Science in Dialogue: New Lecture Series starts at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Plön
The Plön section of the Schleswig-Holstein University Society (SHUG) is launching an exciting lecture series in the winter semester of 2024/25, which will begin on November 7, 2024, at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Plön. Under the theme "Military Legacy in the North and Baltic Seas," Prof. Dr. Edmund Maser from the Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel will kick off the series with a lecture on the dangerous remnants of bombs, torpedoes, and other munitions in the sea. This lecture series marks the beginning of a closer collaboration between the SHUG Plön section and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology.
The series of events spans eight lectures until March 2025 and covers a wide range of scientific topics. The program was compiled by the three board members of the Plön SHUG section: biologist Birgit Schulz, economic mathematician Dr. Solveig Pape-Hamich, and historian Prof. Dr. Detle Kraack. The speakers, including renowned scientists from the Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, present current research findings from various disciplines in an engaging and accessible way.
This winter semester, a significant change is being introduced: from now on, the lectures will take place on Thursdays at 8 p.m. in the lecture hall of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology (temporary building, August-Thienemann-Strasse 2). After the planned completion of a larger lecture hall in the main building of the institute, the series is expected to be relocated there starting in the winter semester of 2025/26. The collaboration with the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology provides an ideal platform to bridge the gap between academic research and the interested public. Prof. Dr. Arne Traulsen, director of the Max Planck Institute, is enthusiastic about the joint initiative: "It is crucial to bring scientific knowledge directly into society. This lecture series supports exactly that goal by fostering interest in research and science."
The SHUG lecture series, a fixture of scientific communication in Schleswig-Holstein for over 100 years, brings the latest findings from Kiel directly to the people of the region. The events not only offer exciting insights into current research but also promote dialogue between science and the public. Participants have the opportunity to actively ask questions and engage in scientific discourse during discussions after the lectures.
The first lecture, on November 7, 2024, will focus on the challenges posed by the war weapons disposed of in the North and Baltic Seas after both World Wars. Prof. Dr. Edmund Maser will shed light on the environmental and health hazards posed by these military remnants. The impact on the lives of coastal residents will continue to be a pressing concern for years to come. Those interested are warmly invited to attend the lectures and actively participate in the exchange between science and society.