05.03.2010: Mainz submits application for the title of "City of Science"

More than 250 residents have been active in work and project groups - decision announced on 25 March

The state capital Mainz submitted its application for the title, "City of Science", to the Donors' Association for the Promotion of Sciences and Humanities in Germany on 5 March on time. Under the title, "Mainz - Passionately Scientific. A City Landscape Full of Creativity", the city, in cooperation with the MAINZ RESEARCH ALLIANCE, has combined more than 500 ideas into one concept. The decision will be announced on 25 March 2010, in Berlin, in a final round involving competitors from Bielefeld and Chemnitz.

"In the last few months, residents of Mainz have contributed to this project with their impressive knowledge and enthusiasm in workshops and project groups and their efforts are reflected in our application. The proverbial Mainz passion and excitability was the best engine to bring our goal within reach," said Jens Beutel, Mayor of Mainz. "We are looking forward to the final round and want to bring the title to Mainz."

Doris Ahnen, State Minister of Education, Science, Youth, and Culture, expressed her hopes for Mainz and in particular its contributors for the final competition: "More than 250 citizens have worked with great commitment in recent months and really deserve a successful result. The MAINZ RESEARCH ALLIANCE and the City of Mainz have submitted an excellent application that shows without doubt that the state capital has a unique place on the scientific map."

Science communication has been successfully practiced in Mainz for many years - from the Kids University and the Night of the Profs at the Mainz State Theater, to the Long Nights on the campus and the Science Market in the city center. "We have advanced the conceptual development of the activities for 2010, but that's not all," said Professor Georg Krausch, the President of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and spokesman of the MAINZ RESEARCH ALLIANCE. "We also want the knowledge generated at Mainz universities and scientific institutions to benefit the city and the population as 'applied knowledge.' Mainz will profit now more than ever before from local research achievements. Mainz has found a strong partner in the MAINZ RESEARCH ALLIANCE."

The Donors' Association for the Promotion of Sciences and Humanities in Germany will hold its competition for the "City of Science" this year for the sixth time. The title is awarded exclusively for one year and is combined with EUR 250,000 in prize money. The award is given to cities that perceive science as an engine of city development, who want to make their residents passionate about science and who create new links between science, the economy, culture, and the city administration.

In the first round of the application process during November of last year, Mainz managed to convince a high-caliber jury of 18 representatives from science, industry, media, and regional politics of its concept for a city of science. Since then, the activists have worked under high pressure to develop their ideas and create a full 25-page application. "When we bring the title home from Berlin on 25 March, it will give us more energy for this joint project and we will be able to excite additional groups of people and organizations about cooperating," said the Mayor. "Because our project is open - anybody in our city who wants to contribute to the 'City of Science' is welcome."