’Interdisciplinary exchange is our core business’

Münster University's -Future Lab- develops and coordinates projects relating to strategy and innovation which are of significance for the whole University. WWU - Robert Matzke Münster University's "Future Lab" sees itself as a well-oiled bracket linking the Rectorate, central administration and researchers in the 15 Faculties and in research alliances. For the University, it participates in developing and coordinating projects relating to strategy and innovation. In this interview with Kathrin Nolte , Dr. Corinna Lenhardt , who heads the Münster University Future Lab, describes her team's everyday tasks and explains the roles played in them by networking and interdisciplinary collaboration. The Münster University Future Lab has been existence since April 2022. What are its tasks? In the Future Lab we draw up and advance those projects which, from the very beginning, require the perspectives and active involvement of a large number of people. This means that the projects are located mostly at the interface between Rectorate, central administration and researchers. They include projects relating to strategy and innovation - for example the Excellence Strategy, the current work on raising the University's research profile, or its participation in the European university network "Ulysses". But we also support and network researchers in the Topical Programs and the University's core profile areas and emerging fields. How important are networking and interdisciplinary collaboration in your everyday work?