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On February 6, 2024, one year after the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, we remember with deep sorrow the lives lost and extend our condolences to their families and loved ones. In the past 12 months after the disaster, members of the Max Planck Society set up a mentorship initiative to support affected university students in their careers: MAXMINDS.
Stuttgart – Following the series of earthquakes in Turkey and Syria on February 6, 2023, members of the Max Planck Society (MPG) launched a social impact initiative to support the academic and professional development of university students in the earthquake-affected regions. With the help of more than 50 MPG institutions all across Europe, MAXMINDS kicks-off today: the Max Planck Society for Mentoring for Inclusion and Diversity in Science.
MAXMINDS is an online mentoring program that provides bachelor's and master's students with personalized advice and career support from members and alumni of the Max Planck Society. More than 60 mentors from different professions and scientific institutions have joined forces to contribute their expertise and insights to the project.
Each participating student will benefit from at least six one-on-one mentoring sessions, receiving guidance tailored to their individual goals and aspirations. Online seminars on the mentor-mentee relationship and other topics will also be offered. The mentors, who are the experts in their fields selected from various Max Planck Institutions and alumni, are committed to empowering the next generation of scientists and professionals.
"We believe in the transformative power of mentorship, especially in times of adversity. MAXMINDS is not only about rebuilding academic careers, but also about fostering a culture of inclusion and diversity within the scientific community in Germany," says Erdost Yildiz, a project mentor and a postdoctoral researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Stuttgart.
“MAXMINDS owes its existence to the tremendous collaboration of numerous MPG members from various institutes and dedicated alumni. From our initial meetings, a consensus emerged that achieving diversity, equality, and inclusion in any setting requires support for disadvantaged groups. Our mentoring project will also contribute to the realization of this goal by coaching these students,” says Zeynep Yazici Caglar, a project mentor and researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Legal History and Legal Theory in Frankfurt.
The initiative extends its gratitude to the Max Planck Society Diversity Excellence Fund for its generous financial and technical support in making MAXMINDS a reality. The initiative also appreciates the help of the Association for Supporting Contemporary Life in Turkey (CYDD) and some other organizations for their support in reaching out to the students in need of career support.
MAXMINDS aims to impact the lives of students in the earthquake affected areas by providing them with the tools and guidance they need to thrive in their academic and professional endeavors.
For more information, please visit our website at maxminds.is.mpg.de, follow us on our social media channels, or e-mail us at maxminds@is.mpg.de