Constitution of the Center for Systems Neuroscience Hannover (ZSN Hannover )

Preamble

In an effort to evaluate biology teaching and research in the university location of Hannover the Lower Saxony Science Commission has set up a Structure Commission. One of its task was to draft recommendations on improving co-operation within the study program jointly run by University of Hannover , School of Veterinary Medicine Hannover and Hannover Medical School through a new structure of teaching and research. Another field of work were recommendations on establishing scientific profiles and focus areas.

The Structure Commission sent its recommendations to the University and Academies in January, 2002, stating that there were excellent preconditions for an inter-university research focus on infection research and systemic neuroscience.  The Commission suggested to establish and to support inter-university virtual centres with a single co-ordinating body in order do deepen co-operation in these two fields. Non-university institutions should definitely be involved, too. For neuroscience the Structure Commission recommended the leaders of University and Academies to create the necessary conditions for establishing a centre and to support it in the long run if and when it is successful. The centres should initially be designed for a 5 year period, which could be extended following an interim evaluation. Based on these recommendations the statutes for the virtual inter-university Center for Systems Neuroscience Hannover was drafted.

§ 1 Legal Status

The Center for Systems Neuroscience Hannover (ZSN) shall have inter-university research and teaching tasks in systemic neuroscience. The Centre shall unite systemic neuroscience researchers from University of Hannover , Hannover Medical School , School of Veterinary Medicine Hannover , Hannover University of Music and Theatre as well as further researchers who contribute and help the Centre attain its goals. When it comes to teaching, and developing new teaching offers, the Centre shall follow the guidelines of the Central Facility for Biology of University of Hannover, Hannover Medical School and School of Veterinary Medicine Hannover represented by the three deans.

§ 2 Goals

(1)   The purpose of the ZSN is to organise and to support co-operation between its members. It shall employ, utilise and develop the research and teaching potential of the universities in Hannover in the field of systemic neuroscience across the involved institutions and their individual disciplines.

(2)   The main goals of joint research activity are:

-          to promote systemic neuroscience research in Hannover with a special focus on behaviour and the neuronal basis of behaviour, on the integration function of the nervous system and on pathological deviations, and if possible to implement any findings for new methods of therapeutic and prophylactic intervention;

-          to take up and to promote initiatives for formal research co-operation beyond the existing researcher groups and graduate colleges;

-          to make the existing equipment, particularly special research and service facilities, available to members for research projects;

-          to create usage agreements and work programmes so as to allow investment that one university alone could not run cost-efficiently;

-          to organise and hold seminars, workshops, symposiums and scientific conferences.

(3)   The main goals of joint teaching activity are:

-          to make better use and to co-ordinate the existing training possibilities for biology students. Furthermore newly developed teaching modules should also be available to students of veterinary medicine, human medicine, biochemistry and other related study courses and further qualification measures;

-          to support or to establish new interdisciplinary study courses;

-          to expand the possibilities of post-graduate training for students of biology and of related courses and to strengthen them regarding neuroscience;

-          to co-ordinate the offers in the existing PhD study courses ( Hannover Medical School , School of Veterinary Medicine Hannover ) regarding neuroscience and to make them more attractive.

The federal state of Lower Saxony shall promote a graduate support program as a central platform integrating all participating institutions.

(4)   One major task of the Centre shall be public relations work in research and teaching.

(5)   The Centre shall seek close scientific co-operation with non-university institutions in the region. Important partners shall include the Max-Planck-lnstitute for Experimental Endocrinology, the Göttingen Centre for Primates Research and the International Neuroscience Institute (lNl) Hannover .

(6)   The participating institutes / hospitals / working groups shall jointly plan and implement projects in systemic neuroscience. The projects shall be financed by third party funds that the participating institutes / hospitals / working groups can use or shall apply for.

§ 3 Members

(1)   Members include
(a) the heads and staff of the participating institutes / hospitals / departments of the involved universities that deal with research into neuroscience issues;  
(b) the heads of individual working groups in universities that mainly deal with research into neuroscience issues; 
(c) the heads of individual working groups in other institutions that mainly deal with research into neuroscience issues.

(2)   The ZSN Board shall decide on the acceptance of new ZSN members. It shall take teaching and research activities in neuroscience, publications and generation of third party funds into special account.

(3)   Membership shall end:

-          upon termination of work in the participating institutes / hospitals / working groups;

-          by notice of termination;

-          by exclusion decided by a qualified majority of the Assembly of Members for material cause. A material cause can be, e. g., any action grossly contradicting the goals of the Centre. Before a decision on exclusion the member shall have the opportunity to make a written statement to the Board.

§ 4 Organs and Institutions

(1)   The organs of the Centre shall be the Board and the Assembly of Members.

(2)   The Board may decide to establish further organisational bodies, especially committees with specific tasks (e. g. studies committee). Such bodies may also be disbanded again.

§ 5 Board

(1)   The Board shall include one member from each of the participating universities. A deputy shall be appointed for every member. Deputies may attend the Board meetings as advisory members. One representative of the scientific staff and two students of biology or of a relevant MA or PhD course shall be advisory members to the Board.

(2)   The Board members shall elect a chairperson and a deputy from their ranks. The duration of a term in office shall be 4 years for the Board, the chairperson and the deputy. Re-election shall be allowable. A qualified majority of the Assembly of Members may at any time revoke such appointment for material cause. The chairperson shall fulfil his/her tasks as regular work.

(3)   The Board shall have the following tasks:

-          It shall represent the Centre externally.

-          It shall decide on the acceptance of new Centre members.

-          It shall co-ordinate new teaching and research initiatives regarding the Centre.

-          It shall ensure harmonisation of the offered classes and courses and shall design the teaching modules that the Centre offers.

-          It shall monitor the implementation of the classes, courses and study modules run by the Centre.

-          It shall draft guidelines for the intermediate and final exams on the individual classes, courses and study modules offered by the Centre.

-          It shall co-ordinate or delegate the co-ordination of inter-institutional initiatives, such as the joint purchase of major equipment and discusses the application for, or establishment of, inter-institutional promotion programmes (post-graduate colleges, researcher groups, special research departments, professorships financed by foundations).

(4)   The Board shall decide on its rules of procedure. Board decisions shall require a simple majority of votes. In the event of a tie the chairperson shall have the casting vote.

§ 6 Assembly of Members

(1)   The Assembly of Members shall include the members of the Centre. Two representatives of the scientific staff and four students of biology or of a relevant MA or PhD course shall be advisory members to the Assembly of Members.

(2)   The Board chairperson shall convene the Assembly of Members as necessary, or at least once per calendar year. The invitation should be sent electronically or in writing with no less than two weeks notice. The agenda shall be communicated with the invitation. One item for the annual meeting shall be a Board report. The Assembly of Members shall have a quorum if it has been convened in accordance with the statutes.

(3)   A simple majority of the Assembly of Members shall elect the Board from its ranks. The Assembly shall provide advice to the Board regarding all issues that the Board handles.

(4)   The Assembly of Members shall formally approve the activities of the Board.

§ 7 Business Year

The business year of the ZSN Hannover shall be the calendar year.

§ 8 Foundation

The participating universities have appointed the following persons as members of the founding meeting:

University of Hannover :                                     

Herr Prof. H.A. Kolb

Hannover Medical School :                              

Frau Prof. C. Grothe

Herr Prof. R. Dengler

Herr Prof. G.F. Walter

School of Veterinary Medicine Hannover : 

Frau Prof. E. Zimmermann

Herr Prof. G. Bicker

Herr Prof. W. Löscher

Hannover University of Music and Theatre:   

Herr Prof. E. Altenmüller

These persons shall elect the founding Board that shall convene the first Assembly of Members within one year.

§ 9 Amendments of the Statutes

Amendments of the statutes require the approval by the senates or boards of the participating universities.

§ 10 Entry into force

These statutes shall enter into force following the decision by the senates or boards and signature by the leaders of the participating universities acc. to § 1.