15/10/2026
Over the next two years, “Historical Moments: ‘Behind the Science’ Conversations 2026–2028” will bring together scientists, historians, and voices from culture, politics, and the arts.
Developed by the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science in collaboration with leading scientific and cultural institutions across Berlin, the series looks beyond isolated breakthroughs and explores science as a collaborative and contested practice shaped by people, institutions, technologies, and society.
Together, we will ask:
🔹 What shapes the course of science?
🔹 Who decides what counts as a breakthrough?
🔹 Whose contributions remain invisible?
🔹 How does scientific knowledge shape our collective futures?
From artificial intelligence and the microbiome to ocean governance and astrophysics–we invite you to look beyond familiar stories of progress and to engage with how knowledge is made and put to work.
The Historical Moments series begins with:
🧬 Copy-Paste Nature: Promises and Limits of Biomimicry, in collaboration with BBAW
Together, a scientist, a historian, and a designer explore how knowledge, materials, and practices have shaped the ways we make and innovate. Join the conversation as they ask what nature can teach us about developing more sustainable materials and technologies for the future.
📅 November 5, 18:00
📍 Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities (BBAW), Berlin
Join the conversation and find out more: https://historicalmoments.org/