“Put another chair at the cabinet table!”
On December 17, 2024, the Max Planck Society welcomed approximately 400 guests from politics, business, and society to its, Prelude 2025, held at the Festsaal Kreuzberg in Berlin. Max Planck Society President, Patrick Cramer, opened the event with a call for justice. In his speech, he advocated for the establishment of an independent Chief Scientific Advisor to the Federal Government, similar to roles held by Chief Scientific Advisors in countries such as Canada and the UK.
The reception, designed to echo the structure of a musical "prelude," was held for the second time since Max Planck President Patrick Cramer took office, and is intended to serve as both a reflection on the past year and a forward-looking moment as the new year approaches.
Science for a fairer world
“Science and justice? A fairer world? Are these just Christmas dreams?” Patrick Cramer asked, setting a reflective tone in his speech. He went on to outline his plans for 2025: “In the spring, I will initiate talks with representatives of the new U.S. government, as it’s crucial to keep the dialogue going. This summer, our annual meeting in Magdeburg will focus on the circular economy. And we will use the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima for critical reflection to position ourselves in the tension field between science and military defence, advocating for a more peaceful world.”
In order for science to bring a long-term perspective to politics, he suggested "giving scientific policy advice a place that is highly valued" and "should not be captured by any political current".
Cem Özdemir (Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen) welcomed the guests as Federal Minister of Education and Research in dialogue with Patrick Cramer. Other guests included Ina Czyborra, Berlin's Senator for Science, Health, and Care, as well as members of the Bundestag and state parliaments, state secretaries, and ambassadors.
Once again, researchers from the MPIs were invited to take stage alongside President Patrick Cramer to share insights into their research. Carolyn Moser from the MPI for Comparative Public Law and International Law talked about security cooperation and the importance of long-term support for Ukraine. Claudia Brunner from the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization explored the turbulence behind wind turbines, highlighting ways to optimise energy production in wind farms. Patrick Roberts from the Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology spoke about historical human interactions with forests in tropical regions.
Johanna Lukate from the MPI for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity addressed the risks of “racial profiling”—a method that uses physical traits such as skin colour or facial features to guide police decisions on identity checks, investigations, and surveillance.
Cutting-edge research in the club
In the iconic Festsaal Kreuzberg, a staple of the Berlin club scene, several DJs helped create an authentic club atmosphere. Guests were first greeted by Danilo Timm at the entrance, before being welcomed into the Festsaal by Leeni, who kicked off the evening with a DJ set. As a special surprise, Andy's Echo joined Leeni during the interlude, providing a musical highlight. To set the mood for the reception that followed, DJane Alma Linda took over the turntables in the fireside lounge, ensuring the energy remained high throughout the evening.