Forum Flex

Call for Proposals: Forum Flex

Starting February 2024, the Helmholtz Forum Earth and Environment continuously welcomes applications for Forum Flex activities.

The agile tool, Forum Flex, is designed to support one-off activities of smaller scope than, and clearly distinct from, Helmholtz Forum Earth and Environment projects. The aim of Forum Flex activities is to contribute to the research programme ‘Changing Earth – Sustaining our Future‘ through concise formats. In a Forum Flex activity, participants have the opportunity to engage in collaboration with scientists from diverse backgrounds and disciplines, as well as non-scientific communities.

Potential activities encompass, but are not limited to:

• Synthesis workshop
• Research synthesis paper (writing retreat/sprint)
• Mapping of expertise
• Small parliamentary event
• Stakeholder meeting
• Science-Policy dialogue

Forum Flex formats are expected to enforce activities between the Helmholtz Centres within the Helmholtz Research Field ‘Earth and Environment’. The call is open for one-off activities with several participants comprising at least two Topics and two Helmholtz Centres. Any researcher within the Helmholtz Research Field ‘Earth and Environment’ can apply for a Forum Flex activity. Forum Flex activities will receive personnel support within the capabilities of the Helmholtz Forum Earth and Environment anchor persons and the coordination office, and a limited financial support capped at generally €2000 net.

An exceptional feature of the Helmholtz Forum Earth and Environment is its unique science-policy network which connects participants with key stakeholders and decision-makers. The Helmholtz Forum Earth and Environment offers distraction-free environments for productive exchanges and targeted interactions with stakeholders in politics, society, and industry, thereby enhancing scientific impact. Forum Flex promotes interdisciplinary knowledge creation and broadens partnerships beyond the scientific community. These aspects of the Helmholtz Forum Earth and Environment are particularly advantageous for early career researchers, offering them a platform to expand their professional networks and enhance their scientific impact.

For further information, please see the proposal template below. The Helmholtz Forum Earth and Environment Office and the Anchor Persons offer guidance on the application process and evaluation.

Proposals are selected by the Program Board of the Helmholtz Research Field 'Earth and Environment’ based on the following evaluation criteria:

• Integrative in terms of Topics and Centres
• Compatible with the research programme ‘Changing Earth – Sustaining our Future‘ and contributing to the PoF IV Topics and PoF V Topics and synthesis themes
• Novelty in terms of timeliness/demand and/or filling gaps in the Research Field ‘Earth and Environment’
• Feasibility considering limited funds of €2000 net

Interested researchers within Helmholtz 'Earth and Environment' can submit their proposals at any time based on the template below. The Helmholtz Forum Earth and Environment is committing to a swift decision on received Forum Flex proposals, typically within 14 days. Please submit the proposal via e-mail to Marie Heidenreich: marie.heidenreich@gfz.de