Dear members of the MOL

A new year has begun. We hope you have started 2021 well, healthy and full of energy. The MOL restarted its business with the monthly meeting on January 5: a lively discussion about current issues and future activities took place. In this newsletter we have compiled some news and calls for an engaged mid-level faculty. We hope you enjoy reading this!

With best regard
Your MOL Board

Monika Plozza (RF), Naemi Jacob (WF), Noemi Honegger (TF), Sandra Gratwohl (KSF), Tanya Kasper Wicki (GWM)

In this section, MOL representatives or members of the board introduce themselves in order to give an insight into the many activities in which MOL members are involved.

Today in focus: Sandra Gratwohl, Doc.CH doctoral student at the Department of Cultural and Science Studies and MOL board member.

«Making voices visible is something that I aim for both in my ethnographic research on fetomaternal practice related to spina bifida as well as in my work for the MOL Board. My first few months as a board member have shown me how inspiring and fruitful an engaged collaboration of the mid-level faculty is: concerns are shared, articulated, and heard.»

Institutional Accreditation: More Voices Are Wanted

In the last newsletter, we put out a call for on-site visits for institutional accreditation at the University of Lucerne. Some places remained free. The MOL has received a request from the Quality Management to find two more persons from the TF, as well as one additional person each from the WF and the DGWM for the interview. The interview will take place on Wednesday, March 10, 2021 between 1:30 and 2:30 pm per ZOOM. Participants will be prepared in a briefing in February 2021. For those interested, please contact molremove-this.@remove-this.unilu.ch by January 24, 2021.

We contribute to shaping the university: Working groups enable networking and the influencing of university decisions

Working groups enable us to make our concerns visible, to work out politicalproposals and to make our interests heard together. Would you like to network across all faculties? Would you like to share your concerns and ideas and get involved with like-minded people? Do you want to actively shape our university and the framework conditions of our daily academic life?  Attend the next MOL meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021, 12:30 p.m. (information below) or contact molremove-this.@remove-this.unilu.ch.Together we will brainstorm areas where we can make a difference and what concerns we would like to tackle today rather than tomorrow. The goal is to form working groups to strengthen the position of the mid-level faculty within the university and make their concerns visible. We are looking forward to meeting you!

Better Science Initiative: Committed individuals wanted

The initiative aims to rethink academic work and make room for creativity and healthy working conditions. The focus is on sustainability, diversity and equal opportunities to enable a new academic culture. You can read the initiative's ten demands here: Better Science | Join in! If you have your own projects or events that address these issues, Better Science will support you. At the moment, we are still looking for participants from the University of Lucerne, so that as many universities as possible are represented and can work together to advance the cause. If you are interested, please contact Katharina Bursztyn, Pia Ammann or Better Science directly. (Katharina Bursztyn)

MOL Board: Completely started into 2021

We are pleased to announce that since 5 January the MOL Board has five members and is therefore complete. Noemi Honegger (TF) was already elected in June 2020, but was absent last semester due to her maternity leave. A warm welcome to Noemi! We look forward to working together in the future.

Article on the Academia petition

Das Lamm wrote an article (available in German only) on the ongoing Academia Petition that we want you to be aware of. The MOL is an official supporter of the petition and together with the petition committee is pleased with every additional signature.

A Research Pool for the University of Lucerne

In many university disciplines, conducting studies is a widely used method for data collection. Therefore, a Research Pool has recently been established at the University of Lucerne. 
Participation in studies is open to everyone. To participate in studies in the future, please register at the following link (Request Account). If you want to conduct studies yourself, you can request a Researcher Account at researchpoolremove-this.@remove-this.unilu.ch. (Flavia Tinner/David Finken)

Swiss Young Researchers Forum on Public Law (SNÖR)

The Swiss Young Researchers Forum Public Law, founded by Benedict Vischer and Odile Ammann, is aimed at young researchers in the field of public law who are conducting research in Switzerland or have some other connection to Switzerland. The Forum pursues the following goals: 1) informal academic exchange between junior researchers in public law or with a connection to public law and 2) the promotion of interdisciplinarity in public law. For that purpose, the members of the forum meet regularly to discuss their research and exchange ideas on relevant topics related to public law. More information about the SNÖR can be found here (available in German, French and Italian only).

Graduate Academy

Are you looking for networking strategies or tips on academic teaching and research? The Graduate Academy offers once again a varied and diverse range of courses in the spring semester of 2021. Click here for the course schedule.

MOL-Meetings

The MOL meets during lunch on the first Tuesday of each month to discuss current topics concerning the mid-level faculty and to coordinate future activities. All who are interested in the activities of the organization and/or have a concern for the MOL are welcome to attend. Due to the pandemic, meetings will continue to be held via ZOOM, the series link is available here. The next meeting will take place on Tuesday, 2 February 2021 (12.30-13.30).

This newsletter was translated into English by Kathryn Dawson Townsend. Many thanks!