On December 5, 2024, the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS) celebrated its 20th anniversary. For two decades, theoretical scientists from various disciplines have been successfully cooperating on research into complex systems, from molecules to the cosmos.
Nature itself seemed to be successfully choreographed into the celebration of FIAS’ 20th anniversary: During a fascinating lecture on the physics of ice crystals, snowflakes started descending in front of the windows of the Festsaal in the Casino building located on Westend Campus. FIAS marked the completion of two decades of scientific excellence with a number of events that had been spread out over the entire last year, culminating in the celebrations on December 5.
In his opening lecture FIAS’ scientific director Eckhard Elsen described the institute’s many different scientific achievements – from neural networks and high-performance computers to understanding matter in outer space, all the way to artificial intelligence – and stressed: “For 20 years, FIAS has been uniting disciplines that appear to have little in common at first glance.” Elsen also underscored the necessary respectful and multicultural research atmosphere, which has been one of FIAS’ hallmarks since its inception. In keeping with this interdisciplinarity, the event featured fascinating connections from science to reflections on society and music.
Hessian Minister of Science Timon Gremmels emphasized how important science-based diplomacy is when it comes to shaping political decisions in an increasingly complex world. With this in mind, he presented the “Honorary Award for Science Diplomacy” to Charlotte Lindberg Warakaulle, the first female director for international relations at CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research). In her acceptance speech, Warakaulle stressed the importance of ensuring continuous funding for and promotion of basic research.
The €10,000 prize – endowed by long-standing supporters Carlo and Karin Giersch – is the latest awarded by a long list of institutions and private sponsors who have supported FIAS over the years. Without this kind of funding, many of the Institute’s pioneering projects would not have been possible. One of FIAS’ most important partners is its founder, Goethe University Frankfurt, whose president Prof. Enrico Schleiff stressed in a lively and very personal speech the huge benefits for science that result from the close cooperation between the university and FIAS. He emphasized that FIAS complements the university’s research in the best possible way: “It’s a place that focuses on interdisciplinary dialog and freedom of thought – a place where one can dare to experiment, in the truest sense of the word.”
Panel discussion, poetry slam and music
Many experiments conducted at and stories surrounding FIAS were recalled during a lively panel discussion hosted by Johannes Sassenroth from the broadcaster Hessischer Rundfunk. Participants included FIAS founders Wolf Singer and Rudolf Steinberg, the latest senior fellow, Roberto Covino, as well as doctoral student Sigrid Trägenap. Their exchange brought together the stories about the Institute’s founding with the challenges and opportunities facing an interdisciplinary institute today.
The varied evening program also included a poetry slam contribution from FIAS doctoral student Jonas Elpelt and music from the duo “Cello meets Jazz.” The event also gave doctoral students and postdocs an opportunity to air their worries and concerns about combating discrimination at the workplace.
“We are celebrating this anniversary as an incentive to continue pursuing new paths in the theoretical research of complex systems,” FIAS director Elsen pledged. The varied and magical evening ended with the fascinating, poetic and musical lecture about snowflakes delivered by FIAS fellow Franziska Matthäus, who was accompanied by Volker Lindenstruth on the grand piano. Research at FIAS has, after all, always included a look beyond the horizons – for 20 years and counting.
Anja Störiko/FIAS
