Magazine of the Max Planck Phd Net No. 05/2010

Home , Humorism

2010 m et No. 05/ agazine of the max planck phd n Publisher: Max Planck PhDnet (2010) Editorial board: Corinna Handschuh, MPI for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig Julia Steinbach, MPI for Biogeochemistry, Jena Lea Heimbeck, MPI for European Legal History, Frankfurt Nina Gaißert, MPI for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen Roberto Kretschmer, MPI for Biogeochemistry, Jena oﬀspring Design: Silvana Schott, MPI for Biogeochemistry, Jena Copyright: title picture: Teacher Scientist network, Norwich, UK picture on back page: Nysgjerrigper project, Research Council of Norway Dear reader,

Table of Contents in your hands you have the funniest Off- past year, like the General Meeting in Jena, Dear reader, 3 spring issue ever! Well, whether this is real- and interdisciplinary meetings such as the A look back ... 4 ly true, that’s up to you to decide. The idea workshop in Bonn and the IMPRS sympo- ... and forward 5 for the main topic of this issue came up in sium in Munich, but also about the activi- Introduction of the new Steering Group 6 the final stage of creating the last issue – ties of a smaller group of PhD students tra- The PhDnet wiki pages 8 realizing that we were always having so much velling to South America to teach children The PhDnet General Meeting 2009 10 fun in making the Offspring we thought about astronomy, and a PhD student’s ex- Invitation 12 we should probably go for something fun- periences with daily life in Korea. New frontiers in science 13 ny for the next issue. Dealing with “humor Invitation 15 in science“, this issue presents several ar- We also encourage you to take part in The voices of Planck and Einstein ticles on the humorous sides of everyday PhDnet activities yourself – in this issue in your GPS navigation system!? 16 scientific life (have you ever heard about you will learn about upcoming events, fin- The MPG Science Express 18 Powerpoint karaoke? Or of a professor ding information on the PhDnet wiki and Some thoughts on humor 19 explaining Physics to you using examples other ways to communicate within the „A horse enters a bar ...“ 20 from superhero comic strips?), a scientific network. And probably after reading this A look at scientists - through the eyes of children 21 view on humor itself (by analyzing the well- issue, you would also like to participate in The Physics of superheroes 24 known joke of the horse in the bar), and also the creation of the Offspring itself – don’t hesitate to contact us with your ideas, arti- I‘m an alien - in Seoul 26 a funny view of the scientists themselves by cles or just feedback on the current issue, PowerPoint-Karaoke 28 seeing them through the eyes of children. or, better yet, become a member of the We all live under the same sky 30 editorial board! At this point, we would Is there a life after deadlines? 32 Apart from the fun part, this issue as al- also like to take the opportunity to thank PhDcomic 34 ways also covers what is going on in the everyone who contributed to this issue by Contacts 35 PhDnet: You will read about last year’s providing articles, pictures, ideas and inspi- Impressum 36 achievements and get an idea about future plans and developments, presented by the ration – your input is essential for keeping former and the current Steering Group. the Offspring alive! In addition, we are reporting about several PhDnet-wide events that took place in the Your editorial board

3 A look ... and Leonard Burtscher Daniel Kalthoﬀ Spokesperson of the PhDnet 2009 back ... Current Spokesperson of the PhDnet forward

2009 was again a very active year for the of time. We had to realize that, within only Humor is a strange thing. Although every- networking is so much more fun in person! PhDnet: We published another issue of one year, the PhDnet does not have a big one is equipped with some sense of it, Promoting communication between and the Offspring, launched a very successful impact on the multi-year decision pro- humor is extremely difficult to grasp. improving education of Max Planck PhD PhDnet survey and organized an inter- cesses at the MPS-level and beyond. Have you ever tried to explain a joke to students are explicit aims of the PhDnet. disciplinary workshop. We increased net- a colleague, who just didn’t get the point? Thanks to the approval of our budget, we working collaborations with other organi- If we want to influence the negotiations Understanding humour requires reflection are able to support even more events that sations and gained media attention with that affect our working conditions - and I and knowledge – on social and cultural pursue this idea - whether it is “global“ our survey of the German political parties. think we should! - we need to find a way backgrounds – and it challenges your ana- events like this year’s “Everyday Science“ or And, at the end of the year, we staged our to pass on not only the expertise that we lytical skills. soft skill training organized locally. annual General Meeting at which the Pre- gather in one year but, more importantly, sident, Prof. Gruss, increased our budget also the exact state of these negotiations to It’s like basic science: You’re trying to Less personal - but no less powerful - threefold! You will read more about these the next generation of the PhDnet. How understand a fascinating phenomenon, networking can be supported by social and other PhDnet activities on the fol- can this be achieved? The best solution you want to break it down to fundamen- networking platforms. Therefore, we es- lowing pages – and additional information that we could think of was to initiate a new tals. Eventually, you may succeed and find tablished a collaboration with the General can also be found on the PhDnet wiki (see transitional period of at least one month an answer to your question (not without Administration on the formation of a new page 16/35). There you can also see pre- following the election of new PhDnet raising ten more, of course). The lucky “MaxNet“ – a Max Planck wide social net- liminary results from the PhDnet survey officers, during which the previous year‘s thing about science: your insights do not working platform that may boost virtual (→ Questionnaire_group), the final report officers can pass the torch. It is a pleasure at all diminish the fascination - they may “PhDnet-working“ in the future. will be available there in October. to see how actively the new Steering Group even increase it. Not so the joke: After your is picking up the negotiations at the state elaborate analytical dissection, it’s just not Declared and quoted by several former There was one big issue, however, that we where we left them. funny anymore. spokespersons, it is “the most important couldn‘t resolve: the inadequate insurance job to keep the network alive.“ I can only situation for stipend holders. Learning I would like to end by thanking all the More relevant, humour is an essential part encourage you to participate in it, get about the details of the situation and get- 2009 PhDnet volunteers, but especially my of social interaction. Laughing is healthy, involved and share your ideas – advanced ting involved in (or at least informed about) Steering Group colleagues Susannah Bur- strengthens team spirit and helps to over- life support has never been so much fun! the discussions within the MPS takes a lot rows and Axinja Hachfeld! come embarrassment – it simply facilitates from left to right: Susannah Burrows (CPT- communication. This is the reasonwhy Representative); Axinja Hachfeld (Huma- nities-Representative); Leonard Burtscher (Spokesperson)

5 Introduction of the new Steering Group

At last year‘s PhDnet General Meeting in diagnostics in his PhD thesis at the MPI At this point, we want to strongly en- were invited to take a hand in shaping this Jena, a new Steering Comittee was elected for Molecular Genetics in Berlin. courage you to make use of this opportu- new ‘maxNet‘ and make it fi t the PhDnet’s which took offi ce on the 1st of January 2010. PhDnet Spokesperson: Daniel Kalthoff nity. If you want to organize a workshop demands and we would be pleased to hear Th rough the newly established transition studied Physics and Medicine in Mainz. or seminar and need support, check our your ideas and visions regarding this. period we got down to business smoothly wiki pages or contact T.Fellinger, from the His doctoral research is about functional …and beyond. and were greatly supported in this by Seminar Group (see page 35). brain connectivity in the fi eld of neuro- Th roughout the years, the PhDnet has Leonard Burtscher, Susannah Burrows and imaging at the MPI for Neurological Re- Exchange inside our network… established and fostered contact to other Dorothea Hämmerer, whom we would like search in Cologne. Distributed amongst 80 institutes, more doctoral networks such as THESIS e.V. or to thank very much for their commitment. than 4500 PhD students pursue their the Helmholtz Juniors. In addition - due Budget 2010 doctoral research within the Max Planck to initiatives like last year’s survey of the Steering Group 2010 At the 2009 General Meeting in Jena, Society and constitute the PhDnet, that German political parties - the PhDnet is Section Representative Chemistry, Physics President of the Max Planck Society P. aims for exchange, education and re- slowly gaining attention as a reasonable and Technology: Veronika Bierbaum studied Gruss off ered fi nancial support for the presentation of doctoral interests. In order partner to be consulted in questions of the Physics in Freiburg and Copenhagen. In PhDnet activities. We came back to this to support these goals on a local and “glo- PhD student’s situation and education. We her thesis at the MPI for Colloids and off er and presented a budget proposal early bal“ scale, we have been discussing the idea are still at the beginning of this, but im- Interfaces in Potsdam-Golm, she is employ- this year, which was fi nally approved in of a PhDnet social networking platform proving our political standing will provide ing statistical physics to elicit the operating its entirety of 27.500 €. Adding an annual and believe that it would make the PhDnet the opportunity to actively infl uence the principles of molecular motors. an even more active and vivid community. long-term perspectives and future situation Section Representative Humanities: Alexan- Soft-Skill Seminars; Adapted to the PhDnet’s structure, it can 28.000 € of junior researchers in Germany. Th erefore, der Jehlin studied Business Administra- simplify and support a variety of vital net- tion and Economics in Passau and London. we want to further the exchange with other working processes such as event notifi ca- networks, political parties and institutions. Since May 2009 he is investigating legal Offspring; 3.500 € tions, discussion forums, online surveys, changes in German business taxation at the In order to act and react on related deve- Event; 2.000 € etc. We pushed at an open door when we lopments from a broad base, an online net- MPI for Intellectual Property, Competi- Meeting; 1.000 € Various; 2.500 € contacted the MPS General Administra- donation of the German Federal Reserve, working platform is a great chance for more tion and Tax Law in Munich. tion with this idea, as they are currently ne- the PhDnet 2010 is now equipped with participation, discussion and democracy Section Representative Biology and Medicine: gotiating with ResearchGATE to relaunch a budget of 37.000 € to fund its activities within the PhDnet. Stephan Klatt studied Molecular Biology a Max Planck-wide social networking with a special focus on soft skill seminars. at the TU of Braunschweig. He is working platform. We on protein expression for medical

7 The PhDnet Philipp Altrock wiki pages

The PhDnet has two web sites that serve In addition, on a MediaWiki like ours, To the left, all the content of our Wiki can In general, editing and generating new different purposes. The first one, “www.ph- documents could be accessed by third be accessed through the navigation bar. You content requires very basic coding skills. It dnet.mpg.de’“adapts the corporate design parties. Keep this in mind when uploading find links to the workgroups there, as well always helps to search for already existing of the web appearance of the Max Planck sensitive content and consider other as tips for editing the wiki (as a registered code and maybe copy and paste some of Society (MPS) and gives only very general channels to share sensitive documents! user), a few external links, and the “tool- this code to then change the content. We information about our network. box “. are looking forward to your contributions Getting an account is very easy. Just click to this important platform that serves to The second website is the PhDnet wiki on “login/create account“ on the top right Each workgroup is supposed to have a pu- optimize the situation of all PhD students (www.phdnet.mpg.de/wiki), that serves as of the page (see green box in the picture), blic part and a namespace part. The latter of the MPS. an interactive platform for all PhD stu- choose “create account“ and finally choose is to be edited and read only by members dents/scholars within the MPS. Although your login details. of the particular workgroup. Becoming a For further help and information, or for its content mostly addresses current grad member of a namespace needs to be arran- suggestions and constructive criticism on students, an interested applicant can also On the main page, the first things that ged for each user individually upon request the PhDnet’s web appearance just contact find valuable information. This article pro- come into sight are items that link to the by other users with special permissions (e.g. members of the web group (see page 35 for vides you with an introduction to the basic most important pages within the wiki. Very administrators, the web group). contact details). features of the wiki. The goal is that passive fundamental for the PhDnet is the link visitors get to information faster and that right below these items, highlighted in red. active users are encouraged to help improve It directs you to a (still incomplete!) “List of the wiki. all PhD representatives“. You are most wel- come to add missing institutes with their Every MPI/IMPRS PhD student can be- representative(s) or provide updates, as this Login/create account come active by getting an account and is en- list is essential to the PhDnet (Comment couraged to do so if she/he thinks that impro- from the editorial board: We also use this vements can be made or more information list to distribute the Offspring to the dif- is necessary. Mostly, members of working ferent institutes, so please keep the name groups of the PhDnet use the wiki to store of the representative and the approximate information and coordinate their work. A number of PhDstudents at your MPI up- very important fact to realize is that every to-date!) List of representatives document, once uploaded, is bound to stay on the web practically forever.

Main navigation - Links to Working Groups Learn how to add & manage content

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Questionnaire group). → Vital raw material for all issues engaged the PhDnet’s PhDnet by by is provided annual survey: the data necessary to re- The 2009 survey covered students. present with partici- 50% of MPS PhD students, ca. Preliminary pants from all 80 institutes. available on the PhDnet are wiki ( results Wiki the science In addition to all the discussions, part was not neglected during the meeting: Invited speakers taught participants about politics, as the MPS itself: topics as diverse and olfac- the Gaia hypothesis, cosmology, tion.

Meeting → Wiki → covered by the accident and disability by in- covered The MPS is in contracts. surance provided and aﬀordable secure to provide working and PhDnet solutions for stipend holders, are interests that students’ tries to ensure Information during this process. addressed at the on this and other issues addressed 2009 General Meeting is in the preliminary meeting report ( work contracts) has increased from contracts) has increased work 23% in to PhDnet according 2005 to 50% in 2009, annual surveys (see below). at least as much Stipend holders receive not net pay as contract holders but they are Group).

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topic that was also discussed on the General of MPS The percentage Meeting this time. PhD students supported stipends (vs. by education (see Science vol. 319, p. 396 and p. 319, education (see Science vol. 872) and asking German politicians p. 320, for their positions on issues concerning (http://jrresearchersger- researchers young many.wordpress.com/2009/09/21/). the annual General Meeting Each year, culminates in a discussion with MPS re- which was led in 2009 by presentatives PhDnet’s Gruss himself. MPS President focus since 2008 has been the status of a stipends, receiving MPS researchers

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students representing 49 of the 80 Max students representing a For Planck in Jena. institutes gathered at the oldest planetarium in party?Yes, – it was a good time but more Europe to discuss common interests importantly, and concerns at the 8th PhDnet General Meeting. the PhDnet Since its foundation in 2002, at enhancing the communication works students as between among students as well it has also In addition, and the MPS. defending e.g. to engage the public, worked of the MPS in German graduate the role From October 29-31, 2009, 86 PhD 2009, October 29-31, From

Invitation New frontiers Leah Sharp Carlos G. Acevedo-Rocha in science

You often wonder whether your MPI is the only MPI out there? The traditional scientific disciplines of spanned “Biochemistry“, “Neurobiology You always wanted to know what people from MPIs at the other end of the country do? physics, chemistry, and biology are insuffi- and Cell Biology“, “Structural Biology“ You sometimes wonder if other PhDs have the same issues that you or your institute‘s PhDs have? cient to define the diversity of ideas being and “Neurobiology and Molecular Medi- You are a newly elected PhD representative and longing to learn about the experiences of other PhDs? pursued by modern scientists. Today, we cine“. Afterward, a “Grillparty“ was thrown You always wanted to discuss hot topics concerning PhDs with the president of the MPS? have physical chemistry, material science for participants to continue fostering the You are interested in achieving soft skills for your professional life and and synthetic biology, to name just a few relaxing atmosphere. of the new interdisciplinary fields current- your work as a PhD representative? The year 2009 marked both the 200th You would like to play an active part in the PhD network (PhDnet) of the MPS? ly being investigated. To stay up to date with scientific progress and to develop cri- anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth and You always wanted to enjoy some nice days with PhDs from other institutes in an amazing town? tical analysis skills, IMPRS students from the 150th anniversary of the publication of Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences and his treatise, “On the Origin of Species“, as If all of this or parts of this is you or you have well as the “International Year of Astrono- other reasons to be interested, then come to the Advanced Photon Science traversed Mu- nich last summer and fall to partake in the my“. With this in mind, stimulating talks second IMPRS Interdisciplinary Sympo- such as, “Echoes of creation: the origin of 9th PhDnet General Meeting structure in our Universe“ (Prof. Simon October 12th - 15th 2010 sium 2009 “New Frontiers in Science“. White, MPI for Astrophysics) and “Mo- at the MPI for Physics, Munich To promote the communication between lecular Darwinism: strategies of molecular biologists and physicists, a one-day work- variation“ (Nobel Laureate, Prof. Werner All PhD representatives and other interested PhD students shop was held at the MPI for Quantum Arber, Univ. of Basel) were presented. In from Max Planck Institutes are invited to join! Optics in Garching in July. During this addition, a deeper view of the microcosm was exemplified with the talks, “ More information on the PhDnet General Meeting can soon be found under workshop, students presented their re- Beauty http://www.phdnet.mpg.de/Munich2010 search in small, emboldening groups, and fitness for purpose with the building with plenty of time for in-depth discus- blocks of life, the architecture of proteins“ The Max Planck PhDnet meeting group invites you to the 9th PhDnet General Meeting, which sions and exchange of ideas. Physics sub- (Nobel Laureate, Prof. Robert Huber, MPI serves as a platform to improve interdisciplinary cooperation, optimize scientific exchange between jects included “Lasers“; “High-Precision of Biochemistry) and “Quantum Informa- PhD students and strengthen team spirit. An important component of the meeting will be the and Ultrafast Spectroscopy“, “Ultra-high tion“ (Prof. Gerd Leuchs, MPI for the discussion of important issues for PhD students brought to the General Assembly by PhD Intensity Interactions“, and “Attose- Science of Light). representatives of the Max Planck institutes and the election of the new steering group. cond Physics“ whereas biology talks

13 Science is a critical resource for building sustainability“ (Dr. Helmut Rechenberg, Have you ever wondered what is happening in the world outside of your lab? a sustainable future. The nature and com- MPI for Physics), “Friedrich Schiller: Or even outside of your institute? plexity of global challenges requires the Poet, Physician and the ‘Body and Mind’ development of a new set of approaches Question“ (Prof. Georg Kreutzberg, MPI Well, we are pleased to present you with the and practices within the scientific com- of Neurobiology), “ASIA projects for Ti- munity, based, more than ever, on coopera- betan nomad children“ (Dr. Wolfgang tion. Thus, we have a responsibility not Schweiger, Asia NGO), and “Passions only as citizens, but also as scientists, to our beyond science: Tibetan painting art and 3rd annual IMPRS Interdisciplinary Symposium 2010 environment. This was elegantly high- pigment analysis by Raman spectroscopy“ ‘New Frontiers in Science‘ lighted with the lectures, “Science as a (Prof. Richard Ernst, ETH Zurich). Fol- profession“ (Prof. Georg Kreutzberg, MPI lowing an afternoon of stimulating talks, taking place on of Neurobiology) and “Academic respon- the participants explored the exhibition, Thursday, 11 November sibility and our future“ (Nobel Laureate, “Dance in Morpho Space“ (Prof. Harald at the MPI for Physics, Prof. Richard Ernst). Sustainability means Fuchs, Univ. of Applied Sciences, Düssel- meeting the needs of today without com- dorf ) at the ERES Foundation. To con- promising the ability of future generations clude the evening, a small panel discussion and on to do likewise. To further investigate was held to explore the question, “What is Friday, 12 November this important issue, the lecture “Power Life?“ from a historical and philosophical at the LMU Aula in Munich. generation by nuclear fusion“ (Prof. Sibyl- perspective, based on Erwin Schrödinger’s le Günher, MPI of Plasma Physics) and seminal book. the panel discussion, “Sustainable energy Join us for stimulating presentations and a panel discussion with The “New Frontiers in Science“ concept supply for the future“ stimulated inter- promotes the collaboration of professio- outstanding leading scientists, including several MPI directors, Leibniz actions between professors and students, nals with largely different languages, back- and Nobel Laureates. Topics range from cutting-edge research in physics, who came from all over Germany and re- grounds, training, and expertise to tackle biotechnology and medicine to the role of science in society. presented all natural science disciplines. problems whose solution extends beyond The symposium also presented the im- a single discipline. As exemplified by the portance of transdisciplinarity by explo- sheer number and diversity of Max Planck For more information, check out our website: ring the intersection of art and science Institutes and International Max Planck www.imprs-interdisciplinary-symposium.com at the Max Planck Headquarters. High- Research Schools, the force towards in- lights included a journey from Heisenberg terdisciplinarity is driven by scientific to Humboldt and beyond with the lec- progress itself. tures, “Quantum, cosmos, light, life, memory history and

15 The voices of Planck and Einstein in Katrin Strauss your GPS navigation system!? Have you ever wondered why mankind That becomes even more obvious when we criminology and experimental economics Conclusion: developed the concept of music, what a try to bridge the gap between basic research to investigate prisoners’ behaviour. Finally, What happens when an Indian physi- shooting star and your TV at home have and the application of science in our every- with Prof. Dr. Michael Kramer, director cist explains to a Mexican biologist and in common or why the invention of our day life. Just as you were told as a kid: “You at the MPI for Radio Astronomy, we dis- Krgyzstani anthropologist how plasm is GPS navigation system would have been don’t learn for school – you learn for life.“ covered our daily life through the eyes of captured in the shadow of a candle light? impossible without the theories of Planck Planck and Einstein. We understand how diverse science can and Einstein? Questions too absurd to During the workshop students of 10 nati- and should be! Moreover, we are sensitized ask? Too easy to answer? onalities and 14 institutes of all three MPS And as the lively discussions during the to discover the interdisciplinary contact sections gathered to explore “the lab in our presentations proved; the concept is well- points of various disciplines – connections During the 5th Interdisciplinary PhD- backyard“ by presenting their own scienti- received. But this eager scientific exchange that become more and more important net workshop of the Max Planck Society fic work and background in talks and pos- did not stop after leaving the lecture hall. in a scientific culture of specialization. So more then 20 PhD students ventured into ters. But instead of being lost in translati- During the visit for Europe’s largest radio if your mind becomes troubled by all the exactly these questions. Between June 4th on while explaining details they creatively telescope in Effelsberg the workshop rea- questions raised, if your curiosity is arou- and June 6th 2010 they gathered true to adapted their presentations to a scientific ched its highlight. Here the students could sed, then you will be already well prepared the motto “Everyday Science – a lab in our but non-expert audience true to the motto experience an “ear to the universe” face to for the next Interdisciplinary PhDnet backyard“. Hosted by the MPI for Radio “Everyday Science“. face. workshop of the Max Planck Society. Astronomy in Bonn, the workshop was organized by committed PhD students And not only PhD students were attracted from different Max Planck institutes. by this challenge. Three leading researchers of the MPS also contributed in making Like for the previous Interdisciplinary Ph- this event a success. Dr. Seth Davis, group Dnet workshops the central question was: leader at the MPI for Plant Breeding Re- Why does mankind undertake science? Is search, explained how studying light per- it for money? Or for fame? Maybe. But ception in plants can help to learn more more likely it is because of our curiosity about prevention of jetlag – an issue inte- – a feature that makes us human and that resting for all conference hopping scien- drives all our investigations and explora- tists. Prof. Dr. Christoph Engel, director at tions. This curiosity should not stop at the the MPI for Collective Goods, combined boundaries of our own scientific field.

at all. They rather at all. for which the British “ black humor “ are famous. are Some sorts quite obvious of humor are – sometimes even too obvious for some Other forms are of us – like a stall joke. very unobstrusive and their aftermath takes some time and also special sort So for some of of detector in our brains. us at all and leave us they will not work in their with a glance of incomprehension is a sortby- There even of humor that faces. as an as- identify more standers would like an experience of It feels more sault. But people defamation and name-calling. exchanging this strange kind of humor actually don‘t feel oﬀended it. seem to enjoy of Seeing excrescences all these diﬀerent Is there humor can one wondering: leave a sort of humor that most – if not all all like? Is us – understand and that we kind of something like a universal there humor? A ubiquitous lock pick to man- kinds heart? cultural characteristics of humor like e.g. cultural characteristics of humor like e.g. the

Marc Geibel Marc Some thoughts on humor What is humor? Humor definitely so- like to live mething that nobody would and It is something like Nectar without. But describing hu- for the soul. Ambrosia as mor in one sentence is approximately as launching a nuclearhard submarine in a incom- And it becomes even more tea cup. because prehensible most of us use humor frequentlya little more than a submarine. “Humor The author E.B.White once said: can but the thing be dissected as a frog can, dis- are and the innards dies in the process scientific couraging to any but the pure mind.“ skip the next lines and car- agree, If you able to are We ry on with the next article. walk on the moon and to develope digital cameras that can destiguish a human face so a human from horseradish. a half-rotten being should also be able to describe one of big gifts him that differentiates evolution‘s But being an indiviual every-from a toad. body has his own understanding of humor. otherwise the similarities, are there Sure, not work. exchange of humor would also some geographical are and There

Finally, the last car was aimed at kids. Here Here the last car was aimed at kids. Finally, they could learn about complex research playing and performingby experiments on fascinated by All visitors were their own. Thus the outstanding design of train. aim to make science attractive the train’s for thousands of people was successfully fulfilled. windows of office buildings and directly thus the convert sunlight into electricity, whole office building becomes a huge so- whole new city concepts that inte- lar cell; a grate a whole city within one building; demonstration of plastics which can take a known time distinct forms over on two a technologyframe, which is now used in minimally surgery invasive techniques; On one computer it was and many more. for search possible to access the internet, and simultaneously trace the a webpage, the in- the server, information between This termediate nodes and the final client. geographic trace and the corresponding on a big rotating displayed locations were globe in real-time.

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Planck Society developed a science train to and techno- cutting-edge research present Wi- logy way. and interactive in a creative thin 12 converted train cars 10 different bio- e.g. presented, fields were research brain function and and nano-technologies, The train was and digital society. cognition, several Max Planckequipped by institutes and industry as universities as well part- the ArchiMeDes ners and was designed by Over 216 days the train stopped agency. Germany and made it in 62 cities all over than 250.000 visitors to possible for more about what our worldget an impression frommight look like 20 years now. For the For asked to attend the PhD students were train during the stay in their town to look after vi- the exhibits and to answer fun to exp- It was great sitors‘ questions. to totally different lain my own research shy pupils, 6-year-old of people: groups grandpas, or even 80-year-old or cheeky, but it was also a challenge to find the audiences. for these different right words My attention was especially caught by semi-permeable glasses that can replace

“A horse enters a bar...” Franz M. Janson A look at scientists - Mark C. Turpin Insight into the objective- Thomas Q. Wagner scientific humorism Julia Steinbach through the eyes of children 1 Everyone knows this joke. But what is the All of these advanced disquisitions refer After that scientific take on humor, let’s the impact of greenhouse gases and learn decisive central humorous element, called back to the fundamental definition of hu- change the point of view and take a look about climate research. “nucleus humoris“2 among experts? Is it at the humorous view of science, or at first, mor itself. Even though this still evokes → http://www.carboeurope.org/education/ the alienating expectation of the horse to many controversies, the working hypothesis at the scientists themselves! The following 5 be perceived as a regular custumer after en- of the authors is widely accepted amongst pages show some drawings that children The colored pictures are provided by Kate tering the bar? Does this joke presuppose experts – albeit in order to avouch com- (aged 9 to 11) made to express what they A. Furøy, editor of the Nysgjerrigper ma- knowledge of the socio-cultural interaction patibility and reproducibility of scientific think a scientist looks like – you may de- gazine. ‘Nysgjerrigper’ is the Norwegian between the homo sapiens and the equus results. Despite perpetual debates on prin- cide whether you can identify with any of word for a very curious person who is not baculus? Is one startled that the barkeeper ciples, first results are fortunately available. the pictures! afraid to ask questions and who wants anticipates that the horse has cognition and In our introductory example the humoris- answers to everything he or she wonders comprehension of his idiomology (and im- tic momentum is based on the fact, that the These pictures were provided by two different projects that are aiming to give about. The Nysgjerrigper project was initi- plied imagery)? Certainly not! All of these idiomatic phrase used by the barkeeper is a children a first hand look at the scientific ated by the Research Council of Norway to ostensive imponderabilia lose their hu- surprisingly exact description of the horse’s show elementary school children that re- moristical impetus due to the unreflected physiognomy. Here the fundamental dis- world and to make them see that research can be interesting and even fun. search can be fun. It is promoting interest acceptance of the joke-imminent “nar- cernment is revealed. In all cases that have in research in general as well as focusing on 3 rative surrounding“. So how could these been analyzed the nucleus humoris exists The black-and-white pictures are provided selected topics, and seeks to open the eyes 6 14 words evolve to such a popular joke? in the momentum of surprise and thus re- by Sally Soria-Dengg, regional coordinator of young people to the potential of a career presents at least one absolute term that is in research. The idea of the Nysgjerrigper Humorism faces these and other questions of the CarboSchools project, an EU-pro- inherent to every joke. method is to present science in schools not in order to enunciate substantiated hypo- ject that links researchers from several leading carbon science laboratories in Europe in the form of results, but to encourage theses, theses and answers. It uses strict 1 For those who don‘t:”...and the barkeeper says: Why such a long face?” children to experience their own ‘research‘ philological analysis but does not eschew 2 cf. Warum steht ein Pils/z im Wald – Kleines Handbuch des Humors, with teachers and pupils from secondary hrsg. Janson/Turpin/Wagner, München, Bangkok: Ridens-Verlag schools. Over the course of the project, as a creative activity that challenges them the composition of interdisciplinary re- 3 Ibid. 4 Exemplary in this case was Dr. Dr. A. Blatts cooperation during his scientists and teachers co-operate over to formulate questions and to think about search groups with subjects like biology, nd 2 dissertation „Is there a primal humor? With the neighbouring potential explanations. medicine or other disciplines with an em- discipline „Meta-Humor“ and the research group „systematic analysis several months to give young people practi- of laugther as a derivative of humor“. 4 cal experience of research through true pirical character. Current emphases of 5 cf. Janson/Turpin/Wagner: Definitio Humoris, in: Humor ist, wenn → investigations and interactions with real www.nysgjerrigper.no the inductive based science are research man (trotzdem) lacht? – Tagungsbericht zum Symposium Graz 2009, hrsg. E. von Rumsch, Dresden: Mailbeck 2009 scientists. Pupils get practical experience projects like “Bilingual point-transition“, 6 American colleagues have coined the term “Epiphany of Surprise”. of research by conducting experiments on “Diachronic synopsis of ethnic ribaldry“or “Deconstructivistic analysis of transcen- dent meta-humor“.

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The Physics of Julia Steinbach Roberto Kretschmer superheroes

Everything I learned about science, I learned superhero comic books – with the effect that give superheroes their powers at the from comic books - James Kakalios that “interestingly enough, my students beginning – comic books get the physics never wonder when they will use this in- surprisingly right! Sometimes, comics formation in real life“, which “as a law- were even ahead of science in explaining abiding citizen, fills me with great sense of physical effects, e.g. in quantum mecha- security because I also know how many of nics* or string theory. my scientist colleagues could charitably be termed mad“. Furthermore, James Kakalios not only explains the principles of physics, but In this book, the author manages to give also tries to explain what it means to be a profound introduction of Physics – a physicist: It’s not about knowing a vast ranging from Newton’s laws of motion via number of equations or performing com- electro- and thermodynamics to quantum plex arithmetic in one’s head at enormous mechanics and solid-state physics – with speed – but more about finding and asking examples from comic books. With his the right questions. funny style of writing, his readers as well as his students “are so busy eating their Another nice aspect for “scientific insiders“ superhero ice cream sundaes, they don‘t is how the author shows how comic books One day, author James Kakalios, professor notice that I [Kakalios] am feeding them sometimes also get the world of scientists at the University of Minnesota, overheard their spinach.“ right (e.g. “all professors are white men his students grumbling about the standard and around 800 years old“). Besides, the More about the book on the webpage: examples from the introductory physics Looking at the physics behind Superman, reader (at least if he/she is a comic novice http://www.physicsofsuperheroes.com class being boring and of no use in “real Spiderman et al, one gets to know the true like us) learns a lot about superheroes (did cause for the destruction of Superman’s you know there was a superhero called ‘the life“. * More about quantum mechanics you also can learn from home planet Krypton and finds out who Atom’?), the history of classic comic books Kakalios‘ upcoming book „The Amazing Story of Quan- Being a fan of comic books, he therefore really killed Spiderman’s girlfriend Gwen and how comics reflected some typical as- tum mechanics“ which will be released October 2010. decided to replace inclined planes, pulleys Stacy. Besides, the author shows that – usu- pects of science or society in their time. and harmonic oscillators by examples from ally except for one little “miracle exception“

25 I’m an alien – Nina Gaißert in Seoul

It‘s night time, but it is not dark, not dark at Moreover there are thousands of flickering are on time and everything is perfectly and eat it, delicious. Yes, they always use all, as I walk along Cheonggyecheon-River, screens, billboards and other advertise- clean. And luckily no one stares at me, their scissors. I have never seen a knife in which is actually not a river, it is some water ments glittering high above me on the everyone is busy watching TV on their cell a Korean restaurant. And Shabu Shabu pumped through downtown, but bordered facades of the skyscrapers. And I am hum- phones. Ah no, there is a little kid, she is has a big advantage: you see what you get, by pavement and some trees. And actually ming Sting’s song “Englishman in New staring at me, eyes and mouth wide open. I before it is cooked. So it is easier to choose if strolling here is quite nice. The water is York “, although actually I am a little blond am probably the first blonde she has seen, you want to eat the giant squid (sometimes illuminated in different colors. girl in Seoul, South Korea. Yes, I feel like not on TV, but in real life. served still alive) or the sea cucumber. an alien here, Europe does not feel closer than Mars. Ok, alien is pretty lyrical and Half an hour later I arrive at the restau- Yes, I think I will get accustomed to Korea, since I am a scientist I should probably say: rant where I want to meet my friends. All a nice and safe country, with friendly “I feel like a pop-out effect“. Ever crossed Koreans are on time, already sitting around people. Maybe I will dye my hair brown, a street surrounded by a hundred Asian the table, shoes standing next to the door. to feel less like a pop-out effect. Luckily guys? One blond head amongst a hundred Everyone is still wearing their jackets. Did I am not tall, this would be harder to black-haired people. Ok, some call their I mention that it is minus five degrees out- change. And maybe one day I will even hair color brown, but I cannot recognize side? And the door is open, as usual. This learn to speak some Korean words. the difference, sorry. is something I will not get accustomed to. But I will get accustomed to the food. We An-nyeong-ha-se-yo! And moreover I cannot recognize any of will either have Korean BBQ, ember in the PhD students in the Max Planck society come from middle of the table, a plate of raw meat, and the street signs. Where am I? Where is the all over the world – that gives us the unique oppor- several hot sauces, you grill your own meat Nina Gaißert is a (German) PhD student at next subway station? Who should I ask? I tunity to broaden our horizon and to learn about and wrap it up in sesame leafs, delicious, or the MPI for Biological Cybernetics in Tübin- try to find a girl, not too young, since the other cultures, and also helps to see our own cul- Shabu Shabu. I love Shabu Shabu. It is a gen, where she is investigating how humans young ones only start giggling, and no ture from outside. If you are a foreign PhD student huge pot of hot soup (remember it is minus judge similarities of 3D objects using vision, guy, since most guys feel offended when in Germany or a German PhD student visiting five degrees outside), and you get a plate another country, feel free to share your experiences touch or both. To create stimuli for her expe- I directly approach them. Ok, back in the of different things along with the soup, as with us – write us about your encounters with a riments using a 3D printing technology, she subway. From here I will find my way back well as scissors. With the scissors you cut different culture and how you felt about it! spent one month at the Korea university in home. I’ve never seen a subway system that what you like into the soup, boil everything Seoul, where her supervisor helps to build up well structured, the signs are very clear, and the Department for Brain and Cognitive En- luckily in Korean and English, the trains gineering.

This humorous take on the oftenThis humorous oh so dry was deﬁnitelyreality of PhD more research than just a fun way to spend an evening. is a good opportunity PowerPoint-Karaoke skills and presentation to practice one‘s ability to speak freely in front of an au- highly suggest that other cities We dience. an interdisciplina- take up the idea to have and may- ry the local event between MPIs, be one day the national MPI-PowerPoint- Karaoke-Championship will take place.

and two hours filled and two with entertaining talks very by went quickly. When all the presentations had been the audience given, for was asked to vote their favorite presen- Just like at any major sports event, tation. silver and gold medalists were the bronze, Maybe with a valuable memento. honored one of the beautiful certificates will even be one of job applicationadded to a future by Since had been so many there the winners. was a tie there presentations, remarkable lucky In the end five for most of the places. quite evenly distribut- which were winners, shared all institutes and genders, ed over the applause.

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revolutionary insights even to the people was presented. whose original research ure Afterwards audience had the the interested opportunity the speaker with to address None questions about their presentation. of the speakers had to face awkward silence often seen after papers at scientiﬁc but was instead bombarded conferences, Especially the provided questions. by and example sentences formulas graphs, lead to revolutionary new interpretation of on the data that was presented the research slides. Some of the inspiration for these new in- to be attributedsights might have to the to the oﬀered that were shots of vodka speakers in advance as liquid courage Although to loosen their tongues. order at the begin- reluctant some people were most PhDs eventually took the stage, ning, ict

sport“

A practical guide to do fun

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research stuﬀ with your PowerPoint-Karaoke:

Corinna Handschuh

are quite simple. Everyone wanting to take quite simple. are part was asked to bring a short slide pre- for a past sentation that they had prepared These presentations or the like. conference then randomly assigned to PhDswere from one of the competing institutes. everyone minutes Afterwards, had five the slides assigned to them, to present without having previously seen however, the slides and being from a completely The talks that followed field. different a new on the offered perspective and sometimes provided topic, presented Last December Leipzig witnessed the pre- The first of an extraordinarymiere event: battle. inter-MPI-PowerPoint-Karaoke PhD students from local all three MPIs met on this occasion to compete in order The rules of this against each other.

We all live under Víctor Silva Aguirre the same sky Report on the Galileo Mobile Project. It was like a bell ringing in my head. Before from Antofagasta in the north of Chile Now, through this small review the Galileo I realized what was going on, I had already through the desert in San Pedro de Mobile Project goes back to its origins: the It is hard to write these lines now after replied to the email saying I was interested Atacama, up the Andes to Colchane and PhDnet. When it started here, the trip was what has happened in the last two years. in the project. Others did as well, and we next to the Pacific ocean in Iquique, cros- only one step away. When I look back to the beginning of all formed a team of 12 people from different sing salt flats towards Bolivia to admire La this, it seems somehow surreal; trying to countries and fields (called “Galileros“), Paz, sailing in Lake Titicaca to find the explain the whole thing in a few simple coordinated by the not-unknown-to-me- floating islands of the sun. Struggling for lines ends up in a mixture of reality and anymore PhD student Philippe Kobel. air in Peru while climbing up to Puno, just perceptions that even for me is hard to dis- to be amazed by Cuzco and the ancient entangle. That’s the effect this project had Of course the whole idea developed into Inca culture, which gently pointed the way on me, and I’ll try to share this experience something much more sophisticated back south to the marvels of Arequipa, the with you in the following paragraphs. than originally thought of. Thanks to mystic of Tocopilla and the final closure in our sponsors, we managed to get a 30cm Taltal, Chile. All together, over 5.000 kilo- It all started on a normal day at work at the telescope to do observations of stars and meters of experiences and learning. institute when I received a forwarded email a smaller one for the sun, and replicas of through the PhDnet from an (at the time) the original telescope used by Galileo (the It is impossible to express in a few lines unknown student from Lindau, who had Galileo-scopes) to give away in every school what we saw and felt while we were there. the most simple but beautiful idea I had we visited. We prepared many hands-on I must say that I still don’t know if I taught heard about in a while: within the frame activities in Spanish and English to do or learned more, but probably the latter. work of the International Year of Astro- with the children, contacted the schools We visited over 25 schools, reaching more W h ? nomy 2009 and the 400 year anniversary and teachers in the cities we wanted to than a thousand children. To make our at will be your step since Galileo Galilei first pointed a visit, and gathered all the didactic material experience long lasting and valuable for telescope towards the sky, why don’t we we could to give away to the kids. future generations of “Galileros“, a film make a trip through South America with crew traveled with us during the full telescopes and learning material, and teach Months of hard work resulted in the extension of the project and a documen- children about astronomy? definition of the itinerary, which took us tary with the outcome will be released by the end of the year. So stay tuned!

31 Is there a life Julia Steinbach after deadlines? No matter whether you need to compile fortunately.) Of course, in the beginning having an additional week anyway – so you being at the wrong time, but looking back an abstract for a conference, submit a pa- we had some ideas how the perfect dead- might decide how much more additional you will realize that you were productive in per for a special issue, write a report, or in line should be – don’t give the people too time you want take into account for that. the last week before the deadline. And you the end fi nish your PhD thesis – deadlines much time, because then they tend to for- Second: When being inside a more or less have to admit that you would have needed are everywhere in your scientifi c life. And get about the topic, but also don’t make the realistic range, the length of time until the much more than that week for the work they all have one thing in common: they time too short, then they will consider the deadline doesn’t really matter. So, don’t that you have done if there had been no are usually at the wrong time. Either they deadline unrealistic from the beginning on think too much about the perfect deadline, deadline. So, next time do not be angry tend to accumulate all in the same week or and will not start working at all, hoping just set one! about the deadline, just keep in mind that they are just too early. Not much too ear- for an extention. Well, no matter how we deadlines are good for your scientifi c pro- ly though – you would just have needed a set the deadline, whether people had just To get back to science – when you try to ductivity! Probably one could go even so little bit of additional time, just one more one month or half a year for their articles, remember how it was with all the dead- far to say that there would be no science week or even one more day to fi nish some we got most of the articles in the last week lines…in the beginning, you were probably without deadlines… calculation, to decide what to present at the before the deadline, or we were asked in just angry and stressed about the deadline conference, to further develop that great that week for an extension – of just an idea you just had for the paper. Or it is just additional week, or just a few additional the timing – you are just really busy with days. And also my own experience from other stuff this week, next week would be that was that no matter how much time I no problem… had, I usually wrote my article on the last day before the deadline (and sometimes, So, why are deadlines always at the wrong when the date fell together with some other time? And is there such a thing as the deadlines, this day was not enough – so I perfect deadline? During the creation also just needed a little bit more time….) of the past issues of the Off spring, we also had the opportunity to experiment So, what do we learn from that? First: If with the deadlines that we gave to peo- you set a deadline for something, set it to ple for writing articles. (We had quickly at least one week before the date where you discovered that giving no deadline at all actually need it. Okay, most people already ‚Piled Higher and Deeper‘ by Jorge Cham www.phdcomics.com and saying “just send us something when suspect you do it like that and thus expect you have time to write it“ doesn’t work, un-

33 Contacts

Website of the PhDnet: Secretary group: http://www.phdnet.mpg.de/ PhDnet Wiki: /wiki/index.php/Secretary_group PhDnet Wiki: Leader/Contact: Patrick Heißler http://www.phdnet.mpg.de/wiki/ ([email protected])

Spokesperson of the PhDnet Seminars Group: Daniel Kalthoff PhDnet Wiki: /wiki/index.php/Seminars_group (daniel.kalthoff@nf.mpg.de) Leader/Contact: Tim Fellinger ([email protected]) Section representatives Humanities: Event Group: Alexander Jehlin PhDnet Wiki: /wiki/index.php/Event_group ([email protected]) Leader/Contact: Johannes Stelzer ([email protected]) Chemical-Physical-Technical sciences: Veronika Bierbaum Questionnaire Group: ([email protected]) PhDnet Wiki: /wiki/index.php/Questionnaire_ group Bio-Medical sciences: Leader/Contact: Stephan Dudeck Stephan Klatt ([email protected]) ([email protected]) Off spring Group: Workgroups 2009 PhDnet Wiki: /wiki/index.php/Off spring_group Steering Group: Leader/Contact: Roberto Kretschmer PhDnet Wiki: /wiki/index.php/Steering_Group ([email protected]) ‚Piled Higher and Deeper‘ by Jorge Cham www.phdcomics.com Leader/Contact: Daniel Kalthoff (daniel.kalthoff@nf.mpg.de) Legal Group: PhDnet Wiki: /wiki/index.php/ /Legal_group Webgroup: Leader/Contact: Ananda Landwehr PhDnet Wiki: /wiki/index.php/Web_group (landwehr@ mpp.mpg.de) Leader/Contact: Philip Altrock ([email protected])

Meeting Group: PhDnet Wiki: /wiki/index.php/Meeting_group Leader/Contact: Clemens Kießig (ckiessig@ mpp.mpg.de)