First MHB Summer School

Neuruppin, 02.10.2017

“Tomorrow’s World” was the motto of the first Summer School organized by the Brandenburg Medical School (MHB) with renowned guests from academia, philosophy and arts. Joachimsthal at Lake Werbellin was the location of the event from 25 to 29 September 2017. 

Vice Dean Prof. Dr. Gerhard Danzer as the initiator describes the idea behind the new format as “a forum of intensive discussion and exploration of issues and questions concerning tomorrow’s world for individuals and groups.” The agenda was based on suggestions from a survey among students and staff and a subsequent interactive process. Lectures, workshops and artistic-musical events offered ample opportunity to MHB students and employees to examine and discuss various topics from different perspectives.  

Dunja Bruch from the organizers pointed to Theodor Fontane as eponym of MHB who frequently used historical material in his works. Following this role model, so Bruch, MHB perceives a deeper understanding of past developments as precondition for insights regarding the future. 

Ethical philosopher Tim Reiß addressed philosophical, socio-political and societal issues in his workshops on religion vs. democracy and on current and future controversies and challenges in applied ethics. Other workshops explored right-wing populism and utopia/dystopia (psychologist Tom David Uhlig) or sexuality in tomorrow’s world (Dr. Christoph Joseph Ahlers). Musicologist Prof. Frank Böhme organized an informative dialogue with old and new music at the historical church in Glambeck, supported by pianist Sun-Young Nam who also gave a much-applauded evening performance with works by Lachenmann, Schumann and Debussy. Photographer Stefan Gloede and music and art therapist Brigitte Heinisch together with students designed a creative open-air event in conclusion of the Summer School.

Special guests and speakers at the MHB Summer School were Hungarian philosopher Prof. Ágnes Heller and Prof. Hans-Peter Krüger (Potsdam University). Prof. Hans-Peter Krüger, an expert on Helmut Plessner, analyzed the current economic situation in his lecture on life forces in global capitalism, suggested possible democratic solutions and invited to further discussion. Prof. Ágnes Heller contributed further highlights with two lectures on “why all revolutions are betrayed” and “three types of empathy”. Prof. Danzer gave particular thanks to Prof. Heller, an acclaimed philosopher of international renown. First an assistant of Georg Lukács at the Budapest University, she succeeded Hannah Arendt to her chair in New York. She recorded her eventful life – as a Jew she narrowly escaped deportation during the Nazi era – in her autobiography. Prof. Danzer was highly pleased with the successful premiere of the MHB Summer School, and also the musical highlight: a jazz performance by the Susanne Grimm Quintet where Johannes Albes, MHB professor of cardiac surgery, plays the tenor sax.  

The MHB Summer School is an annual event and open to all MHB students and employees. The next Summer School is scheduled for September 2018.