Research Centres of the Helmholtz Association Intensify Cooperation in the Field of Life Science and Soft Matter

IFF-News December 10, 2009

Forschungszentrum Jülich, the German Electron Synchrotron (DESY) in Hamburg, the Society for Heavy Ion Research (GSI) in Darmstadt, the GKSS Research Centre Geesthacht and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) are intensifying their research cooperation in the field of life sciences and soft matter. The five research centres from the Helmholtz Association agreed upon these measures at a workshop on the topic of "Soft Matter and Life Science" held at the Gustav Stresemann Institute in Bonn from 30 November to 1 December 2009. Joint scientific projects were arranged as well as the construction of a joint web portal including a sample database. In future, the workshop will be held every two years, and other meetings on specific scientific topics are also planned.

As part of the Helmholtz Programme "Research with Photons, Neutrons and Ions (PNI)", the five research centres operate large-scale research devices and pursue their own research projects with the aim of fully exploiting and optimizing the potential of these devices and providing the most effective possible support for external users. In the last review procedure in April, apart from the quality of the instruments and user operation, special mention was made of the excellence of the centres' own research. The reviewers, however, noted that research networking between the centres should be further promoted. The programme area of "Soft Matter and Life Science" coordinated by Forschungszentrum Jülich took the first step by organizing the workshop. Similar events are to follow for the other programme areas "Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas", "Magnetism and Highly Correlated Electron Systems", "Engineering Materials" und "Micro and Nano Science and Technology".