From the Editors
Getting involved to make an impact
Did you know that supporting scientific work in your everyday life is easy and does not require prior knowledge? Does your favourite theatre offer inclusive facilities for the visually impaired? Does your neighbourhood cinema show films with audio description? You could feed this information into Wheelmap, an online map system highlighting accessibility in various places, which helps people with disabilities. Do you want to make your neighbourhood safer? Rent a free counting device and use it to record the number of cars, pedestrians and cyclists that come by right on your doorstep. Transport planners can then use the collected data to ensure more sustainable mobility.
The summer isn’t over yet: Perhaps you’re interested in water quality and availability and inner-city lakes in Berlin. You can become a lake sponsor and conduct simple measurements and observations every two to four weeks and thus support the water management efforts in your city. Go to the “mit:forschen!” platform to browse countless citizen science projects. They depend on the help of many people and promote social inclusion.
In times when many people feel growing distrust and a certain powerlessness, exchange between scientists and “regular people” and the communication of what is researched up in the often-cited “ivory tower” is more important than ever. In our September issue, we therefore explore instances of a successful science communication practice. To name but three examples: By speaking to Patricia Löwe, we learned more about the channels that Forschungsverbund Berlin e. V., a research alliance, is using to reach people beyond its own “echo chamber”. AnthropoScenes, a project by the Berlin University Alliance, explains the impact of climate change on regional bodies of water using art. Lastly: How do you make a research juggernaut like Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin greenhouse gas neutral? We spoke to the responsible climate and energy manager Carina Hanke.
Sincerely,
Peggy Mory
Editor-in-chief
News in short
Winners of the Falling Walls Lab Berlin Adlershof 2024
The Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) won 1st place at the Falling Walls Lab Berlin-Adlershof on 16 July 2024: Dr. Carlos Honrado, International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Braga, Portugal, for Breaking the Wall of Endometrial Cancer, 2nd place: Dr. Ta-Shun Chou, Leibniz-Institut für Kristallzüchtung in FVB e. V., Berlin, for Breaking the Wall of Conventional Semiconductors, and 3rd place: Komali Valishetti, Technische Universität Braunschweig for Breaking the Wall of Biosecurity Threat Detection. The winners (1st and 2nd place) will compete in the final on 7 November in Berlin. Falling Walls brings the international scientific community together on the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and celebrates outstanding scientific breakthroughs.
Finalists 2024: falling-walls.com
Future corridor Berlin – Lusatia: New worlds of work and Lusatian minds
The project team Future Corridor Berlin–Lusatia is inviting the interested public and potential supporters to a networking event, which will take place on 11 September 2024, 10.00-12.00, at Hans Grade Saal, Forum Adlershof, Rudower Chaussee 24. The event will showcase impulses and examples of new working environments between Berlin and Lusatia and select Lusatian minds and their forward-looking projects for economic structural change. Guests will receive insight on transformation processes along the Future Corridor and the opportunity to network and initiate collaboration beyond the city and state limits.
Registration at: https://forms.office.com/e/CzVsE9LtM6
Adlershof’s Science slam “Battle den Horst”
On 19 September 2024, doors to Bunsen Hall, Volmerstraße 2, open at 6 pm for the inquisitive audience of the Battle den Horst science slam, whose applause will decide who gave the best presentation that evening. The program will once again feature fascinating lectures by young scientists who will present their research topics in an entertaining way.
Tickets are available for 10 euros at: www.adlershof.de/ticketservice