Three Questions for Ekkehard Strauss
The DWIH New York had the pleasure of interviewing Prof. Ekkehard Strauss, speaker at our online event #DWIHzeitgeist – Science Diplomacy in Practice on February 1, 2024, and a professor at the Berlin School of Economics and Law (HWR Berlin), part of UAS7 – German Universities of Applied Sciences, one of the DWIH main supporters with an office in New York.
Before your professorship at HWR Berlin, you worked for the OSCE and the UN. How do you combine your academic work with your praxis? How do they inform/influence each other?
During my work with the OSCE and the UN in the field and at headquarters, I made an effort to participate in research projects and teach classes related to my practical work. It was important for me to reflect on and analyze the approaches and methodologies we used from an academic point of view. This provided the necessary intellectual distance while concentrating on the practical challenges we faced. This is my understanding of applied science.
At our #DWIHZeitgeist event, you will share your expertise in the role of universities of applied sciences in SD. Could you sum up what that entails and what event attendees can expect to learn?
The panelists will discuss a range of applied research projects, highlighting various aspects of “science diplomacy”, leading towards an updated definition of the term: how a different understanding is reflected in particular international applied research projects, priority-setting, agenda development and resource allocation. The panelists will discuss the barriers or opportunities that they experienced in determining success in the context of science diplomacy.
SD is a cornerstone for the work of the DWIH New York. How would you describe its relevance for universities of applied sciences and what roles can your institution play in realizing its potentials?
Hopefully, I will know more parts of the answer after the event. At the moment, I think could give a global perspective to the development and implementation of research projects, M.A. theses and other academic work and show that the ivory tower of University stands in the middle of a globalized and interconnected world.
Thank you for the interview. We look forward to digitally meeting you on February 1st.