News

The Max Planck Institute recently paid a courtesy visit to the University of Botswana (UB), meeting with Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Enterprise, Professor Doreen Ramogola-Masire and senior staff members. The engagement focused on potential collaboration in scientific research and related disciplines.

The Max Planck institute is an international center for German science and carries out fundamental research in the natural sciences, life sciences and humanities. There are 85 Max Planck Institutes and facilities which operate 20 Max Planck Centers with research institutions in addition to four (4) institutes outside of Germany,

Director at the Max Planck Institute, Professor Tobias Bonhoeffer, in his presentation on the institute’s offerings, emphasised that collaboration must be driven by scientists themselves, noting that partnerships were most effective when they originated from active research projects.

Further, he outlined Max Planck’s structured programmes for engagement including Partner Groups, mobility grants and the Artemis mentorship initiative while stressing the importance of reciprocal value in all partnerships.

Initially, the delegation visited UB’s Okavango Research Institute (ORI) in Maun, where discussions highlighted areas of research in alignment with Max Planck’s existing programmes.

Professor Ramogola-Masire observed that while there was potential in large scale collaborations with the institute, the mentorship programme would serve as the initial framework for cooperation while broader research opportunities remained under consideration.

Consequently, as way forward, a shared commitment was made to develop frameworks that encouraged fruitful engagements, ensuring sustainable and productive partnerships.