in peace, you have to keep writing new applications and proposals. We need realistic contract terms, i.e. as long as you actually need for a doctorate, for example. And those who then have a doctorate should be employed on a permanent basis – or at least receive a clear and transparent perspective. In addition, there is a lot of unpaid overtime at universities. Many colleagues only have half jobs – and still work as much as if they had full jobs to keep the business running. We need reliable and sufficient basic funding. This does not always mean more third-party funding, i.e. project-related funds that have to be applied for and raised at great expense.

“Then you shouldn’t get any professors out of time”

tagesschau.de: The Ministry of Education justified the temporary positions by stating that research always needed new impulses. Kubon: This argument that only constant fluctuation creates innovation has been around for decades without ever being scientifically verified. According to this logic, professors should not be deferred. I think that is more of an exaggerated argument. Because it is – at least in the short term – easier and cheaper for young scientists to work unpaid overtime. But this literally burns them up, which is expensive in the long term and not sustainable at all. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not about pity. But this system means that important research projects are put to rest, teaching suffers in terms of content and students keep losing contact. Many highly talented people, when asked if they could see themselves in science, wave their thanks. tagesschau.de: Another argument from the Ministry of Education is that if all posts were to be expelled, a single generation would “clog” the system … Kubon: But nobody is asking that all positions be permanent – as far as I know, not even the union. It is about transparent criteria and a concrete perspective: in other words, expiry under the and the circumstances. Surely it cannot be that every new generation has to struggle again and again with precarious working conditions and cannot conduct research properly.

“No wonder that many seek their happiness elsewhere”

tagesschau.de: Is that actually a purely German problem, is it better to deal with young scientists abroad? Kubon: “Offspring” is a terrible term. Some people in their mid-40s are not newcomers, but highly qualified experts who have long had highly paid management positions elsewhere. No wonder that many seek their happiness elsewhere. Foreign universities have already tried to poach German scientists as part of #IchBinHanna. But to come back to the question: Overall, science is a precarious system worldwide. But I cannot judge that in detail. But it would perhaps also be more the job of the ministry to set up a commission to deal with working conditions elsewhere in order to see what one can learn from there. But that would presuppose that deficits are recognized at all in their own country.

Mobilize via Twitter – in response to pressure from academics, the Bundestag is currently dealing with working conditions in research and teaching (archive). Image: picture alliance / Geisler-Fotop

tagesschau.de: Now there is a current hour in the Bundestag today. What do you expect from it? Kubon: I hope that this will bring science back on the political agenda. If it is to provide urgently needed orientation, then we can no longer work under such conditions. But I have the impression that many politicians simply do not know anything about it. Therefore we say: stop – it cannot go on like this. And maybe a few parties will see it as an opportunity to position themselves on questions of science policy.

Workers’ rights, as for everyone else

tagesschau.de: It is the last week of the session, then there will be general elections in September, so there will be no quick solutions. How do you intend to carry the topic forward? Kubon: The Science Contract Act is currently being evaluated. However, the corresponding forms are designed in such a way that I cannot imagine that valid data will come out of them. Nevertheless: The law is on the agenda for the next legislative period. Therefore, the deficits must now be described as precisely as possible in order to propose possible solutions. This is done in the traditional way, i.e. via local programs, party work or unions. But thanks to social media, initiatives can also arise quickly and spontaneously – the success of #IchBinHanna has shown us that. You made the Ministry of Research have to deal with our criticism. And on this point we will not let up: Scientists must have the same employee rights as everyone else. The interview was conducted by Stefan Keilmann, tagesschau.de

President Joe Biden. Photo: AP Along with the participation of the US, the leaders of the countries have promoted a new commitment to reduce harmful fossil fuel pollution on the first day of the summit organized by the US. However, observers hope video conferencing between senior leaders of countries will look towards new action to deal with climate pollution and as money for the UN meeting in November in Glasgow. . The world will face “dangerous moments” but also “opportunities”, President Biden declared during the online summit to have the participation of 40 world leaders. “The signals are unmistakable. The science is undeniable. The cost of delay continues to rise,” said President Biden. Before the summit, the pledge of President Biden once spoke out to cut 52% of US fossil fuel emissions by 2030. This comes 4 years after the US withdraws from the climate change agreement. The Biden administration this week is outlining a new vision for a prosperous, clean energy America. At that time, factories will focus on the production of advanced batteries and electric cars. At the conference, Japan announced its goal of cutting emissions by 46% and South Korea said it would stop giving public funding to new coal-fired power plants. This is considered an important turning point to persuade China and other countries to limit dependence on coal fuel. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he would increase fossil fuel pollution cuts from 30% to at least 40%. In a report by insurance firm Swiss Re (Switzerland), climate change could cause up to $ 23,000 billion in damage to the agriculture, health and physical infrastructure sectors, as well as to government spending direction. Joining hands to deal with climate change The complicated developments of the epidemic make the climate change summit to be held in an online format. However, the participation of the leaders of the countries shows the joint efforts to deal with the climate change challenges taking place around the world. Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed his determination to cooperate with the US in promoting efforts to cut emissions. “Protecting the environment is about protecting productivity. Promoting a healthy environment is about promoting labor productivity”, President Xi Jinping emphasized. Russian President Vladimir Putin also offers opinions and pushes on efforts to cope with climate change. “Russia is really interested in increasing international cooperation in search of effective solutions to climate change and all other important challenges. Russia is currently the fourth country in number. Large fossil fuel smoke emissions are harmful to the climate. Observers say that efforts to cope with climate change are the driving force for leaders of all countries to push disputes and tensions aside for a good and healthy world. Fossil fuel emissions on earth increase rapidly, according to analysts. The Biden administration’s commitment will require a major effort to address current climate change issues. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is one of several allies that support a return to the United States in response to current climate change. “I am delighted to see that the United States has returned to working with us in climate politics. Because of America’s involvement and we need you to join hands in accomplishing our great goal,” Chancellor Merkel spoke out in her speech at the online summit. Pope Pop Francis is also strong: “I wish you [nước Mỹ] succeed in this great decision to meet, step forward and accompany all the way “. According to scientists, the alarming level of climate change comes from operations at coal plants, car engines and other fossil fuel use. These are reasons that exacerbate the risk of droughts, floods, storms, wildfires and other natural disasters. Leaders of small states and island nations also voiced the serious challenge of rising sea levels and increasing natural disasters. The countries are also calling for international assistance to cut emissions from world powers.