German Science Year 2009

Since 2000, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Initiative Science in Dialogue (WiD) have organised the annual German Science Year. Each Science Year focuses on a different scientific discipline, which is then actively introduced and communicated to the public. The German Science Year 2009 is part of the celebration of the German Constitution's 60th anniversary as well as the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. The German Science Year 2009. "Research Expedition Germany", focuses on German achievements in science since 1949 and into the future.
As it is clear that the voice of the general public is also vital to strengthening the bridge between science and social transformation, IHDP, supported by the German Science Year 2009, organised several free events open to the general public for the IHDP Open Meeting 2009. The media coverage of environmental news, the role of science in the 21st century, the importance of e-health and telemedicine for human health, the struggle of small island states with climate change as well as the delicate balance between sustainability and equity were themes analysed in this series of high level panels and dynamic round tables. IHDP also reached out to schools in the region, inviting a group of students to meet the IHDP research community at the Open Meeting. In a special seminar, these students had the opportunity to discuss the role of science for policy and societal changes with senior researchers.