key visual

Long Night of the Sciences

Visit us on 17 June 2023 from 4 pm in Berlin-Buch and Berlin-Mitte

Long Night

We show you things and places that are otherwise only accessible to our scientists: At the Long Night of Sciences, we open our laboratories and buildings on June 17, 2023 – like many other scientific and science-related institutions in Berlin and Potsdam.

The event is made for science enthusiasts of all ages, there are:

  • laboratory tours
  • hands-on experiments
  • lectures
  • science shows
  • ... and much more

The Long Night of Sciences takes place once a year on a Saturday in June. With our locations on the Buch Campus and in Berlin-Mitte we will participate on June 17, 2023. The program will be published on May 5, 2023. Advance ticket sales will start in May 2023.

© Header: elekktronaut x studio gid 

Highlights Buch

The MDC program ranges from interactive experiments and shows to the opportunity to look over the shoulder of scientists in the laboratory. Some of the highlights are presented here. 

Gut feeling: How the gut talks to the brain

Lab Tour | 6:30 p.m.

As early as in the 19th century, scientists speculated that digestion and our mental well-being are linked. Their take: “toxins” produced in the gut were poisoning patients’ minds. During the last 15 years, the communication between gut and brain has gotten renewed attention. Scientists are exploring how diet changes our gut microbes, and how they (not “toxins”) can influence brain function and mental health. The microbiome may be involved in driving some brain disorders. In other situations, they can protect us. A short interactive seminar on gut feelings.

 

Drop-dead gorgeous

Science Art | 4 - 11 p.m.

Beauty ideals are social constructs that change over time and vary across cultures. “Drop-dead gorgeous” is a small anthology that reflects to what extreme lengths we go to achieve “ideal beauty” and maintain standards of physical attractiveness. The exhibition focuses on the story and science behind three elements (plants/chemicals) that are extremely toxic - sometimes deadly - and were routinely used, in various historical moments, to conform to on-trend beauty ideals. With this series, the artist Eleonora Adami would like to spark a reflection on beauty perceptions and self-worth.

Further information

 

The Art of Psychiatry

Science Art | 4 - 11 p.m.

How are psychiatric diseases defined at the cellular and molecular level? How can art be used to describe psychiatric disorders? PhD student Bilge Ugursu will address in a scientific presentation about depression and autism spectrum disorder, followed by an art exhibition reflecting many more mental conditions. Ugursu’s artworks have been exhibited in numerous international galleries. She will show a selection of them during LNDW'23 to promote mental health awareness and start a dialogue with you.

Further information

 

Cell culture – the smallest living unit in a petri dish

Booth | 4 - 11 p.m.

The cell is the smallest living unit of all organisms. It is an important part of scientific research and provides many opportunities. Would you like to know how we use cell cultures in research? Here, guests can attempt cell culture tasks themselves and watch how an experiment is conducted. 10 years or older.

 

MDC Lab Olympics

Interactive experiment | 4 - 11 p.m.

Pipetting, measuring, finding information – in our Lab Olympics you can put your abilities up to a test and find out whether you have what it takes to master the every-day lab work. A lab selfie is included.

 

A walk-in model of the intestine

4 - 11 p.m.

More processed foods, more sugar, more fat: A Western lifestyle promotes many metabolic and inflammatory diseases. After all, food alters the microbial ecosystem in our intestines. If you have any questions about microbiome research, or the connection between nutrition and inflammation, the immune system, or cancer, scientists at the Campus Berlin -Buch will be happy to answer them.

 

Using Cryo-Electron Microscopy to understand the structure of membrane proteins

Interactive experiment | 4 - 10 p.m.

Protein structures change all the time. This lets cell grow, divide, and even permits pathogens to invade. We use cryogenic electron microscopy to study these structures: We freeze cells from the heart, muscles and brain with proteins at -195°C in thin layers of ice preserving the biological material in its native form. We then load the sample into the huge electron microscopes and process big data to reveal the structures and understand how they work. At the booth, we will present 3D-printed protein models – and you can assemble the subunits to a whole protein.

 

Highlights Mitte

Using CRISPR to find and correct pathogenic gene variants

Lab Tour | 8 p.m. | 10 p.m.

On this tour, we explain how to use CRISPR/Cas systems for diagnostics and therapy of genetic diseases. In our lab, we are working toward developing CRISPR-based test assays to detect genetic mutations. These mutations have a range of effects that include an increased risk for different kidney diseases as well as changing how individuals metabolize drugs. We are also working with base editors, which are CRISPR/Cas-derived genome editing tools, to develop therapies for kidney diseases.

Registration: central info point at the ground floor

 

Modeling neurodevelopmental conditions with brain organoids

Lab Tour | 6:30 p.m. | 9:30 p.m.

We at the Metzger lab use stem cells to grow organoids that mimic important aspects of human brain development and associated neurodevelopmental disorders. During our lab tour, we will also explain how we use our results to find new therapeutic options for patients with such conditions.

Registration: central info point at the ground floor

 

How can you fit Berlin’s TV tower inside a Kinder Surprise?

Lab Tour | 6 p.m. | 7 p.m. | 9 p.m.

If you stretch the DNA molecule from a single human cell all the way out, it would be about 2meters long. However, the nucleus of a human cell, which contains the DNA, is only about 6 μm in diameter – this is as small as a Kinder Surprise in comparison to Berlin’s TV tower! How does DNA fit inside such a small space and how does DNA folding affect gene activity and the biology of our cells? We at the Pombo lab use state-of-the-art techniques to study the role of chromatin origami in health and disease.

Registration: central info point at the ground floor

 

The science of forgetting

Microscopy | 5 p.m. - 12 a.m.

Join us on a journey to explore the molecular origins of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. We use a variety of microscopy techniques to understand why proteins in the brain clump together and affect our memory as we age. Come and see how we color proteins and track them inside cells and mini-brains.

 

Research & researchers in the age of AI

Panel discussion | 10 p.m.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is much more than ChatGPT. Researchers at the Max Delbrück Center are using, optimizing and creating AI and Machine Learning tools to mine single-cell omics or microbiome data, to automate image analysis, and to analyze complex biological processes. AI can detect patterns of health/disease trajectories thus enabling precision medicine. It can help to shorten the time for drug development. Our panel will discuss how AI impacts our discovery processes and why we need highly skilled experts to bring AI to the clinic.

Host: Nikolaus Rajewsky

Panel participants: Jakob Metzger, Isabella Douzoglou, Melissa Birol, Daniel León Perinán

Location: Elsa Neumann Conference Room – R 0.61, ground floor

 

How to find us

For the first time, you can experience MDC research at two locations in Berlin: In Buch and in Mitte.

Campus Buch

The MDC is located in the northeast of Berlin on the Campus Berlin-Buch:

Robert-Rössle-Straße 10
13125 Berlin

Plan your journey on Google Maps

A shuttle bus starts at Buch S-Bahn station. Here you can find the overview map.

 

Location Mitte

Another location of the MDC is situated in the center of Berlin:

Hannoversche Straße 28
10115 Berlin

Missing media item.

Plan your journey on Google Maps

Retrospect

 

More news about the Long Night of Sciences at the MDC

Videos