April 30, 2004 | News

The first "Long Night of the Sciences" in Rostock

The city of Rostock held its first "Long Night of the Sciences" on April 29, 2004 and the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research was one of the stations. The new institute building, which had opened just over a year ago, hosted roughly 500 visitors over the course of the evening. The broad interest in the topics filled up the auditorium; and the cafeteria was temporarily transformed into space for resenting work of the biodemographic laboratories. Both organizers and visitors agree - this first such evening should not be the last of its kind.

The presentations

Introduction and Overview of the Institute:
Dr. Jutta GampeAging and Longevity: Dr. Rembrandt Scholz

Social Challenges of an Aging Society:
Harald WilkoszewskiFamily and Living Arrangements in East and West Germany: Dr. Michaela Kreyenfeld

Family Policy in Germany and other European Countries: Dr. Gerda NeyerWhy do we have Grandmothers?: Dr. Jan Beise

Open Wide and Show us your Teeth - Getting a Skeleton to Talk: Svenja Weise

Displays

Looking at historical populations: Svenja Weise explains how to determine the sex and age of death from skeletal remains.

Getting down to the roots of the teeth: Dr. Alexander Fabig (left) and Uta Cleven and Doreen Pick (right) explain how age can be determined by viewing the cross-section of the root of a tooth.

Populations en miniature: Andreas Neumann runs an experiment with yeast cultures.The life stations of a human being: artist Gerd Frick from Neubrandenburg shows off his work on an art tour.