media (the Internet and CD-ROMs, for example) on their own
teachers judged the introductory events held in Bavaria and
and to carry out simple experiments that will help them
North Rhine-Westphalia as a total success. They also awarded
visualize the information they are absorbing. The lessons range
high marks to the concept behind the subjects dealt with in the
from »Volcano in a Jam Jar« to »Tornado in a Bottle«. »About
seminars: a well - coordinated combination of lectures and
80 percent of the materials can be found in the pupil’s own
presentations of simple experiments that can be carried out in
kitchen,« says Frank Siemer, a scientist involved in the project.
the classroom.
»That makes it easy for pupils to approach the phenomena of the natural sciences and reduces their reluctance to carry
The next event in the series, which will be organized in
out experiments.«
cooperation with the Academy for the Continuing Education of Teachers in Saxony, will take place in Schloss Siebeneichen
TEACHERS BECOME PUPILS
in Meißen from November 25 – 27, 2002. Further seminars are planned for 2003. More information on the project
Concentration! Participants of the teachers’ seminar in Bochum in June 2002
In cooperation with the education experts in Kiel, the
and the seminars for teachers can be found on the
GEOTECHNOLOGIEN coordination office conducts seminars in
websites of GEOTECHNOLOGIEN and the IPN (http://
continuing education programmes for teachers throughout
systemerde.ipn.unikiel.de).
Germany. The target group consists mainly of specialists in the fields of chemistry, physics, geography and biology. Participating
Public relations activities »DON’T HIDE YOUR LIGHT UNDER A BUSHEL« – TWO IMPORTANT CONCERNS OF THE GEOTECHNOLOGIEN RESEARCH PROGRAMME ARE TO PROMOTE ITS PROJECTS AND TO ACTIVELY PUBLICIZE THE RESULTS ATTAINED BY THE RESEARCHERS. THE MAIN OBJECTIVE IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT THE DEVELOP-
Science instead of shopping: GEOTECHNOLOGIEN in the elegant shopping mall »SchadowArkaden« in Düsseldorf
MENT AND THE SUCCESSES OF THE PROGRAMME. GEOTECHNOLOGIEN on tour
The Year of the Geosciences 2002, initiated
mineralised »black smoker« channel from the
by the Federal Ministry of Education and
depths of the Pacific Ocean. The multimedia
Research, offers an outstanding platform for
presentation is now also available on a CD that
When it is not taking part in one of the various
GEOTECHNOLOGIEN programme. Accordingly,
the effective public presentation of research
can be ordered from the GEOTECHNOLOGIEN
central events of the Year of the Geosciences,
the March 2002 issue of this magazine in-
in the geosciences.
coordination office.
the GEOTECHNOLOGIEN presentation is on
cluded an eight-page report on the various
Accordingly, the GEOTECHNOLOGIEN coordi-
Another attraction enjoyed by the viewers was
tour throughout Germany in the form of a
topics of GEOTECHNOLOGIEN. Whether satel-
nation office has organized an extensive pro-
the series of classroom experiments developed
travelling exhibition, set up in shopping malls
lite missions, early warning systems to help
gramme of activities for this year - long event.
as part of the »Research Dialogue on System
and savings banks as well as Ministry
deal with natural catastrophes, or state-of-the-
For example, representatives attended the
Earth« (see the article »Laboratory Earth« in this
buildings and regional parliaments in order to
art technologies for disposing of the dangerous
major events of the Year of the Geosciences
issue). The experiments made the geosciences a
increase
greenhouse gas carbon dioxide – readers lear-
in Berlin, Leipzig and Cologne and presented
hands-on subject and helped viewers to literally
programme and the geosciences in general.
ned in an entertaining and easily comprehen-
a travelling exhibition in numerous German
»get a grasp of« the broad spectrum of work
The
was
sible way about the tremendous relevance of
cities. Furthermore the programme was the
being done in these fields and its multiple appli-
presented on three different occasions in
geoscientific research to our everyday life. The
subject of an extensive report in one of the
cations. Not only children but also adults were
Berlin: It could be viewed at the Federal
positive response to these pages, from the
most popular German customer magazines.
thrilled by the experiments. The visitors’ enthu-
Ministry of Education and Research on the
business sector as well as other categories of
siasm increased from one event to the next.
»Day of the Earth«, on April 22, and on the
readers, testify to the success of this some-
Accompanied by a fiery background program-
Ministry’s Open House Days, on August 17 and
what unusual way of publicizing science.
me, the crowds of visitors who came to Cologne
18. In addition, it accompanied the lecture
One of the most important activities of
– more than 80,000, according to the organizers
series »The Geosciences – Water Is Life« at the
GEOTECHNOLOGIEN during the Year of the
– exceeded all expectations. Staff members of
Konrad Adenauer Foundation on several days
Geosciences was its series of presentations at
the GEOTECHNOLOGIEN coordination office
in mid-June. Future venues include the state
the Year’s various central events. The pro-
and the Institute for the Teaching of the Natural
parliaments in Hannover and Schwerin, the
gramme of presentations was designed to
Sciences in Kiel worked very hard to meet the
GEO-2002 conference in Würzburg and the
reflect the many facets of the geosciences. The
visitors’ expectations. And of course there was a
Geocentre located at the site of the German
tremendous spatial and temporal dimensions
long list of interested visitors wishing to receive
Continental Deep Drilling Programme (KTB) in
that the geoscientists deal with was one of the
further information on GEOTECHNOLOGIEN
Windischeschenbach. To find out when this
topics highlighted. Other themes included the
and the various classroom experiments.
presentation can be seen at a site near you,
AT THE GEOSCIENCES FAIR
an ideal medium for acquainting interested non-scientists with the geosciences and the
public
interest
GEOTECHNOLOGIEN
in
its
research
exhibition
check the »News« link on our Website.
relevance of their research to everyday life, the breadth of their expertise and the high technological level of their work. A multimedia show and spectacular exhibits that gave viewers a glimpse of the researchers’ daily activities turned out to be a magnet for younger members of the audience in particular. Especially popular exhibits included
drill
heads
from
the
German
Finding out about the geosciences in entertaining way — The CD accompanying the GEOTECHNOLOGIEN research programme
GEOTECHNOLOGIEN boards the train In Germany passengers on long-train journeys enjoy reading the »DB-mobil« magazine published by the German national railway system,
Continental Deep Drilling Programme (KTB) at
Deutsche Bahn AG. More than 500,000
Windischeschenbach, hissing gas hydrates and a
copies are distributed every month. It is clearly
Reading for your train trip: The March 2002 issue of »DBmobil« included a comprehensive report on the topics of GEOTECHNOLOGIEN
NEWSLETTER 01/2002
A new programme is launched and five research themes are already being funded
»Laboratory Earth«
Status seminar »Gas Hydrates in the Geosystem«
attracts pupils and teachers to the geosciences
– the latest from gas hydrate research
Dear reader,
Public relations activities – getting to know GEOTECHNOLOGIEN
A new programme is launched
A new programme has been launched! And you can read all about it in the main article of the first issue of the GEOTECHNOLOGIEN Newsletter. Indeed since the founding of this special programme by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG – German Research Council), a lot has been accomplished. More than one third of the 13 research themes, many having a direct relevance to everyday life and a considerable application potential, are already being worked on as BMBF-funded projects or DFG priority
RESEARCH PROJECTS HAVE ALREADY STARTED IN FIVE OF THE 13 RESEARCH THEMES AND UP TO THREE FURTHER AREAS WILL SOON FOLLOW SUIT.
Liftoff: The carrier rocket bearing the CHAMP satellite leaves the Russian space centre at Plesetsk in July 2000
programmes. GEOTECHNOLOGIEN is also receiving widespread public attention outside the realm of science, thanks to the comprehensive public relations activities that has
A special event kicked off the year 2002: the launch of the
It is, therefore, no wonder that most of the research projects
been providing continual support to its scientific pro-
GRACE (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) mission.
funded are being carried out in cooperation with industrial
gramme. The Year of the Geosciences 2002 offers excellent
Several hundred pupils came to the satellite’s »launch party«
partners.
opportunities for further publicity, but we will also be taking
at the GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam (GFZ) where live
other opportunities to provide up-to-date information on
coverage from the Russian space centre at Plesetsk and inter-
new developments and successes of the programme.
views with prominent figures in the field were featured in a
The Newsletter, which will be appearing twice a year from
lively programme centring on the satellite and its mission. Not
now on, will serve as an important platform for the ex-
long after its launch on March 17, the first scientific data was
The project launches for the other research themes in the
change of information, background reports on current re-
transmitted to the ground stations for further assessment.
GEOTECHNOLOGIEN programme may have been less specta-
search projects and tips on new trends and dates to remem-
German participation in the international satellite missions
cular but are certainly equally effective. By the end of 2002,
ber. In short, it will be a marketplace where all those who
GRACE, CHAMP (CHAllenging Minisatellite Payload) and
projects in a total of five areas will be funded.
are interested in GEOTECHNOLOGIEN can meet and en-
GOCE (Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation
The investigation of gas hydrates has so far been the largest of
gage in dialogue. I look forward to welcoming you to this
Explorer) forms the core of six joint projects currently being
the GEOTECHNOLOGIEN research themes. A total of 14 coope-
marketplace in future issues.
funded by the BMBF within the framework of the research
rative projects on Gas Hydrates in the Geosystem are being
theme Observation of the System Earth from Space.
funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. At a
In line with the integrative funding concept of the
status seminar held at GEOMAR in Kiel from May 6 – 7, the
GEOTECHNOLOGIEN programme, these topics will be aug-
latest findings of these research projects were discussed and
Ludwig Stroink
mented by a series of DFG-funded projects in the near
presented to the press (see the report on the status seminar
Head, Coordination Office
future. All of the projects will include the participation of
»Gas Hydrates in the Geosystem«).
Sincerely,
universities as well as research institutes not affiliated with universities. The many application possibilities of this topic in particular are quite obvious.
FOUR FURTHER RESEARCH THEMES ARE LAUNCHED
News & People
Six of the cooperative projects dealing with the research theme
Preparations are currently in full swing for the research theme
Information Systems in Earth Management will soon
Investigation, Use and Protection of the Underground.
receive funding. These projects will provide an important contri-
Potential areas of research were defined in a panel discussion
bution towards creating a scientific and technological basis for a
by experts at the BMBF office in Bonn on December 18, 2001.
New website
more efficient use of large heterogeneous collections of data
Because of their special relevance to the labour market and
The GEOTECHNOLOGIEN research and develop-
and will help ensure that such collections remain available for
environmental policy, the results of this discussion have been
ment programme presented its new and modern
scientific research, business and administration in the long term.
published in an information brochure entitled »Going into
website on the Internet on April 1, 2002.
More than half of the projects are being carried out in close co-
Depth – Transportation and Economic Activity Underground«.
At www.geotechnologien.de you can find out
operation between research institutes and small and medium-
The brochure can be ordered from the GEOTECHNOLOGIEN
online everything you need to know about the
sized enterprises. A »kickoff meeting« is planned for January
coordination office (currently available in german only).
programme, dates to remember, calls for applications, events and press releases. The site is already
2003 in order to allow scientists participating in the projects to establish contact with one another well ahead of time and thus
Cover page of the informational brochure »Going into Depth – Transportation and Economic Activity Underground«
to ensure for cross-project cooperation. The priority programme »The Dynamics of Sedimentary Systems under Variable Tension Regimes, as Exemplified by the Central European Basin System«, implemented by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), will make a direct contribution to the research theme Sedimentary Basins: Mankind’s
registering more than 10,000 hits per month; it will be soon available in english!
Greatest Resource. The overarching goal of the 24 cooperative projects of the programme is to attain a better understanding of the mechanisms by which major sedimentary basins are created in order to make better and more effective use of the tremendous economic potential of these subsidence structures in the Earth’s crust. Another research theme currently in the preparation stage is
GEOTECHNOLOGIEN’s own series of scientific publications
Early Warning Systems in Earth Management. A number of
GEOTECHNOLOGIEN has started its own series of
panel discussions have been held in order to not only formu-
scientific publications called »GEOTECHNOLOGIEN
late a research and development plan for this highly topical
Science Reports«. They can be ordered from the
theme but also to coordinate it with other initiatives. Because
GEOTECHNOLOGIEN coordination office and will
of its scientific-technological orientation, this research
also be available in the libraries of most geoscientific
theme could become a model for integrated funding by both
research institutes in Germany. The first issue in-
the BMBF and the DFG.
cludes the »Extended Abstracts« of the status seminar »Gas Hydrates in the Geosystem« (in english).
Information on the future progress of the research themes Investigation, Use and Protection of the Underground and
»Around the World«
Early Warning Systems in Earth Management are available
This information flyer is intended
at the GEOTECHNOLOGIEN website.
to inform young people about interesting careers in the geosciences. It contains information
The GRACE satellites »Tom and Jerry«.
on degree programmes and the job market, as well as a compreThe research theme Global Climate Change – Causes and
hensive list of Internet addresses
Effects will be investigated within the framework of a cross-pro-
that are relevant to university
gramme initiative. This was thought to be a logical step because
study in this field. The flyer is avai-
the German Climate Research Programme (DEKLIM), which is
lable from the GEOTECHNOLOGIEN
also funded by the BMBF, was launched at nearly the same time
coordination office (in german only).
as GEOTECHNOLOGIEN. As a result, projects concentrating primarily on reconstructing the paleoclimate will be imple-
Passing on the baton
mented under the joint responsibility of DEKLIM and GEOTECH-
After three years in office, Prof. Hans-Peter Harjes,
NOLOGIEN. (Further information is available at www.deklim.de).
Bochum, handed over the chair of the GEOTECHNOLOGIEN Coordination Committee to Prof.
COUNTDOWN BEGINS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH THEMES Over the past years, scientists all over the world have been
Volker Mosbrugger, Tübingen. Prof. Harjes had Flooding on the Elbe River in Brandenburg in 2002 – Germany too needs effective early warning systems
chaired the Coordination Committee since its foundation in 1999.
focusing on continental margins. The GEOTECHNOLOGIEN research programme deals with this extremely sensitive tran-
Imprint
sition zone between the continents and the oceans in its research theme Continental Margins: Hot Spots for the
Publisher
Earth’s Potential Uses and Risks. A public call for project
GEOTECHNOLOGIEN Coordination Office
applications was announced, and the submitted project pro-
Telegrafenberg A6, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
posals are currently being evaluated. Funding of the initial
Tel.: + 49 (0) 331-288-1071
research projects is expected to begin in 2003. For future
Fax: + 49 (0) 331-288-1077
research projects a close cooperation with European and U.S.
e-mail: geotech@gfz-potsdam.de
initiatives in this field (EUROMARGINS and MARGINS
www.geotechnologien.de
respectively) is intended. The GEOTECHNOLOGIEN research and development programme is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG).
Status seminar »Gas Hydrates in the Geosystem« ABOUT 120 SCIENTISTS FROM GERMANY AND ABROAD MET AT THE GEOMAR RESEARCH CENTRE IN KIEL ON MAY 6 – 7, 2002 TO DISCUSS THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THE FIELD OF GAS HYDRATE RESEARCH AND SET TARGETS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH PROJECTS. THIS MEETING Chilling out: The Mallik research drilling project in northern Canada is investigating gas hydrates in the continental permafrost
WAS THE FIRST STATUS SEMINAR TO BE HELD ON THE RESEARCH THEME »GAS HYDRATES IN THE GEOSYSTEM«.
Today, researchers all over the world are fo-
development of pressure chambers and cham-
drilling project, which included German scien-
tists working on the projects were present at a
cusing on gas hydrates. In Germany, gas
bers for experiments will enable its researchers
tists supported by GEOTECHNOLOGIEN, was
final press conference, where they answered
hydrate research is also receiving high priority.
to be the first to examine gas hydrates under
the first to successfully tap a gas hydrate reser-
questions from representatives of the local
That is why gas hydrate research is high on the
the actual pressure and temperature conditions
voir in the Arctic region of Canada in late 2001/
and national press.
list of projects in the GEOTECHNOLOGIEN
that prevail on the ocean floor and to use this
early 2002.
research programme.
data in further experiments in the laboratory.
The scientific reports presented at the status
Research work in the oxygen-free depths of the
seminar dealt primarily with these highly topical
Black Sea has already provided new insights
themes with the participating scientists pre-
into biospheres that had previously been closed
senting the current status of their respective
The status seminar for next year will be part of
The main objective of German scientists, how-
to scientists. A cooperative international project
projects in a total of 30 lectures and 35 poster
the joint conference organized by the European
ever, is not to explore the energy potential of
carried out by scientists from the universities of
presentations. The event also offered an ex-
Geophysical Society (EGS), the American
gas hydrates. They set an even higher priority
Hamburg and Göttingen and the Max Planck
cellent platform for scientific discussion and
Geophysical Union (AGU) and the European
on the role that gas hydrates play in the
Institute for Marine Microbiology in Bremen
an opportunity for the various project groups
Union of Geosciences (EUG). It will be held in
carbon cycle, their possible effects on climate
succeeded in demonstrating the presence of
to coordinate their efforts. To ensure that each
Nice from April 6 – 11, 2003.
and their potential risks. For example, they
primitive microorganisms that can break down
project benefited from external expert opi-
recently cooperated in a unique joint inter-
methane in the absence of oxygen and there-
nions, members of the review committee for
national project to set up measuring stations
fore play an important role in the methane
the project proposals also participated at the
for long-term experiments on a mountain ridge
cycle of the oceans. A comprehensive report
event. All presentations given at the seminar
off the coast of Oregon, USA, that is composed
was published in the journal SCIENCE in the
have been published in the GEOTECHNOLOGIEN
almost entirely of gas hydrates. The project’s
issue of August 9 (SCIENCE, Vol. 297, p. 1013
Science Reports series No. 1 (ISSN: 1619-7399).
innovative sampling technologies and the
– 1015). The Mallik international scientific
The organizers of the seminar and the scien-
FOCUS ON RISK ASSESSMENT
JOINT CONFERENCE WITH INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS
»Laboratory Earth« A sandwich spread that crackles and pops: the »Volcano in a Jam Jar« experiment – before and after (left)
INSTRUCTING PUPILS ON THE COMPLEX »SYSTEM EARTH« IS A
Teachers’ seminar in Bochum – simple but effective experiments for the classroom (right)
MAIN AIM OF THIS REMARKABLE PROJECT OF GEOTECHNOLOGIEN.
The starting point of this research project was a national survey
basic principles of the natural sciences,« explains project leader
of just under 200 pupils on what they understood under
Sylke Hlawatsch.
»System Earth«. Answers such as »animals«, »plants«, »culture« and »communication« led the initiators to the obvious conclusion that there are still considerable gaps in pupils’ know-
EXPERIMENTAL EQUIPMENT FROM THE KITCHEN
ledge of the Earth. Based on up-to-date research results instructional modules on
INTERDISCIPLINARY TUTORING ON SYSTEM EARTH
the following four topics have been developed: • Earth
/ life – a complex dynamic system
The declared aim of the working group led by Horst Bayrhuber
• Material
of the Leibniz Institute for Education in the Natural Sciences
• Using
(IPN) in Kiel is to change this situation. Scientists working at the
• Natural
cycles
and safeguarding material, energy and food resources events
IPN on the »Research Dialogue on System Earth« develop speGetting pupils interested in the natural sciences – for these four girls, the project has obviously worked
cial concepts and materials for the classroom that are intended
Future plans aim on the development of concrete teaching
to make it easier for pupils to acquire a comprehensive basic
materials for each instructional unit that can be given to the tea-
understanding of the Earth as a biosphere. »We want to use this
chers. These will include background information and work-
project to integrate topics from the geosciences into public
sheets for the pupils. The developers of the teaching materials
education and to promote cross-disciplinary instruction in the
consider it very important for pupils to be able to use the new