2007 Hanau
The lecture programme compiled under the direction of Prof. Heribert Offermanns laid the foundation for engaging Conference days. The topics of the Conference, as well as the content presented by the invited speakers, were characterised by a breadth that is often lacking today in GDCh local branch colloquia. Whether it was the fundamentals of nanotechnology (Prof. Horst Hahn, Karlsruhe Research Centre), nanotechnology in medicine (Prof. Helmut Ringsdorf), the German biotechnology industry (Prof. Axel Kleemann), the chemistry of ageing (Prof. Gerhard Spiteller), or the question of whether and what dangers arise from consuming genetically modified foods (Prof. Dieter Jany, Federal Research Centre for Nutrition and Food), the audience followed the socially relevant presentations with great interest. The excellent speakers also contributed to the fact that there was hardly enough time for discussion.
The topic of climate change was of particular interest. Prof. Christian-Dietrich Schönwiese, a renowned author, fascinated the audience with the clarity of his explanations. “Alternatives to oil and gas as energy sources and chemical feedstocks of the future” was also the subject of the subsequent panel discussion, which was joined by Dr. Herrmann Pütter, formerly of BASF and now GDCh Commissioner for Energy Issues, Dr. Winfried Hoffmann, Executive Director of Applied Materials and President of the European Photovoltaic Industry Association, Prof. Jürgen O. Metzger from Oldenburg (“Wöhler Prize for Resource-Saving Processes”) and Dr. Ludwig Lindner (Bürger für Technik). The exchange of views was controversial, and no general consensus could be reached that day. However, there is no doubt that the lively discourse was a success for the Conference, supported by everyone, and the discussions continued over dinner.
The programme was rounded off by insights from Ludwig Lindner into the activities of Bürger für Technik in Marl and Dr. Wolfgang Gerhartz, who introduced the internet-based database of Senior Expert Chemists. The SEC database offers all interested senior citizens the opportunity to create a profile of their knowledge and experience in order to make contact with people with similar interests and network partners.
The annual meeting concluded with a discussion with Executive Director Wolfram Koch. The open discussion made the point clear: the senior members want to contribute to greater involvement in GDCh affairs. At the same time, however, the way must also be structurally paved to integrate the growing community of over-60s more effectively into the GDCh committees.
On the opening evening, Prof. Hans-Gert Bachmann captivated everyone with his lecture “The Myth of Gold”. Among the Conference participants were also three Golden GDCh members with more than 50 years of loyal membership. Could Steinheim 2007 also have marked the beginning of a golden path for the GDCh towards cooperation across generations?
Holger Bengs, Steinheim
(From Nachr. Chem. 2008, 56, 203-204)