Public relations is an important part of the institute’s work. The “Gatersleben Discourse” is the successor of the “Gatersleben Encounters”, and this year formed a part of the Wittenberg Summer Academy's “Life and Survival” meeting. This took place at the IPK on the 10. and 11. August 2006. The intention was to take an interdisciplinary look at “Awareness and Communication of Risks”. The event opened with an art exhibition, and included guided tours of the institute’s scientific departments, various talks and a panel discussion (see picture below) with representatives from the natural sciences, culture and the humanities. Two authors' readings accompanied the event.
Featuring contributions describing the communication of risks surrounding “green genetic engineering” and stem cell research, a number of controversial topics of particular relevance to society were explored. The event was informative for natural scientists, psychologists and politicians, as well as for teachers, artists, journalists and the interested public. There was an open call for contributions, so that as many aspects of the issue as possible could be discussed in as wide as possible a context. About 100 participants, including about 35 students from the Wittenberg Summer Academy, took part in the “Gatersleben Discourse”. The event was co-organised by Prof. Anna M. Wobus and Prof. Ulrich Wobus from IPK, and Dr. Thorsten Moos of the Evangelical Academy Saxony-Anhalt.
