It’s not just the man in the moon who’s listening

In the night between November 23 and 24, 2017, the ‘Long Night at the University’ is being held for the third time in Freiburg. Researchers will hold entertaining thirty-minute presentations about their work and answer questions from the audience until dawn. The student-run event has the goal of granting the general public insights into various subjects. Rahel Stahmann und Kai Gallant from the organization team explain what awaits the guests during the nocturnal event.

Source: Long Night at the University of Freiburg

Mr. Gallant, why exactly should people spend the night in the Audimax?

Kai Gallant: The Long Night at the University is characterized through its diversity. Who else has the possibility to listen to so many presentations from reputable scientists from so many fields in just a few hours? And then to be able to ask questions afterwards and enjoy a drink at the same time? Besides, there will be entertainment between the presentations. In addition to the Science Slam talks, we have arranged for a few surprises too.

Ms. Stahmann, You are responsible for speaker selection. What do you particularly look for?

Rahel Stahmann: Because the event should speak to the general public, whether student or non-student, it is important for us that all presentations are understandable to lay listeners as well. Everyone should feel welcome and be able to follow the lectures. That is why we ask those instructors whose lectures have made a particularly positive impression on us or have been recommended to us by fellow students or the departmental student committees. But how the instructors choose to design their talks is entirely up to them.

Doors wide open: Kai Gallant and Rahel Stahmann look forward to welcoming their guests. Photo: Klaus Polkowski

Is it hard to find lecturers willing to talk at 3 in the morning?

Stahmann: Surprisingly not. Before we even begin discussing the exact subject of the talk, we always ask first which timeframe they prefer. Amazingly there is always someone willing to get up in the middle of the night to talk in front of 500 tired, but happy listeners. Of course, we take into consideration the fact that some might have children or a long way to travel.

In the past years you had a throng of people. How many guests do you anticipate having this year?

Gallant: Last year the Audimax, which can hold up to 800 people, was completely full. Some visitors had to sit on the steps or in the aisles.

We hope that the Long Night has as much interest this year as well. Long-term we hope that the event grows. It would be a dream to be able to fill all three lecture halls on the ground floor of the Collegiate Building II one day.

How much coffee is required to keep so many people awake all night?

Gallant: Tons of liters. Luckily, we don’t have to brew the coffee ourselves. The student government has agreed to take over that job.

Til Dawn

The Long Night at the University of Freiburg is under the umbrella of the Studium generale and is supported by the student council, the Booster Association Alumni Freiburg e.V. and the departmental student committees. Rahel Stahmann, Kai Gallant and Nicolas Zang are the core organization team. The event begins on November 23, 2017 at 7pm in the Audimax of the Collegiate Building II. The lecture hall is accessible from the ground floor. Induction loops are available in the front row. The general public is warmly invited to attend. The event is free of admission.

Long Night at the University of Freiburg