Prof. Gurvan Michel was invited to the Annual Meeting of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in Berlin

At the end of June, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation had its annual meeting which was special this year because of the 250th birthday anniversary of Alexander von Humboldt. As a fellow of the foundation, our guest Prof. Gurvan Michel was invited and joint the celebration. On this special occasion, it was Chancellor Angela Merkel who gave the speech of honour. She focused on the relationship of science and politics, on how both depend on and are the basis for freedom, the freedom to cross borders of countries and disciplines. She highlighted the importance of networking, collaboration and communication in an ever more complex world - in both science and politics. The same theme was elaborated upon the next day by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier when the “Humboldtianer” visited him in Schloss Bellevue in Berlin. In his welcome speech, he cited Alexander von Humboldt: “Alles ist Wechselwirkung” - “Everything is interaction”. And he connected it with today’s situation of global climate crisis and the strong movement of young people in the Fridays for Future movement. He seems to mean it, at least he very specially welcomed Gurvan’s son, Yudikael…