Research News
Schematic illustration of a Cherenkov Telescope Array the construction of which will involve the DESY. Photo: G. Pérez, IAC (SMM)
The selected projects in detail:
The Cherenkov Telescope Array measures cosmic gamma radiation of the highest energy levels and is to consist of three different telescope types. The Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, a Helmholtz Association member, has taken over responsibility for building one of these three telescope types.
In the EU-Openscreen co-operation project, numerous European research institutions intend to jointly identify hundreds of thousands of biologically active substances, collecting these in a central database. The substances may serve as starting points for new medication development. On part of the Helmholtz Association, the project involves the Max Delbrück Center and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research.
IAGOS will use commercial aircraft to collect atmospheric data from the height of the air corridors. The new system thus allows for more detailed climate forecasts and it can identify the effects of air pollution. Helmholtz partners are the Forschungszentrum Jülich, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and the German Aerospace Center.
New Large-scale Projects
Six Helmholtz Association centres are involved in planning the three large-scale research projects the implementation of which was rated as particularly urgent by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) upon recommendation by the German Council of Science and Humanities. After their acceptance into the "Roadmap for Research Infrastructures" and the corresponding funding pledge, the realisation of the projects is within grasp. Yet what does this signify for the Helmholtz Association? "hermann" asked Managing Director Rolf Zettl:
Six Helmholtz centres as part of the most important research infrastructures. Typically Helmholtz?
One could say that. Co-ordinating large-scale research infrastructures is an important part of our mission. We have already planned, built and operated many large facilities of comparable size. Ultimately, it is our task to provide such facilities for science in order to be able to answer, with our partners, research issues of social relevance. This is a day of joy for the world of science in general. The selection of projects creates a diversity, which will be highly attractive for researchers from all across the globe.
A day of joy also for the managing director of the Helmholtz association?
As yet my joy remains contained, since we currently are unable to assess the costs and the expectations of co-funding that may be directed at the Helmholtz Association. The basic principle is that operating costs must be borne by those organisations, which have made the request.
What are the responsibilities science enters into in consequence of such a (financial) gift?
The responsibilities are always the same: receiving tax-payers' money demands responsible use of these funds. The plans for these facilities must be implemented in a responsible manner, both as regards construction and operation. And then we hope that the insights gained in the experiments will be of considerable added value to society, thus justifying the costs.
