Diversity Excellence Fund

Through its Diversity Excellence Fund, the Max Planck Society is, offering targeted support initiatives designed to actively advance the practical implementation of a more inclusive and diversity-friendly work environment.

The Diversity Excellence Fund serves as launchpad for new local diversity and inclusion initiatives at Max Planck Institutes seeking to actively promote diversity, equality, and inclusion in alignment with the Max Planck Society’s diversity principles. What makes this project special: it welcomes project proposals from all employees, regardless of their position or status. The primary criterion for selection is that these projects make significant contributions to increasing the representation of minority groups, generating research outcomes that are more attuned to diversity, and fostering a workplace culture where everyone feels welcome, valued, and secure. Moreover, projects that demonstrate an intersectional and multidimensional approach to diversity and are sustained by the MPIs after receiving initial funding, are especially encouraged.

The advantages of a diverse workforce, comprising individuals from various social and cultural backgrounds, benefit everyone. It introduces fresh perspectives and fosters innovative thinking across the board.

2025

The following projects were selected for funding in the 2025 call for proposals.

Diversibot – A humanoid AI robot as a diversity ambassador

A robot as part of the workforce at MaxIT. It automatically becomes a topic of conversation, as "intelligent" machines in the human working environment also represent a diversity dimension. The presence of the robot therefore inherently leads to employees engaging more intensively with the topic of diversity. The robot can move, speak and listen with the help of a large-language model. It uses cameras to perceive its surroundings, is always approachable, draws attention to religious holidays, for example, and recognizes obstacles for people with disabilities. It can also initiate discussions in informal meetings. The Diversibot is intended to encourage employees to think about how they perceive diversity and whether they may have prejudices about it. If there is interest, there are plans to lend the Diversibot to institutes and other facilities within the Max Planck Society.

EXPERIENCE – A multicultural concert series that facilitates encounters between cultures

This proposal combines two important aspects of music: on the one hand, music can help us to understand others better and, on the other, it can show us which culture we belong to. The concert series is intended to make the cultural diversity at the institute visible. It is intended to arouse curiosity and strengthen mutual appreciation. Previous music events at the institute have often focused on Western music and have thrived on open and extroverted colleagues performing. The new series at the Max Planck Institut for Empirical Aestetics "EXPERIENCE – Experimental Performance Series for Intercultural Encounters and Collaborative Experience", on the other hand, aims to give all employees the opportunity to contribute their cultural backgrounds. They do not have to perform themselves, but can invite artists from their cultural environment to give a concert at the institute. The inviting person introduces the music and explains what personally connects them to it. After the concert, an open space is created to talk about the shared experience. There may even be an opportunity to try out one or two unfamiliar instruments and make music together.

Inclusive internship in robotics

The Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems participates in the Robotics Institute Germany (RIG). Founded in 2024, this cooperation network connects leading research centers for robotics throughout Germany. As part of the RIG, the Stuttgart part of the Institute is taking the lead in setting up an internship program for Bachelor and Master students. The program is designed to provide a unique opportunity to conduct cutting-edge research in the field of robotics (Robotics Institute Germany Internships - RIGI). RIGI is committed to diversifying the scientific landscape and promoting inclusivity. The two-year pilot phase will take place at the institute. Travel expenses, in particular, represent a significant barrier to access for international students. Among 995 applications from 75 countries, travel costs vary considerably, resulting in unequal access conditions for students depending on their geographical location. Support from the Max Planck Diversity Excellence Fund enables assistance in this regard, thereby eliminating disadvantages for applicants facing higher travel expenses. This not only renders the programme more equitable but also ensures that talented students can participate regardless of their origin. More about the project.

Soapbox Science - Research without academic barriers

Soapbox Science is a series of events that originated in the UK. It serves to promote female scientists and their research and make it more visible. The format transforms public spaces into an arena for public learning and scientific debate. The Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics will host Soapbox Science together with the University of Tübingen. The event will increase the diversity and visibility of female and non-binary researchers from the fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine. Researchers will be offered a public platform where they can present their research findings and engage directly with the public without academic barriers. This encourages interaction, inspiration and a deeper appreciation for diverse voices in science. This approach helps to challenge stereotypes and promotes inclusivity by highlighting the contributions of underrepresented groups in the scientific community. More about the project.

Wall-Less Cell – Breaking down barriers

The diversity initiative "Wall-Less Cell – Overcoming (Cell) Walls" at the Max Planck Institute of Biophysics is pursuing a three-pronged strategy: In future, accessible content and events are to be developed in public relations work. This also includes guided tours of the MPI's scientific and service facilities for visually impaired people. Doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers are to be supported with training courses to help them present themselves better to a wide audience and make professional contacts that will benefit them in their careers. Networking also plays an important role in the third pillar of the project. A series of lectures on the topic of "Diverse Science" is planned to support researchers who are currently underrepresented in scientific networks. This will help to diversify existing networks. People with disabilities, people of color and people from the LGBTIQ+ community are explicitly addressed.

2023

The following 13 projects were funded in the first round of proposals:

Understanding – Working Together Across Differences
Anti-Discrimination through Dialogue
“Let’s-Get-Involved!” Week
New Internship Program for Increasing Diversity
TALENT+ Training Program
Audit for More Diversity
More Diversity, More Integration, More Scientific Excellence
Intersectionality in Public Communications
Promoting a Culture of Inclusion
Diversity-Calendar
Campus-Wide Diversity Bookshelf
MaxMINDS – Online Scientific Mentoring Programme
Local LGBTQI+ Network

Understanding – Working Together Across Differences

At the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics in Garching, Munich, scientific and non-scientific staff form a diverse team, with both segments playing a pivotal role in advancing research. Recognising the importance of mutual understanding and appreciation for the value of the contributions of these different parts, the Institute has launched the “Understanding – Working Together Across Differences” project. One of the aims of the project is to promote an open exchange of ideas and experiences between administrative staff and researchers. Additionally, the project seeks to raise awareness of other diversity-related aspects, such as educational background, culture, religion, and gender. The project organises three annual events to achieve these goals: experts are invited to deliver presentations on the topic of culture of diversity, general research lectures are organised specifically for non-scientific staff, while administrative lectures are tailored for scientific staff. “Speed-dating” sessions led by external coaches will provide members of the Institute with the opportunity to get to know each other and share ideas and experiences. The “Taste the Difference” event revolves around culinary exchange, with employees bringing dishes from their respective home countries. Ultimately, this initiative will result in a cookbook featuring short biographies and interviews with the participants, serving as an informative tool to promote intercultural understanding and diversity in a playful and "delicious" manner.

Anti-Discrimination through Dialogue

At the Max Planck Institute for Animal Behavior, Radolfzell/Konstanz, diverse and internationally staffed research groups collaborate. This fosters innovation and outstanding research. However, it also presents challenges, such as instances where international employees face housing discrimination upon relocating to Germany or where employees abroad encounter legal disparities that affect women or queer colleagues negatively. The "Antidiscrimination through Dialogue" programme aims to develop feasible, site-specific diversity objectives with the guidance of external experts. This effort seeks to effectively prevent discrimination and promote inclusivity in the long term. Managers undergo training to become facilitators of dialogue processes, empowering them to lead diverse teams in making collective decisions regarding sensitive matters related to diversity and equality in the workplace.

“Let’s-Get-Involved!” Week

The Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig is organizing a "Let's-Get-Involved!” week. The focus is on diversity and efforts to promote gender equality and the relevant contact persons. Leading up to the event, an anonymous survey will be conducted to find out if and to what extent employees have experienced discrimination, and whether they are aware of the available support channels. During "Let's-Get-Involved!" week, daily online conferences will delve into various relevant topics, with both internal and external contact persons invited to participate. Collaboration will be a key theme, encouraging active engagement from both those directly impacted and those indirectly involved in realizing Max Planck Society’s diversity and gender equality objectives. This involvement can take the form of joining existing groups or actively shaping an inclusive work environment. In addition to facilitating networking, the initiative aims to heighten awareness about diversity, potential instances of discrimination, and individual responsibilities, both within the Institute and across multiple institutes. Employees, regardless of their background in research or administration, are encouraged to brainstorm ideas on how and where they can participate in diversity and equality efforts and contribute to fostering a more inclusive cultural transformation.

New Internship Program for Increasing Diversity

The MPI for Solid State Research in Stuttgart is deeply committed to fostering greater diversity and equity. To this end, it is launching a new internship programme aimed at supporting students from underrepresented countries in the Global South. Students from these regions often encounter challenges such as limited access to well-equipped laboratories and renowned scientific networks, typically dominated by western countries. These challenges can potentially put them at a disadvantage when applying for a PhD position at an MPI. The programme offers fully funded internships lasting three to six months, providing students with access to cutting-edge scientific infrastructure and well-established science networks. During their internship, participants will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the daily life of the Institute, actively engage with their research groups, participate in seminars, and attend Institute events, and meet the partner groups at the University of Stuttgart. Successful completion of this internship program can open doors to academic careers at prestigious research institutions, making a significant contribution to increased diversity not only on the Stuttgart campus, but also within the broader academic community.

More information and contact details: https://www.fkf.mpg.de/compass

TALENT+ Training Program

The Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, is an international institute with a high representation of female staff. However, the majority of its employees come from EU countries and privileged backgrounds. The TALENT+ project has been initiated to address this imbalance and increase the proportion of staff and students from underrepresented groups, both at the Institute and within academia as a whole. TALENT+ is designed to facilitate access to high-calibre research experience and educational opportunities for talented researchers, irrespective of their national or ethnic origins, disabilities, or any intersectional factors. The ultimate aim is to contribute to global equity in academia. TALENT+ offers a multifaceted training programme that provides talented individuals from underrepresented groups with experience in cutting-edge research and essential skills development. The programme is uniquely designed to equip them for careers in the field of cognitive science. In return, science benefits from with teams with diverse experiences and skills from across the globe.

They are currently looking for a new program coordinator. Please follow this link to apply

Audit for More Diversity

The Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin, which has previously primarily focussed on binary gender equality, is now embracing a more inclusive approach to diversity. Moving forward, the institute's efforts will encompass not only not only gender equality, but also considerations related to social background, ethnic identity, disability, and other aspects. The aim of the MPI is to enhance its commitment to these areas and create an inclusive and discrimination-free work environment, ultimately fostering long-term diversity. To initiate this process, a diversity audit is set to be launched with assistance from an external consulting firm, tasked with identifying specific areas requiring attention. This will involve an examination of the fundamental structures of the Institute, as well as developing policies that have a positive impact on the Institute’s diversity. The audit’s initial phase will consist of a status quo analysis based on existing data, surveys, and interviews with Institute staff. Subsequently, an internal project team will collaborate to identify key issues aligned with the Institute's diversity principles. The third and final step will be the development of a policy catalogue. The diversity audit aims to increase the visibility of underrepresented groups within the MPI and provide a deeper understanding of (systemic) factors contributing to discrimination contributing to discrimination.

In parallel, the Institute aims to capture the moods of its employees, conduct surveys, and provide current information about diversity activities via a digital touchpad strategically installed in a prominent location at the MPI. For example, the screen will promote the Max Planck Queer Network and upcoming events. To complement this interactive panel, an anonymous letterbox will be introduced, enabling direct feedback on various initiatives. This approach not only serves to raise awareness about diversity, but also encourages interaction among employees, ultimately fostering a deeper understanding of their needs. Collecting diversity-related data will serve as a starting point for developing new policies. With this data, the Institute can assess local factors contributing to discrimination, plan policy actions, and effectively track progress.

More Diversity, More Integration, More Scientific Excellence

The Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena has been a welcoming hub to people from all around the world ever since its inception. This diverse mix of individuals working at the Institute has enriched the Max Planck Society with their varied social backgrounds, religions, and genders. In order to assess the current satisfaction of employees and identify key diversity-related issues requiring attention, as well as to evaluate potential policies to enhance intercultural awareness, the Institute conducted a survey among its employees in the autumn of 2022. Based on the survey results, several areas of action were identified, and the diversity programme will enable the Institute to address them effectively. The plan encompasses a series of workshops covering various aspects of diversity, accompanied by social events both within and beyond the Institute. In addition, the MPI will establish an open Diversity Committee for all employees as well as host regular information sessions and diversity-related events within the Institute, with additional events planned in the wider region.

Intersectionality in Public Communications

The communications team at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science aims to develop a long-term, sustainable public communications strategy that is actively intersectional in its process, implementation, and outcome. Their goal is to represent a balance of perspectives in communication and to define new target groups, core messages, and formats for this purpose, with a view to making public communication more equitable, meaningful, and effective.

Intersectionality serves as a useful analytical framework for the project. First the aim will be to identify the social factors that lead to the exclusion of underrepresented groups and ideas in public communications, both in broader societal discourse and in the MPIWG’s institutional culture. Then, the team seeks to find ways to redress these imbalances in order to communicate about researchers, topics, and epistemologies that have until now been largely excluded through traditional “science communication" (for example Indigenous knowledge and Global South perspectives). Integral to the project will also be identify and implement appropriate evaluation methods towards the strategy’s long-term development in public communications.

More information about the project

Promoting a Culture of Inclusion

The Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology in Marburg is committed to maintaining its status as an attractive employer. To continue attracting promising candidates, the MPI is actively working to promote diversity. These efforts are not only expected to enhance the overall working environment, but also to foster a culture of mutual respect and collaboration. In this way, the initiative for greater inclusion also benefits the existing workforce.
To evaluate the current state of the MPI in terms of gender equality, nationality, and the representation or underrepresentation of various groups, a comprehensive data collection process is planned. This data will enable the identification of areas where action is needed to address significant underrepresentation at the MPI. The next step will be for external consultants to make recommendations for change. These recommendations may encompass social and educational events, as well as initiatives aimed at driving cultural transformation. The goal is to engage individuals from diverse backgrounds and encourage their active participation and commitment to the Institute.

Diversity-Calendar

The Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Stuttgart plans to showcase the significance of research contributions made by marginalised research figures via a diversity calendar, available in both physical and digital formats. The initiative seeks to challenge stereotypes and shed light on the enduring systemic discrimination faced by minority researchers within the scientific community. Through this calendar, the visibility of researchers belonging to underrepresented groups will be significantly enhanced, ensuring that a broader audience recognises and acknowledges their substantial achievements and contributions across various research fields relevant to the Max Planck Society. Ultimately, the project's overarching objective is to foster a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable research community where everyone has equal opportunities to contribute to scientific advancement and benefit from it.

Campus-Wide Diversity Bookshelf

At the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics in Tübingen, an on-campus bookshelf is being created to highlight individuals outside the demographics that have historically dominated the field of research. Books about scientists such as Nobel laureate Barbara McClintock, for example, are intended to raise awareness about women’s contributions to contemporary science. Furthermore, these books aim to counterbalance the numerous popular science publications that often perpetuate gender stereotypes related to women and men in research. The collection will encompass both fiction and biographies about both well-known and lesser-known figures in science. This includes individuals such as the transgender neuroscientist Ben Barres, who made ground-breaking contributions to the study of glial cells. The bookshelf will also shine a spotlight on researchers from countries outside of North America and western Europe, whose work has often remained relatively obscure. For instance, it will feature the work of Indian mathematician Brahmagupta, who introduced the concept of zero to mathematics. Through this diverse range of books, the project aims to promote all dimensions of diversity within the field of science.
Employees from all three Tübingen Institutes are encouraged to suggest possible books, thus contributing to the richness of the bookshelf's diversity. Additionally, age-appropriate literature will be made available for the children of the campus kindergarten. These stories will illustrate the diverse world of science, where anyone, regardless of their gender, beliefs, or background, can pursue research.

MaxMINDS – Online Scientific Mentoring Programme

The MaxMINDS project is part the Earthquake Relief Working Group of the Max Planck Society. It was established shortly after the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria on 6 February 2023. The working group brings together a talented and diverse team of 98 current and former employees from 50 Max Planck Institutes. Their project aims to create an online mentoring programme that connects Max Planck employees with Bachelor’s and Master’s students affected by the earthquake. The primary goal of this virtual mentoring programme is to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary for successfully completing their studies and to support them in their future careers.

MaxMINDS offers an effective means of identifying promising young individuals from diverse social backgrounds and educational levels who are on their journey toward a career in science In doing so, MaxMINDS expands the talent pool available to the Max Planck Society even before the recruitment phase, contributing to diversity in the search for top talent.

More information and contact details https://maxminds.is.mpg.de/en

Local LGBTQI+ Network

Involving and supporting the LGBTQI+ community is becoming increasingly important for employers and is one of the key pillars of person-centred diversity management. LGBTQI+ stands for the English terms Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersexual. Approximately eight percent of the population identifies as LGBTQI+. The Diversity ● Life ● Queerness project aims to support this underrepresented group at the Administrative Headquarters in Munich. Its primary objectives are to create visibility for queer individuals within the Max Planck Society and to foster a safe and more inclusive working environment. The initiative is set to launch in late 2023 or early 2024 with the introduction of an information page, which will serve to strengthen community building and networking. The LGBTQI+ community will thus have a dedicated space on the internal communication platform. Additionally, employees, LGBTQI+ community members, and their allies - meaning supporters and advocates - can use a team room to exchange ideas and share experiences. The ultimate goal is to establish a network of Max Planck Institute members and utilize the platform to announce important events related to LGBTQI+ life. The third component of the project is a rainbow “buddy programme” in which all staff from the Administrative Headquarters can participate.