Ending discrimination is easier said than done. Why are people repeatedly excluded? These researchers observe the social fabric and seek solutions for better coexistence. Part one of our series.

• Dr. Martyna Berekina Linartas (Freie Universität Berlin): The political scientist makes visible what many repress: wealth in Germany is distributed in an extremely unequal manner. Whether on social media or in her most recent book “Unearned Inequality”—she explains emphatically how strongly assets are inherited in this country and what political and societal consequences result from this.

• Jun.-Prof. Dr. Zerrin Salikutluk (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin): Together with Dr. Cihan Sinanoglu, the social scientist directs the National Discrimination and Racism Monitor (NaDiRa) at the German Center for Integration and Migration Research (DeZIM)—and provides data and facts to enable discussion about racism and discrimination and to counter them.

• Prof. Dr. Gülay Çağlar (Freie Universität Berlin): The political scientist investigates how hatred and fantasies of violence against women are disseminated on the internet. This year she published, together with the Cluster of Excellence SCRIPTS, a study that for the first time analyzed misogynist networks in the German-speaking internet.

• Tacheles (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin): In the left-leaning group Tacheles, Jewish and non-Jewish students of Humboldt University have joined forces to provide education on antisemitism in all its facets on campus. Since then, they have calmly brought the perspective of those affected into discussions on the Middle East. Today, Tacheles also exists at other universities.

• Jun.-Prof. Dr. Manon Garcia (Freie Universität Berlin): The philosopher researches gender relations, emancipation and freedom, sex and violence. Her books are widely discussed and frequently prizewinning. In “Living with Men” she writes about the Pelicot trial, a fierce French rape case.

• Prof. Dr. med. Sibylle M. Winter (Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin): It is thanks to the psychiatrist that professional facilities for traumatized children and adolescents now exist in Berlin. Beyond that, Winter advocates for medical and psychosocial support centers in the city. For this, she was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit.

• Prof. Dr. Janina Sundermeier (Freie Universität Berlin): The economist has demonstrated how deeply gender stereotypes shape digital entrepreneurship. With her findings, she seeks to change the start-up sector and serves as an ambassador for “Women’s Entrepreneurship.”

All of them were presented today in Der Tagesspiegel (September 29, 2025) within the framework of the series “The 100 Most Important Figures in Berlin’s Science 2025” (T+, in German).