Yesterday, I joined the LMU-based ESRs Soumya and Vedran to host our popular phylogeny booth at the Open House Day of the Faculty of Biology of the University of Munich. It was great fun to discuss the evolutionary relationships between various species with the visitors. Our prominently placed logos raised questions about INTERCROSSING, funding by the EU and our research projects.
I was able to join a discussion about gene technology, organized by Thomas Ott (a former Marie-Curie fellow). Together with some master students he educated school classes about basic breeding techniques and gene technology. It was organized in turns where a multiple choice question was asked and the pupils used voting devices to answer them. Afterwards the replies where analyzed and discussed. I really liked the session, because it was very relaxed and fact driven, compared to the polarized debates that usually arise with this topic. The organizers explained the most important risks and potentials of gene technology within an hour and refuted many prejudices without “taking sides”. The kids are now equipped with the basic knowledge that is needed to participate in the gene technology debate that our society is facing and are less likely to believe the loudest voices. Instead, they are able to differentiate and build their own opinion, based on scientific facts.
Afterwards we participated in various scientific discussions with our colleagues at the subsequent faculty party. They were generously encouraged with free beer and a delicious BBQ.
