Long Night of the Sciences: this year as a podcast series

LNDW/Irmisch

08.06.2020
Long Night of the Sciences: this year as a podcast series

Brain City Berlin

The Long Night of Sciences (Lange Nacht der Wissenschaften) has long been one of the highlights of the Brain City Berlin event calendar every June. This year everything is different: Due to Corona, the Long Night of Sciences has been brought into the digital space as a podcast series.

In cooperation with the Long Night of the Sciences and with the support of Brain City Berlin, Inforadio of Rundfunk Berlin Brandenburg (rbb) invites scientists from the region to discuss different topics. The first podcast features

Brain City Ambassador Dr Jürgen Radel

, Professor of Business Administration at HTW Berlin – University of Applied Sciences.

Even though research is often uncertain and often ends up raising more new questions than finding answers. Put your trust in it. The research clusters that we have here in Berlin are simply phenomenal.

(Brain City Ambassador Prof. Dr. Jürgen Radel)

“If you eat caviar every day, you'll eventually get sick of it. And for me that is symbolic for what is currently happening with digital media,” Professor Jürgen Radel says. The Brain City Ambassador is Professor of Business Administration at HTW Berlin – University of Applied Sciences and is also one of three Berlin researchers invited to the Berlin Broadcasting House for the first podcast episode in this year's "Long Night of the Sciences". A format implemented by rbb Inforadio in collaboration with the Long Night of the Sciences and with the support of the Brain City Berlin campaign.

This year, the "smartest night of the year" had to be cancelled due to the Corona virus pandemic. Scientific institutions, universities, and laboratories of the Brain City Berlin do not open their doors to visitors in real space as in previous years; instead, selected representatives will be speaking live as part of the podcast series. Well-known personalities from Berlin's research institutions as well as young talent will have their say. The podcast series is moderated by Inforadio science editor Thomas Prinzler.

A total of twelve episodes are planned for the new format. The discussion will centre on topics of the future, such as climate and nature conservation, digitalisation, and visions for a better world. To find solutions to the challenges of our time and emphasise the importance of science and research for our society sends a clear signal against dangerous fake news accounts and crude conspiracy theories.

"Effects of the coronavirus pandemic on cities like Berlin": guests of the 1st Long Night of the Sciences podcast

HTW Berlin– Öffentlichkeitsarbeit/Alexander Rentsch
Brain City Ambassador Prof. Dr. Jürgen Radel
Dr. Christine Eisenmann
Dr.-Ing. Christine Eisenmann
©BAM
Prof. Dr. Ulrich Panne

Brain City Ambassador Prof. Dr Jürgen Radel, Professor of Business Administration at HTW Berlin – University of Applied Sciences, his research focuses on change processes in companies. He talks about the changes that Corona brings to the working world.
Dr. Christine Eisenmann is head of the working group on the "Transformation of Automobility" at the Institute of Transport Research at the German Aerospace Center (DLR). She uses her expertise to address possible changes in mobility behaviours in response to the crisis. During the lockdown, she conducted a study on mobility during a pandemic.
Professor Dr Ulrich Panne is President of BAM, the Federal Institute for Materials Testing and Research, Deputy Chair of Lange Nacht der Wissenschaften e.V., and Chair of the research network of the Adlershof Technology Park (IGAFA). Among other things, he predicts that value chains will have to be reconsidered as a result of the pandemic.

The first episode of the podcast revolves around one topic that is currently affecting everyone: the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on cities like Berlin. It was posted online on 6 June, the originally date of the Long Night of the Sciences 2020. A highly topical prelude for a new format, "which will once again give us exciting insights into the work of our scientists", Governing Mayor of Berlin, Michael Müller, commented.

In the first episode, Brain City Ambassador Professor Jürgen Radel is rather sceptical that the pandemic-related trend towards working from home will continue in the future. “To be honest, I don't think everything will change after the virus. (...) But I'm also curious: this new discovery of Zoom, Teams, etc. - at the beginning everyone thought it was great. But, at some point, you just get fed up.” (vdo)