Trip to Bonn 2017
A cultural day out in Bonn on invitation of Advisory Board member Dr. Paul Rheinländer
In continuation of the series of inspiring excursions to Cologne, Münster and Aachen he hosted in previous years, advisory board member Dr. Paul Rheinländer recently invited the IGSN students for a trip to Bonn — the former capital of Germany. A bus was waiting on the morning of April 4th at the Ruhr-University and Dr. Rheinländer warmly welcomed students, staff and professors of the IGSN aboard.
Our first stop was the Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig, one of the largest natural-history-research museums in Germany. The vice-president of the Alexander König Society, Prof Dr. Wolfgang Böhme guided us through the exhibition and also allowed us to look behind the scenes. We walked through large store rooms with hundreds of preserved birds, snakes and insects, we saw how members of the museum categorize and preserve invertebrates and viewed a collection of thousands of butterfly specimens. Dr. Jonas Astrin, Biobank Curator, explained how he oversees the storage of DNA, or tissue, suitable for molecular analysis of thousands of species.
After a traditional Rhenish lunch, we were welcomed by Mr. Malte Boecker, the director of the Beethoven House Society. Together with a colleague, he guided us through the house of Beethoven's birth and gave us insights into the political, social and cultural conditions of Beethoven's time. As a special point of interest for neuroscientists, the question of Beethoven's deafness and his ability to "hear" music at a cognitive level was addressed in a special talk for us in the auditorium of the Beethoven House. The absolute highlight amongst so many highlights of the day was the private concert performed by Peter Köczky the pianist of the Beethoven Society. Here, Dr. Rheinländer led IGSN students in a rendition of 'Song of Joy' by Friedrich Schiller, accompanied by Peter Köczky at the piano.
This was a wonderful day for all of the participants, with so many inside stories from the world of research and art. The IGSN would like to sincerely thank Dr. Rheinländer for hosting and organizing such a wonderful event for us.
Photos of the event
Click on the slide show, then use the arrow keys to navigate between the pictures
The vice-president of the Alexander König Society, Prof Dr. Wolfgang Böhme welcomed us and guided us through the exhibition
Behind the scenes
The students enjoyed the traditional Rhenish lunch
Beethoven's birth place in Bonn
Dr Malte Boecker (far right), the director of the Beethoven House Society gave us insights into the political, social and cultural conditions of Beethoven's time.
A piano concert by Peter Köcky, the pianist of the Beethoven Society
A wonderful day