Abstract

Invited Talk - Plenary

Stairway to Funding

Marc Hempel
PT.DESY

What does a programme manager at a funding agency actually do, and why should an astronomer care? Astrophysics is at the frontier of curiosity-driven research. Funding, by contrast, is where curiosity meets criteria - apart from reading proposals, attending meetings, and trying to translate excellent science into administratively robust decisions it involves a notable number of complex processes. This talk offers a behind-the-scenes look at some maybe strange and peculiar but surprisingly important aspects in the world of research management in astrophysics funding with special respect to research funding on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) within the framework programme “Exploring the Universe and Matter” (ErUM). From exciting scientific ideas and ambitious infrastructure plans to deadlines, selection processes, and the occasional existential encounter with guidelines, it will sketch how projects move from a brilliant concept to funded reality. The aim is not only to demystify the role of the project sponsor, but also to show how funding, policy, and science interact - and why this matters even for those who would much rather think about Lambda Bootis stars than budget lines.