30,000 Euros for Bright Minds

To mark 50 years of the University of Bremen, the university foundation, its sheltered foundations, and the alumni association will be awarding the “Golden Plietsch” sponsorship prize to courageous and innovative projects at a public event at the House of Science on November 1, 2021.

Anyone interested can register and vote either on site or live online. Physician and science journalist Eckart von Hirschhausen will give a special welcoming address via video chat during the event. He himself is the founder of the "Healthy Planet –Healthy People" Foundation. The topic of donations is therefore particularly close to his heart.

“Make a Donation, Create Knowledge” (“MACHT SINN. Stiften gehen, Wissen schaffen” in German) – this is the motto under which the University of Bremen is providing a stage for its committed sponsors in its anniversary year. They tell their stories through personal portraits and podcasts. What motivates them? What are their visions of a better world? And how do they put these visions into practice together with the university?

An important part of the foundation’s project for the university anniversary is a special sponsorship award. In reference to the precious “Golden Fleece” – a legendary golden ram’s fleece from Greek mythology – the university foundation, its sheltered foundations, and the alumni association are jointly awarding the “Golden Plietsch” and thus funding totaling 30,000 euros (“plietsch” means clever in Northern Germany). They want to support courageous, innovative project ideas that tackle the challenges of our time: climate change, political and social conflicts, endangered habitats, dwindling resources, and digitalization. The projects are meant to contribute to sustainable development or the strengthening of social cohesion and are to show that Bremen takes responsibility for global affairs and develops tangible solutions.

Idea providers were able to apply until September 20, 2021. From the applications, nine projects have now been selected to present their pitch at a public award meeting at 5 p.m. on Monday, November 1, 2021, at the House of Science. A joint jury of sponsors and the audience will then decide which projects will receive funding. Interested members of the public can participate and influence the decision-making both on site and digitally. Andreas Lieberum will host the event.

The Jury Consists of:

Dr. Helga Trüpel (University of Bremen Foundation)
Dr. Rita Kellner-Stoll (Kellner & Stoll Foundation for Climate and Environment)
Senator (ret.) Manfred Fluß (Manfred and Ursula Fluß Foundation)
Iris Spiegelhalter-Jürgens (Iris and Hartmut Jürgens Foundation – Chance at a New Life)
Dr. Nanette Peitgen (Karin and Heinz-Otto Peitgen Foundation)
Dr. Heino Rose (Dr. Heino Rose Foundation)
Reinhard Ahlers, board of directors (University of Bremen Alumni Network)