The IWM is aware of its responsibility as a research institute and recognises its duty to make a contribution toward overcoming social challenges. For this reason, we at the IWM are committed to the following values, which are particularly important to us.
Equal opportunity for all genders is a central concern of the IWM. As a member of the Leibniz Association, the IWM has committed itself to taking up the Leibniz gender equality standards and regularly reporting on their implementation, as well as having the institute's gender equality policy certified.
The topic of gender equality is anchored as a management task at the IWM. IWM Director Prof Dr Ulrike Cress currently holds the position of ‘Management Representative for Gender Equality and Work-Life Balance’.
The Equal Opportunities Officer of the IWM is elected from among the female employees and is appointed for a period of four years. The current Equal Opportunities Officer is PD Dr Anne Schüler, her deputy is Lisa Becker.
The activities of the Equal Opportunities Officer concern all gender equality-related issues at the institute. This includes
In addition, the IWM published an equality plan (in German) for the years 2022 to 2026 for the first time in 2022. The aim of the equality plan is to analyse the current gender distribution at the various functional levels and, based on this, to develop measures that serve to increase the proportion of women in management positions.
As a Leibniz Institute, the IWM also supports various opportunities to promote the scientific careers of women:
Since 2012, IWM has regularly undergone an audit process, for which it received a special award, the certificate with distinction, in 2021 and 2024. Employers receive this certificate in recognition of their long-term, sustainable family and life-phase-conscious HR policy.
In the target agreements, measures are defined and implemented in various fields of action to make it easier for the institute's employees to reconcile work and family life.
New measures are added with each new re-certification, including
Employees can find more information on our intranet. If you have any questions, please contact the Equal Opportunities Officer: gleichstellung@iwm-tuebingen.de
Equality Officer
+49 7071 979-341a.schueler@iwm-tuebingen.dePromoting diversity is an overarching principle of the IWM . Diversity, openness and respect are important to us - not least as a member of the Leibniz Association, which has enshrined the promotion of equal opportunities and diversity as an overarching goal in its statutes. Since 2022, the IWM has also structurally anchored the topic of diversity in the institute with the appointment of a Diversity Officer. The Diversity Officer serves as a point of contact for employees on the topic of diversity and coordinates the Institute's diversity measures.
Our aim is to recognise and value the diversity of people - in all conceivable areas - and to use it for the benefit of all. In order to make this visible both internally and externally, the IWM has signed the Diversity Charter (in German) and is developing measures to strengthen diversity at the institute as part of an internal dialogue process: in 2023, a Diversity Round Table was set up as a discussion forum for our employees to promote exchange on the topic of diversity and to help identify needs.
Every year, the IWM also participates in the German Diversity Day organised by the Diversity Charter, for example, by organising activities for its employees.
Diversity Officer
+49 7071 979-233b.drees@iwm-tuebingen.deIt is important to the IWM to strengthen the health of all employees and thereby positively enhance their well-being and satisfaction. For this reason, the IWM is committed to health-promoting structures and programmes in all areas of work at the IWM as part of its occupational health management.
The three areas of occupational health and safety, workplace integration management and workplace health promotion form the pillars of workplace health management at the Leibniz-Institut für Wissensmedien.
To promote physical health, the IMW provides ergonomic workstations with height-adjustable desks to support healthy posture and encourage movement during work. Offering a physical activity break during working hours helps employees to relax and stay active. Regular events such as health days with workshops or lectures sensitise employees to the importance of health and well-being and help to create a health-conscious culture at the institute.
Employees can find more detailed information on our intranet. If you have any questions, please get in touch with the contact person responsible, Ulrike Geiger.
Health Officer
+49 7071 979-249u.geiger@iwm-tuebingen.deThe IWM is aware of its responsibility to communicate the rules of good scientific practice to all scientists and to protect itself from scientific misconduct with appropriate procedures and measures. The IWM adheres to both the Guideline for Good Scientific Practice in the Leibniz Association as well as the Guideline for Safeguarding Good Scientific Practice - Code of the German Research Foundation (DFG).
The IWM is furthermore committed to replicability and transparency in science and has adopted a corresponding Open Science Statement, which addresses the following aspects and corresponding measures:
The Institute has had its own ethics committee since 2009. This committee examines and assesses psychological research projects based on the ethical guidelines of the German Psychological Society (DGPS) (in German) and the American Psychological Association (APA).
The guidelines ensure fair treatment of study participants and guarantee that their dignity and integrity are not compromised at any time.
Our institute is committed to an open and barrier-free working environment in which all employees can work and contribute in the best possible way. This includes individual support, barrier-free working conditions and a representative who is available as a contact person for severely disabled employees.
We expressly encourage you to contact us if you have any questions or need support - because excellent research thrives on different perspectives.
Representative for the Severely Disabled
+49 7071 979-342t.kurbad@iwm-tuebingen.deScientific excellence thrives through the exchange of ideas among the world's brightest minds. At the IWM, internationalisation is more than just a practical necessity - it is a guiding principle that fosters collaboration and creates an inclusive and dynamic culture.
To realise the full potential of global partnerships, the Institute actively collaborates with renowned research institutions worldwide. Our close-knit international network continues to grow, extending the reach of our research beyond national borders and enhancing its societal impact - a core value shared by all Leibniz Institutes.
In 2023, we took a decisive step towards internationalisation with the expansion of our internationalisation team and the establishment of the International Office. The International Office serves as a central point of contact for international employees, guests and our researchers who are going abroad. It provides support with all important formalities and offers advice on research stays - both for international guests and for our researchers abroad. Our aim is to ensure that international collaborations run as smoothly as possible for everyone involved.
We have reached another milestone with the appointment of an Internationalisation Officer in 2024. This new role reflects our commitment to move from a purely logistical focus to a broader vision that actively promotes an inclusive and vibrant international community.
Through initiatives such as intercultural workshops for all employees, we create an environment where people from different backgrounds can learn to overcome cultural barriers and move forward together. These workshops are complemented by events such as the ‘Day of International Diversity’, events which emphasise the diversity of our international community.
As internationalisation is not just about welcoming others, but also about networking externally, we actively encourage our researchers to explore opportunities in other parts of the world. Information sessions on research stays abroad provide practical guidance and inspiration, and help our researchers to develop their own international networks and experiences.
Internationalisation is a cornerstone of our institute's identity, fostering not only logistical support but also a shared vision of inclusion, growth and collaboration. As we continue to grow, we remain true to our goal of fostering a culture that celebrates diversity and strengthens global connections, knowing that these endeavours drive scientific excellence and innovation.
Welcome Officer
+49 7071 979-307c.krueger@iwm-tuebingen.deThe IWM is committed to the goals of Agenda 2030 and regards sustainability as an essential principle of action. The Institute thus subscribes to the guiding principle of sustainability as part of the Leibniz Association's culture of sustainability, with the aim of establishing a principle of coherence in terms of sustainability. This means that we want to harmonise all measures and decisions in order to achieve ecologically and socially sustainable goals in the long term.
Our organisation sees sustainability as a fundamental guideline in all our activities. We see it as our responsibility to make a contribution toward overcoming the major challenges facing society. In doing so, we are guided by the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals and are committed to a sustainable future both in our research and through knowledge and technology transfer.
Our aim is to implement and continuously develop a comprehensive sustainability strategy in order to integrate sustainability into the various areas of the institute. We view sustainability as a collaborative process that is driven by continuous dialogue, the active participation of all employees and a shared understanding of sustainability.
In all areas of our institute, sustainability is to be successively integrated in a collaborative process with the active participation of our employees. This includes the following initiatives:
Do you have any other ideas? Then please get in touch with our contact person for sustainability.
We look forward to achieving even more together!
Sustainability Officer
+49 7071 979-284c.oerter@iwm-tuebingen.de