12.09.2010: Science Market 2010 - a wide variety of research activities in Mainz

From a levitating Smart car to memory tests and Mesopotamian clothes

Spectacular effects related to the building blocks of modern "plastics and magnets" - visitors can see how a model Smart compact car levitates when it is cooled to -196°C with liquid nitrogen. They could find out what is hidden behind depression and do a test for early diagnosis. They could also get dresses made of long material strips wrapped around their bodies in complex arrangements according to Mesopotamian designs. Experience fascinating science live - the Science Market of the MAINZ RESEARCH ALLIANCE held on the second weekend of September provided a view of the broad scientific spectrum at all Mainz universities and research institutions.

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. More than 100 local scientists invite the population to participate each year. This is intended to promote scientific understanding and interest, in particular among children and young people. 

"The range of project ideas across the scientific disciplines is impressive and reflects the multifaceted, broad spectrum of research activities in Mainz," declared Professor Georg Krausch, the President of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and spokesman of the MAINZ RESEARCH ALLIANCE. "The 9th consecutive Science Market also raised considerable interest within the population of Mainz, which encourages our efforts."

After the SWR 2 "Campus" live broadcast with interviews on science and politics, the Science Market was opened by Cardinal Karl Lehmann, Doris Ahnen, the Rhineland-Palatinate Minister of Education, Science, Youth, and Culture, Jens Beutel, Mayor of Mainz, Professor Georg Krausch, President of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and spokesman of the MAINZ RESEARCH ALLIANCE, along with Professor Norbert Pfeiffer, chairman of the board at the Mainz University Medical Center, with a panel discussion led by Dr. Frank Wittig of the SWR. The market is taking place under the patronage of Kurt Beck, Prime Minister of Rhineland-Palatinate, and offers visitors more than 50 projects and activities, workshops and tours, as well as a children's program. Visitors were presented with an entertaining major science stage show highlighting research and culture. 

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. The Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research presented plastic and magnets as modern building blocks. Visitors learned how model compact cars can be made to float with the aid of magnets. The Max Planck Institute for Chemistry simulated the measurement of atmospheric trace gases by satellite in an experiment. The display illustrated how satellites at a height of 800 km can carry out air measurements on earth. The Research Center Geocycles supports interdisciplinary cooperation between scientists and archaeologists and opens up new windows into the past. Where previously only green hills could be seen, satellites, geo-radar systems or geo-electric measurements reveal hidden things - such as artifacts, roads, buildings, or even the outlines of entire settlements. 

RGZM presented "The use of stone in the Byzantine world"

The Roman-Germanic Central Museum (RGZM) introduced the world of archaeology. Under the title, "The Use of Stone in the Byzantine World", visitors could learn that ancient peoples had already developed and used technically sophisticated machines, for example, a water-powered stone saw from Ephesus. They were able to test a hand stone saw that allowed them to get an impression of the tedious work of stone cutting during the Byzantine era. Byzantium is known for its marvelous mosaics. The science market demonstrated this in an activity program for young visitors. Children could put their own mosaics together and obtain insight into the world of these small, colorful stones. "These activities reveal a small segment of broad research that we do on Byzantium, which is conducted jointly with our partners from the university and from Austria as part of the Byzantium Archaeology Mainz research center," explained Professor Falko Daim, General Manager of the Roman-Germanic Central Museum in Mainz.

Insight into the diversity of applied research and teaching at Mainz University of Applied Sciences

"Mainz University of Applied Sciences is now represented at the Science Market for the third time as a partner of the MAINZ RESEARCH ALLIANCE. This year, twelve contributions are shown from the three departments of technology, design and economics. They provide an impression of the diversity in applied research and teaching at the University of Applied Sciences," said Professor Andreas Beyer, the Vice-President of Mainz University of Applied Sciences, during the introduction. The projects on show ranged from architectural drafts for a Berlin housing project revaluation to the innovative "hive" light installation shown at the "Luminale" fair this year and the statistical application project called, "How do we spend our time?" 

University Medical Center - to Mars and back

The University Medical Center is another department exhibiting at the Science Market. From effective cancer prevention to a simulated mission to the Red Planet - "Mars500" tries to explain whether the physical and mental health of people can be ensured under extreme conditions during a flight to Mars.

Ten years of Nat-Lab for school children

The Nat-Lab experiment stations for school children are some of the annual attractions at the Science Market tent city, as are the show experiments from the wonderful world of chemistry on the big stage. The official birthday party, "Ten years NaT-Lab for school children," was also held there as part of the Kids University EXTRA.

"Come and look at Mainz!"

Current reporting on the 2010 Science Market was provided by the Media Intelligence Initiative at the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz. Video sequences, photos and texts for the weblog www.medienintelligenz.uni-mainz.de/wima were created in cooperation with the Media Competence Network Mainz-Rheinhessen and OK:TV. Something new was done this year - the most important events were summarized in a magazine broadcast and sent out via OK:TV Mainz and via live stream on the Internet on Saturday and Sunday evenings. Of course, visitors and exhibitors could also record their own impressions of the Science Market 2010 with words, images and videos on the blog. This created a colorful online journal fitting of the title, "Mainz - Passionately Scientific."

The Science Market was supported by the state capital Mainz, the Allgemeine Zeitung, BASF AG Ludwigshafen, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Königsbacher, Mainzer Volksbank, pepper, SCHOTT AG, and the Sparkasse Mainz.