10. Science market as part of Science Summer 2011 - Experimental stage shows with physics experts - Mainz1184 and Night of the Profs at the Mainz State Theater

Do you want to explore the "Einstein Myth" and his pioneering ideas while experiencing surprising effects first-hand as part of the "Relativity ICE"? Alternatively, you can enter a giant model of the brain and get to know how it works. How can children and young people walk over a mixture of water and corn starch without sinking? More than 100 scientists provided insights into the broad scientific spectrum of all universities and research organizations in Mainz at the 10th Science Market of the MAINZ RESEARCH ALLIANCE on the first weekend of June 2011. The motto was "Science to touch and participate in," with children, teenagers and adults able to participate in current research in a comprehensible and entertaining way as part of presentations in the various pavilions, during tours and events, exhibitions, and evenings at the state theater, as well as a major stage show in Gutenberg Square.

"The 10th Science Market in Mainz is something very special, because it is taking place in the 'City of Science 2011.' This statement made by the Donors' Association for the Promotion of Sciences and Humanities in Germany reflects the nationwide recognition of the dynamic developments that have recently taken place at Mainz universities and research institutions," explained Doris Ahnen, the Minister of Education and Science for the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. As an example, she cited establishing research institutions, such as the Institute for Molecular Biology (IMB) or the Helmholtz Institute, a great success achieved by attracting third-party funding, as well as recruiting internationally renowned people to staff the research institutions in Mainz. "The MAINZ RESEARCH ALLIANCE presented an impressive program at the Science Market yet again, demonstrating what Mainz has to offer as a location for research," said the Minister.

The 10th Science Market took place as part of the Summer of Science 2011 that was organized by the Science Dialog Initiative (WiD) - a major science festival for the entire family from June 4 to 9, 2011, in the Electoral Palace and at many other locations around Mainz. "The Summer of Science shows a great variety that bolsters German science for interacting with society. Scientists from all over Germany discussed current work on topics in medical and health research with residents of Mainz at the movie theater, at lectures and in the major participating exhibition at the palace. The Science Dialog wants as many people as possible to join the discussion, even if the research topics are contentious. Research results are having an ever greater effect on the lives of people, and while they are worthy of discussion, they require more explanation than ever. This is what is so important to us about interacting with people, both young and old," explained Professor Gerold Wefer, Chairman of the Scientific Steering Committee.

Science market with anniversary program

The aim of the more than 100 scientists in Gutenberg and Triton Square and along the Alte Universitätsstrasse is to invite the population to join in and to promote an understanding of and interest in science, especially among children and young people. "This is the tenth time that a Science Market has been held in Mainz city center, and once again we offered the citizens an outstanding anniversary program on both days," explained Professor Georg Krausch, the President of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and spokesman for the MAINZ RESEARCH ALLIANCE. "The range of project ideas in various scientific disciplines, presented in five large tents, is impressive and reflects the many facets and broad spectrum of research activities in Mainz. We are setting the trend with almost 20 other 'science stages' simultaneously in the center of Mainz, all focusing on science and research, with exhibitions and a children's program, the Night of the Profs and a literary/musical soireé, guided tours or events, such as an artistic work on volcanic rock. This is how music, art and theater will join forces with science to present a major scientific and cultural festival in the Mainz city landscape."

Jens Beutel, the Mayor of the state capital Mainz, thanked the MAINZ RESEARCH ALLIANCE for its dedication: "Mainz's scientists will be participating at many locations during the Summer of Science - at the Science Market, the Electoral Palace, the cube-shaped project stations for historical research, and the archaeological project with the title 'Time Window - The Past Has a Future,' as well as at the various research expeditions. I am pleased about the wonderful response on the part of Mainz scientists, whose involvement goes yet again above and beyond normal work hours. I am looking forward to exciting days and many interested visitors!"

An interactive program across the sciences

Visitors can pass through the gates into the world of the humanities, cultural and social sciences, the natural sciences, medicine, and media in the market square. How does a solar cell work? How do liquids move? These questions will be answered by scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research. The Max Planck Institute of Chemistry presented the mobile Mainz aerosol research laboratory (MoLa). The Geocycles research center at Johannes Gutenberg University provides insight into climatic fluctuations in the past, demonstrated on calcium deposits in caves - known as speleothems - well-known examples of which are flowstones such as stalagmites and stalactites. Anyone can find out at first-hand what it means to be a caver. If the weather is good, visitors can make use of the climbing wall to reach new heights, while a specially constructed box can be used to explore how narrow a cave passage might be.

Neurosciences research workshop for the Year of Science 2011

The "Research for our Health" project, that forms part of the Year of Science 2011, illustrates medicine as one of the main topics of the Science Market. Stroke, brain tumor or dementia - all of these diseases play havoc with the "sound world" of your brain. Doctors and researchers from Mainz University Medical Center demonstrated what modern neuroscience can do and how the brain functions at the neuroscience research workshop. Exhibits and interactive experiments invite visitors to test their memory, to feel the illusion of pain or to enter a giant model of a brain.

Science takes place behind closed doors, which is why students of Mainz University of Applied Sciences have been dealing with the problem of how to provide an artistic/creative interpretation of research results and make them part of the public experience. "Skop - the communication laboratory for science and design" was presented at the Science Market 2011 and can answer many scientific questions that visitors have been wanting to ask for a long time. Mainz University of Applied Sciences provides insight into applied research and teaching by presenting a total of eleven projects, ranging from photogrammetry (measuring by means of images and the production of full panorama pictures) to an introduction in geo-informatics, and an exhibition with the title "Moving Types - Letters in Motion," or even photography using unmanned flying objects.

Mainz Catholic University of Applied Sciences explained the connection between health, poverty and education. The Academy of Sciences and Literature, which has been based in Mainz for more than 60 years, presented two of its research projects in the field of church history at the science market. The Roman-Germanic Central Museum (RGZM) has been exhibiting outdoors this year. The RGZM made use of a 3D scanner for three-dimensional measuring of archaeological objects as part of the "Time window - The past has a future" project, behind the "Kleines Haus" at the Mainz state theater and around the two cubes on the theme "archaeology between the natural sciences and technology," while a huge block of volcanic rock was used by an artist to create a column with decorative motifs.

Germany's greatest science comedy group demonstrates spectacular experiments

The NaT-Lab experiment stations for school children are included in the Science Market to attract young researchers, as are the shows with experiments on the big stage. This year, the "Physikanten," Germany's largest science comedy group, are dishing up spectacular experiments for the several shows they stage every day, along with some breathtaking phenomena and intelligent comedy.

In addition, there is a comprehensive program held at several centers of knowledge in the city. The Institute for European History will be opening its doors on both "open days." Current health research is the focus of the major exhibition held at the electoral palace during this "Summer of Science." The special exhibition entitled "Shellac from Mainz" is being presented jointly by the city of Mainz's History Museum and the Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry of Johannes Gutenberg University. The exhibition will open on Sunday, June 5 and deals with the product's origin and manufacture, its applications and the history of Mainz's shellac factories.

Mainz1184 and Night of the Profs at the State Theater

The MAINZ RESEARCH ALLIANCE, on the occasion of its anniversary, will present an evening program at the Mainz State Theater on both days of the Science Market. Students and lecturers of the German Institute of Mainz University invite the public to join them on Saturday, June 4 at 7 pm for a literary/musical soirée under the title "Mainz1184. Dreams of Love and Knighthood," to be held at the Mainz State Theater's "Kleines Haus." This diverse program of recitation and music is reminiscent of the major court festival held on the Maaraue peninsula at Pentecost in 1184, attended by dukes and knights, poets, singers, and musicians from all over Germany.

Visitors to the 5th "Night of the Profs" will be able to explore the world's cultures at the State Theater's "Grosses Haus" on Sunday, June 5 from 8 pm onwards. The Center for Intercultural Studies (ZIS) at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz promises "cultural fireworks" with eight brief but exciting lectures that will show guests the world from a completely different perspective.

"Have a look at Mainz!" - This topical, multi-media reporting event about the Science Market 2011 is being offered by the Media Intelligence Initiative at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. Various videos, podcasts, photos and weblog texts have been produced for the Science Market 2011 in cooperation with the Young Media Workshop, the Media Skills Network Mainz-Rheinhessen and OK:TV Mainz. As a matter of course, visitors and exhibitors will be able to record their impressions of the science market for posterity, using words, pictures and videos. There will even be a Science Market journal as a joint venture with the "Allgemeine Zeitung," and the most important events of the Science Market will be summarized in a variety show at 7 pm each day and broadcast via OK:TV Mainz and its live stream (www.ok-mainz.de).

The Science Market is supported by the city of Mainz, the "Allgemeine Zeitung," Autohaus Karl + Co, BASF AG, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bitburger, ChemieVerbände Rhineland-Palatinate, Mainzer Volksbank, pepper and the Sparkasse Mainz.