Interview with Rationale Altruisten Mannheim e. V.
“How did your initiative come about?”
Lukas: Our initiative, the Rational Altruists, originally emerged from a student initiative in 2000. A group of friends often discussed rationality and altruism and came up with the idea of founding an organization to provide financial support to students and prospective academics, particularly in the social sciences. Since then, we have been supporting young academics and offering networking opportunities even after graduation.
“What long-term vision are you pursuing with your initiative?”
Lukas: Our main goal is to promote young social scientists at the University of Mannheim. We support students and doctoral candidates financially with their research projects, be it by funding surveys, test subjects or conference trips. We also award prizes for the best theses in psychology, sociology and political science.
An exciting example from the past is a Shiny competition in which students developed apps, some without a programming background. They worked together in teams and developed practical solutions, which were accompanied by workshops. In principle, we offer many different funding opportunities, with a focus on financial support. Applications for funding of up to €300 can be submitted via an online form.
“How do you finance your projects? Are there any special funding programs or sponsors that support you?”
Lukas: We are financed almost entirely by our members. We currently have around 60 members who pay staggered annual contributions. This allows us to collect a fixed amount each year that we can use for our projects and funding. So far, we have managed to keep our expenditure in good proportion to our income. However, if there are a particularly large number of applications, we have to prioritize what can be financed. Due to a period with few applications, we currently have a financial buffer that we can use.
“How do you manage to get students and other interested parties interested in your initiative and retain them in the long term?”
Marie: We mainly use social media and the faculty newsletters to draw attention to our projects, calls for proposals and funding opportunities. For long-term commitment, we offer the opportunity to get actively involved. For example, you can join the board and take on responsibility. Of course, interested parties can also become members and thus support future students and their projects. We do not currently have any other specific measures for long-term commitment, but the opportunities mentioned are already a good start.
“What opportunities do you offer your members to get involved and grow – both personally and professionally?”
Lukas: There are various ways to get involved with us. Members can take part in the Annual General Meeting and actively participate in the direction of the association, contribute ideas or initiate projects. Anyone who has a good idea and wants to implement it will always find support from us. The Executive Board does the main work, but we welcome any involvement, be it in projects or at events such as the annual kick-off meeting.
Although many of our members are former students, PhD students or professors, we want to reach more current students. Our aim is to use social media or direct contact with students in courses or via Bachelor's and Master's theses to raise awareness of the opportunities we offer.
Marie: Professionally, members benefit in particular from the sponsorship or prizes that we award. These are valuable awards for your CV. Personally, you can grow through active participation in the association. We are open to new ideas that promote young scientists, for example by organizing consultation hours or other initiatives. There are many ways to get involved – it just depends on your own ideas and the time you want to invest.
“What impact do you think your work has on the university and the surrounding area?”
Lukas: We hope to give talented students who want to do academic work the resources they need so that projects don't fail because of money. Be it funding for a survey or the opportunity to present their work at conferences. Another aim is to promote equal opportunities by supporting students regardless of their financial background. Not everyone is lucky enough to be in a department that generously funds projects. We want to ensure that even those without such resources can be supported.
“Which project that you have completed makes you particularly proud?”
Marie: It's not a specific project, but awarding the prizes for the final theses this year was a special moment for me. I knew some of the students personally, including one of the winners for the best bachelor thesis. It was great to be able to present her with the award and experience her joy first hand. The association received a lot of positive feedback about the award ceremony during the faculty's graduation ceremony. It was a real highlight and a great result of our work.
Lukas: I've been on the association's board since 2016. At the time, it was about to be dissolved. The old board had not found a successor and had already initiated the dissolution. That's why we first had to familiarize ourselves with the association's work – from tax returns to legal requirements. I am particularly proud of the fact that we reorganized the association. For example, we introduced prizes for the best Bachelor's and Master's theses in sociology and political science, which previously only existed for psychology. These small steps have revitalized and further developed the association.
“What characterizes the atmosphere within your initiative?”
Lukas: The atmosphere is very pleasant and informal. It's always nice to meet up at meetings or other events, even if it's often a small group. Many members are people who were active at the university a few years ago, so you often bump into familiar faces. This creates a special bond, especially because we all care about the university and the social sciences. It's also exciting to bring together different perspectives – be it from professors who have been active for years or newer members who contribute in different ways.
Marie: In the past, we often combined our meetings with a visit to a restaurant or breakfast together. This has changed a bit due to the pandemic, as a lot of things now take place online. Nevertheless, we still try to meet up in person from time to time, whether it's in a pub or over a leisurely breakfast. Although we do this less often these days, it is still important for us to maintain a personal level.
“What is the best way for interested parties to become part of your initiative?”
Marie: The easiest way is to write us an email or contact us via social media. We are particularly active on Instagram – that is currently our main channel. There is also information on our website.
Lukas: Yes, there are also contact options on the website, and my office in A5 is also listed there. Anyone who wants to can simply drop by and ask questions directly. We are always on the lookout for committed members who want to get involved and are happy to hear from anyone.