C-BEAR+

In the project "California-Berlin Exchange and Research Plus" (C-BEAR+), a research cooperation between Reiner Lemoine Institut in Germany and various research institutions in the USA is being established.
The cooperation is intended to bundle the partners' research efforts on the topic of "Universal access to sustainable energy" (as defined in SDG7) and thereby support the achievement of this development objective. A second goal is to strengthen transatlantic relations and contribute to intercultural exchange.
The project consists of various modules that provide an opportunity for intensive scientific and intercultural exchange and networking at different levels:

1. Lectures and workshops
   
   • An exploratory mission ("scoping mission") of the RLI management serves to introduce the network to related research institutions in the USA through visits and lectures at various universities in the USA, to establish contacts and to develop these further.
     
   • In the framework of joint workshops and a conference, young scientists and experienced researchers from both countries can exchange ideas, get to know new methods and develop and discuss publication and project ideas together.
2. Scientific and intercultural exchange (institutional) A Summer School in Berlin and a Spring School in the USA provide American and German students and doctoral students with an intensive insight into various research methods in the fields of sustainable energy access and renewable energy. In addition, joint visits to relevant institutions and start-ups as well as cultural institutions will be part of the program.
3. Scientific and intercultural exchange (individual)/Fellow program Within the framework of C-BEAR+, doctoral students and postdocs have the opportunity to complete a research stay of up to three months as a Fellow at one of the partner institutions. The aim is to get to know the research of the partner institution and to jointly develop publications and project ideas.

The RLI is responsible for the coordination and implementation of the various activities.
C-BEAR+ receives funding from the Transatlantic Program of the Federal Republic of Germany from funds of the European Recovery Program (ERP) of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy (BMWi).

Project period: January 2019 - June 2021

The RLI is responsible for managing C-Bear+ and for coordinating and implementing the various modules of the project. These include:

Scoping mission: March 6th – April 4th 2019

RLI Managing Director Kathrin Goldammer visits three American universities to present the program at various chairs and discuss first steps with network partners. Her stations are:

• UC LA, Los Angeles, CA
• UC San Diego, San Diego, CA
• Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ
  Lecture at the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability: "The Renewable Energy Transition in Germany"

Summer School: August 5-17, 2019

Sixteen motivated young researchers (eight from the USA and eight from Germany) will be given the opportunity within the framework of the C-BEAR+ Summer School to intensively deal with interdisciplinary research methods and approaches in the field of sustainable energy supply and renewable energy. This includes the modeling of energy systems, GIS instruments, and social science methods.
The program will also include visits to various German institutions and companies, including Agora Energiewende, Solarkiosk, and IASS in Potsdam. Cultural events are also planned.

Spring School: Spring 2020, USA

Details are to follow in fall 2019

Research at RLI is supported by the Reiner Lemoine Foundation.