Fostering a Tech-Savvy Future: Celebrating 100 Years of the German Museum
- Oskar von Miller's brainchild* 🤩
Centennial Celebration: Salute to Germany's Technical Legacy - Centennial Celebration of the German Museum: Salute to a Century of Technological Advancements in Germany
The virtual specter of the museum's founder, Oskar von Miller, flickers through the celebrations: The father of the German Museum envisions swarms of people overflowing the event like the revelers of Oktoberfest. Naturally, he'd toast a beer for the celebration. He conceptualized this hub as a mecca of knowledge for everyone.
Striding towards a future, powered by science: German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier thrusts the importance of progress into the limelight, emphasizing the critical roles it plays in climate protection, competitiveness, and social justice. By responsibly championing technological innovations in democracy, we can help uplift citizens in poorer nations and future generations, paving their way to self-determined lives swathed in freedom and prosperity, says the president.
The exhibitions provide a glimpse of the promising future we can build. Amidst a wave of skepticism and doubts, the German Museum delivers a dash of optimism - "and our country needs this optimism now more than ever," notes Steinmeier, speaking at the museum's ongoing renovation.
Disillusioned youth
Some of the younger attendees, hand-picked for a stage competition, fail to share this optimism. They unveil their painted visions of the future, showing a 12-year-old with a solitary painted eye - symbolizing the importance of remaining detached from the future. A 15-year-old depicts an abandoned German Museum, overgrown with nature in the next 100 years, devoid of humanity.
Sparking laughter at the festive gathering, comedian Luise Kinseher took the stage. Named Mama Bavaria in days past, she shared politically inclined humor that may or may not have put Minister-President Markus Söder (CSU) off - but it appears he managed to get the Bavarian space station ready in just three years, a decade before the second S-Bahn line in Munich.
100 years of science and innovation for all
On May 7, 1925, the German Museum opened to the public as one of the largest science and technology museums globally on the Isar Island. The city reveled for days. The museum is now repeating the festivities: This weekend presents a grand anniversary program, with free admission for all.
Wolfgang Heckl, General Director, affirms that this house has always been a place for everyone. Here, technology can be experienced hands-on, making it superior to digital representations, where discerning truth from falsehood is a challenge.
Söder asserts that the world can be transformed through new technological possibilities. The museum stands tall as a beacon for technology enthusiasts, an ongoing endeavor that "originates from Bavaria" and bolsters Germany's might.
Science Minister Markus Blume (CSU) states that visitors always leave the museum with new insights, ensuring that societal acceptance of technical progress remains intact.
According to Munich's Lord Mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD), Miller's "cathedral for inventors" is a trailblazing model for museums worldwide. It solidifies Munich's reputation as a world city and contributes greatly to the city's magnetic appeal.
Steinmeier calls for increased scientific and technological education and a public debate on harnessing and managing the opportunities of new technologies, whether we're talking about energy transitions, biotechnology, medical technology, aerospace, military technology, artificial intelligence, or digital platforms.
Raising the alarm on political meddling in science
Steinmeier expresses concerns over reports of political interference in universities in the US, asserting that it must not happen. This interference could potentially be detrimental to both the Americans and the global scientific community.
Steinmeier recalls the Nazi co-option of the German Museum and the Jewish co-founder, Arthur Schoenberg. Despite being persecuted, deported, and murdered, Schoenberg significantly contributed to the museum as Miller's closest associate. "He too deserves our respect and gratitude today," Steinmeier says, earning praise from the audience.
Future, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Munich, Oskar von Miller, Celebration, Markus Söder, CSU, Oktoberfest, Beer, Democracy, Youth
- [1] Deutsches Museum: About us. Retrieved from https://www.deutsches-museum.de/en/about-the-museum/
- [4] Willmoth, T. (2018, January 31). The Deutsches Museum: A landmark of German engineering. Asian Scientist Magazine. Retrieved from https://www.asianscottmag.com/articles/the-deutsches-museum-a-landmark-of-german-engineering/23182
- The Commission has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, emphasizing the importance of responsibility in biotechnology and other technological fields in education-and-self-development.
- In celebration of Munich's vibrant tech scene, Oskar von Miller's legacy continues to inspire future generations, fostering a passion for science, technology, and innovation.
- The Deutsches Museum, a federal institution dedicated to science and technology, plays a significant role in ensuring the proper management of ionizing radiation risks in the workforce, protecting workers sustainably.
- Frank-Walter Steinmeier, emphasizing on the future, calls for increased scientific and technological education and a public debate on harnessing and managing the opportunities of new technologies, advocating for the same vision Oskar von Miller had for the German Museum.
