Seite 1 von 7 Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg Behörde für Wissenschaft und Forschung DIE SENATORIN Tagung zur deutsch-griechischen Hochschulkooperation 5. 2. 2015, 14 Uhr, Universität Hamburg, ESA 1, Hörsaal B Es gilt das gesprochene Wort. Your Excellency, Prof Skouris, Prof Lenzen, Mr Grothus, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am very pleased to welcome you to our city and to convey to you the very best greetings and wishes of our Senate as well! I consider it an honour to be present at the opening of this event, which is not only
Seite 2 von 7 an interesting one, but extremely important. Its existence stems from the personal commitment of Greek and German scientists, particularly that of Professor Lenzen. And this conference demonstrates once again what can be accomplished through friendship, empathy, and high regard for one another. We need all three more than ever in times like these, especially in relation to Greece, and especially in relation to Greek science. Ladies and Gentlemen, No path is too long if one has a friend at one s side. This also holds true for paths of reform and for painful reform processes, as well as for academic friendships. I am always amazed at what friendships like these are capable of achieving. If we take a look at the history of science, it becomes clear that inspired research activity, from time to time even excellence, often develops when the paths of scientists cross who find each other interesting AND like each other. Very
Seite 3 von 7 immodestly, I have to think of the formative years of the University of Hamburg after 1919. At the time, a circle of scientists like Ernst Cassirer, Erwin Panowsky, Fritz Saxl and others, for example, formed around art historian Aby Warburg. They were closely associated with the art history library that Aby Warburg had assembled at the time. Physicist and later Nobel prize winner Otto Stern assembled researchers like Wolfgang Pauli, Walter Baade and Erich Hecke around himself. As the Director of the Institute for Physical Chemistry, Stern made Hamburg into a veritable Mecca for scientists from all over the world within just a few years. We can make similar claims today regarding the scientific Bahrenfeld Campus of the University and the German Electron Synchrotron DESY or the Asia-Africa Institute of the University of Hamburg. The paradox, however, is that today scientists can communicate worldwide by using the Internet.
Seite 4 von 7 Just the same, accessibility the fact that one might be able to chat about the latest questions over a cup of coffee with colleagues is considered one of the key factors for success when establishing scientific institutions. This insight has also been key for us here in Hamburg in designing our scientific Campus Bahrenfeld and other scientific interrelationships. In the same way, the role of scientific conventions like yours has remained just as important, that of bringing people and topics together and enabling academic friendships. Ladies and Gentlemen, Academic friends often support one another in ways that extend beyond the scientific. They also stick together personally, such as in times that are politically sensitive. There are many historical examples of this. And you are a current example. In the coming two and a half days, you will be communicating with one another about your
Seite 5 von 7 scientific focuses, your present research projects, your grant programmes. You will be discussing how difficult it is if not impossible to teach and to conduct research, when for example 2,000 employees at a university in Greece are fired all at once. When the library is closed more often than it is open, because of a shortage of staff. When as a professor one has to have a day job cultivating a vineyard or showing tourists around the island. I cannot personally attest to such experiences. But I have no reason to doubt the press reports to this effect or the reports from Prof Lenzen. Prof Lenzen, you have had academic and personal friendships with Greek colleagues for many years. And you have been following the political, economic and scientific development of Greece just as long. I am impressed by the fact that you are no longer simply observing the situation, but that you are trying
Seite 6 von 7 to actively support your colleagues, and that, working together with your staff, you have organised such a high-level symposium. Regardless of why Greece has such serious economic problems, and regardless of what one thinks of the austerity measures of the European Union, it must be acknowledged that the cutbacks put in place by the Greek Parliament and the way in which they are to be carried out have serious consequences, and they also affect Greek science. And so I hope that the results of the parliamentary election in Greece and the formation of the new government will be regarded by all those involved as an opportunity to discuss more than debts, budget cuts, and reductions in public services. It is time to take a close look at Greece s ongoing development in the areas of science and education, for example. This also involves, not least, the preservation of Europe s cultural heritage.
Seite 7 von 7 In this context, I would like to quote the former German Chancellor and honorary citizen of Hamburg, Helmut Schmidt, who was recently awarded an honorary doctorate by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. He once wrote in the weekly newspaper DIE ZEIT: These days, in which we are always talking about billions, two and a half millennia of history must also play a role. Greece is the cradle of democracy as well as that of the Renaissance and the Enlightenment. A very great part of European civilization is based on the accomplishments of great Greeks. I agree with him fully. I hope your symposium will be a great success and look forward to seeing you this evening at the Hamburg City Hall!