“Stay Curious and Keep Asking Questions!”

Recap of this year’s Max Planck Schools Day
 

November 04, 2026
Max Planck School Matter to Life Max Planck School of Cognition Max Planck School of Photonics

On October 8, 2026, the eighth Max Planck Schools Day took place at the Harnack-Haus in Berlin, bringing together the four Max Planck Schools and their unique network. The day featured inspiring presentations, interactive workshops, a captivating panel discussion, and a lively closing event that sparked curiosity, fostered critical thinking, and encouraged exchange across disciplinary boundaries. It was a successful start to the new academic year.

In times of political and technological disruption, how can the scientific method remain resilient to meet the challenges of the future while preserving the principles that underline reliable knowledge? The eighth Max Planck Schools Day brought this question into focus, uniting PhD candidates, Fellows, members of partner organizations and representatives of the four Schools – Biomedical AI, Cognition, Matter to Life and Photonics – at Harnack House in Berlin.

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In his opening remarks, Prof. Walter Rosenthal, President of the German Rectors’ Conference, acknowledged the establishment of the new Max Planck School of Biomedical Artificial Intelligence: “I congratulate Prof. Karsten Borgward and his entire team on their successful application and warmly welcome him and his colleagues into our Max Planck Schools family.” He highlighted the vital role of universities and research institutions in society and the importance of safeguarding academic freedom and institutional autonomy by emphasizing the commitment of the Max Planck Society, the German Rectors’ Conference as the umbrella organization of universities, and its partner institutions in the Alliance of Science Organizations in Germany to protecting these fundamental principles. His welcome address underscored the urgent need to strengthen the relationship between science and society and rebuild public trust in scientific institutions as a foundation for research integrity and open inquiry.

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Following the welcome speech, Prof. Ferdi Schüth took the stage, welcoming the participants in his capacity as Member of the Max Planck Schools Steering Committee. In his address, he emphasized the importance of scientific independence, research practices, societal responsibility, as well as the need to make research transparent and accessible. He highlighted that science can only earn public trust when it is open, reproducible, and actively engaged with society. His remarks set an inspiring tone, encouraging all attendees to contribute actively to shaping a trustworthy and forward-looking scientific community capable of upholding its standards amid political and technological change.

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On Curiosity, Discovery, and the Passion for Science

Afterwards, the event continued with the Passion for Science Lecture by Prof. Gerd Kempermann, Fellow of the Max Planck School of Cognition. Reflecting on his own scientific journey, he offered a very personal perspective on what drives scientific curiosity and sustains a lifelong passion for discovery. Opening with “Science is for discoverers, not for accountants,” he offered valuable food for thought for the audience and a powerful reminder of the vital importance of scientific curiosity and strong research networks in driving innovation, exploration, and meaningful breakthroughs. Following his talk, participants gathered for a joint lunch, offering an opportunity to catch up with colleagues, get to know new members of the MPS community, and continue conversations sparked by the morning’s program.

The Scientific Method in the Crosshairs of Political and Technological Challenges

Panel discussion featuring five speakers on stage at Max Planck Schools Day 2026, addressing challenges in science during political and technological disruption, with a large audience present.

The following panel discussion addressed the event’s leading theme: “The Scientific Method Under Pressure: Science in an Era of Political and Technological Disruption.” Prof. Dagmar Schäfer, Dr. George Caputa, Prof. Holger Wormer and Prof. Karsten Borgwardt explored the challenges facing scientific research in a rapidly changing political and technological landscape. The discussion examined trust in research, political influence on science, and the opportunities, risks and broader implications of emerging technologies. Moderated by science journalist Sophie Stigler, the panelists shared their own perspectives on how researchers and scientific institutions can safeguard the principles of rigorous inquiry while responding to societal challenges. Audience responses collected through live Mentimeter polls complemented the discussion, highlighting concerns about mounting pressures on scientific research and the importance of transparency, reproducibility and scientific independence in maintaining its credibility. The panel discussion reinforced the importance of open dialogue, critical thinking, and collaboration in navigating an increasingly complex environment for science.

A large audience watches a panel discussion on scientific challenges at Max Planck Schools Day 2026, featuring five speakers on a well-lit stage in a formal conference setting.
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During a formal discussion, a man in a blue suit and a woman with shoulder-length hair converse while seated on gray armchairs, each wearing headset microphones.
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From Discussion to Action: Interactive Workshops

Building on the panel discussion, four interactive workshops invited PhD candidates to explore what it takes to uphold scientific standards when research is challenged by political pressure, rapid technological advances, and questions about the reliability of knowledge. Working in smaller groups, each moderated by one of the panelists, the PhDs examined how principles such as scientific integrity, critical scrutiny, transparency, and reproducibility can be applied across different research contexts. The groups reconvened after the coffee break to present the outcomes and key learnings of the workshops. One particularly concise takeaway captured a central principle of the scientific method: “Better doubt – don’t trust.”

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Conference scene featuring the female moderator next to a screen displaying a bar chart on what pressures the scientific method most, highlighting publication pressures at 58%.
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A young woman with a microphone addresses an audience, accompanied by a woman standing next to her.
Workshop attendees engaged in discussion seated on bean bags and cushions in a conference room with a screen displaying "Max Planck Schools Day 2026" and workshop details.
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Man in a red sweater and glasses holds a microphone while presenting a slide focused on topics such as funding criteria related to reproducibility, AI tools for creating reproducible research, and encouraging open data and open source in journals.
Young woman holds a microphone while presenting a slide focused on topics such as funding criteria related to reproducibility, AI tools for creating reproducible research, and encouraging open data and open source in journals.

At a time when scientific findings are amplified, challenged and questioned at unprecedented speed, healthy skepticism is essential to maintaining the credibility of research. The workshops also highlighted the value of bringing together diverse scientific perspectives, reflecting the Max Planck Schools’ commitment to interdisciplinary exchange as a foundation for resilient, transparent, and reliable science.

Science Talks: Sharing Research Insights Across Disciplines

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The afternoon continued with the Science Talks by three selected PhD candidates: Bianca Serio (Max Planck School of Cognition), Karim Ajmail (Max Planck School Matter to Life) and Sebastian Hell (Max Planck School of Photonics). Their presentations offered inspiring insights into their respective research areas: brain organization, microscopy-based cell sorting, and ultrafast photoionization.

Bianca Serio’s research highlighted how our understanding of brain organization and biological sex is shaped by scientific methods and why multiple perspectives are essential to capturing their complexity. Following up, Karim Ajmail presented his work on developing a pipeline that enables the sorting of individual cells based on complex microscopy-derived phenotypes. By using photoactivatable fluorophores to selectively tag cells of interest, the method combines microscopy with fluorescence-activated cell sorting to investigate molecular differences associated with complex cellular characteristics, such as spatial organization and cell-cell interactions. Finally, Sebastian Hell illustrated how the presence or absence of information influences the behavior of quantum systems and highlighted the relevance of this principle to an everyday reality increasingly shaped by misinformation. Together, the talks encouraged participants to explore research beyond their own disciplines, spark new questions, and identify potential connections between different fields.

A Musical Closing to the Day

 

 

The day came to a lively close with a barbecue and live performances by two PhD bands: “MPSP Band,” named after the Max Planck School of Photonics, and “Cirinici,” formed by PhD candidates from the Max Planck School Matter to Life. Both bands brought plenty of energy to the evening and showcased the musical talents within the MPS community. A DJ set rounded off the celebrations, keeping the dance floor busy well into the night.

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Six individuals dressed in fun accessories such as a gold hat, rainbow wig, police cap, and sailor hat, posing together with signs that include phrases like "Spoiler results inconc" and "I'm here for the dance and party."
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The informal gathering complemented the day’s scientific program, highlighting the value of personal connections and exchange in strengthening the MPS community. By bringing together PhD candidates, Fellows, experts, and partner organizations, the Max Planck Schools Day once again offered an opportunity to discuss current scientific challenges, gain new perspectives, and connect across disciplines and institutions at the beginning of the academic year.

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My favorite part of the program was the Passion for Science Lecture and the science talks. Getting insights from a senior scientist and his philosophy of science was interesting. Also realizing that trajectories of how life unfolds are never straightforward. Be prepared for surprises in life!  – Fanny Bumm, Max Planck Schools of Cognition
 

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I got up at half past five today and everything happened slowly and fast at the same time. You can still tell who belongs to which Max Planck School, but everyone is coming together nicely. – Jacopo Bernadini, Max Planck School of Photonics

 

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It's really nice to bring people together from other disciplines. I don't usually get to talk to scientists that work in such different fields. And of course the location is amazing, it's a great place to meet! I loved discussing the overarching themes of science. – Frida Sofia Garcia Castro, Max Planck School Matter to Life

 

Individual with a name badge around his neck, standing in a hallway at the base of a red-carpeted staircase with wooden railings and arched ceiling lighting.

The student talks and the “Passion for Science” lecture were really the best parts of today. It was inspiring to listen to such smart and amazing people. Maybe I'll be doing such amazing things. – Juhan Pikamäe, Max Planck Schools of Cognition

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I liked the talks and the panel discussion. Everyone was speaking so openly. It's such a nice opportunity to connect and talk to each other. For example, he's a physicist and I'm a biologist. – Maximilian Vaßen, Max Planck School Matter to Life
 

 

 

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