Since my youth, I have enjoyed playing in amateur orchestras. Undoubtedly, a performance by amateurs cannot compete with recordings by renowned professional orchestras. But what motivates the high effort to rehearse pieces which are mostly more or less known in numerous rehearsals? I cannot provide a general answer. However, during the interruption of regular rehearsals … Continue reading The sound of playing together
Human-induced global warming is rooted in a strong commitment to economic growth and questions the very conditions under which we live. We are challenged to act with the entire human population in mind. It is important to use thoughtful standards for one’s own decision and it is time, on the one hand, to withdraw the … Continue reading Think around the globe
In a radio contribution I heard a good quote from Kafka: “It is very conceivable that the glory of life is available to everyone and always in its fullness, but imposed, deep, invisible, very far. But it lies there, not hostile, not reluctant, not deaf. If you call her by the right word, by the … Continue reading Kafka on the glory of life
Article 5, paragraph 3 of our basic law in Germany states: Art and science, research and teaching are free. Freedom of teaching does not absolve faithfulness from the Constitution. It contradicts my understanding of democracy that the vast majority of lecturers and researchers cannot work freely in this field due to fixed-term employment contracts. In … Continue reading More freedom for teaching and research
On March 9, 2019, scientists from the city of Dresden were honored with the Dresden Excellence Award. I am pleased that people are appreciated, and not buildings or projects are at the forefront, as I wished it in my post perspective academia.
The discrepancy of perceived and expected — Critique on the counterpart — Critique on yourself — Reflections on ways to shape our future
It is difficult for scientists in Germany to continue working in academia long-term after completing a doctorate. They have to compete with each other for a small number of permanent positions. As an alternative, why not place the narrow bottleneck for long-term perspectives in research directly after the doctorate? On a fallow land, near the … Continue reading Perspective academia
Around a quarter of a million people went onto the streets in Germany in September 2016 to demonstrate against free trade agreements. Several national newspapers reported on this with headlines such as “Tens of thousands protest against TTIP and CETA” and then focused to a large extent on the question of who had estimated how … Continue reading Free trade
A whale jumps out of the sea, here off the Valdés peninsula in Argentina. Curious people might ask why whales jump at all. Up to now, science has no clear answer to this. In my understanding, it is the task of science to explain such observations. It is not enough merely to discover such new … Continue reading Competing science
