EMBL alumni collaborate to capture a unique moment in the history of science

EMBL non-scientific alumni Russ Hodge (OIPA) and Maj Britt Hansen (Photolab) are still experimenting with new ways to communicate science to the public. Together with Nicola Graf, who has worked for several years on the EMBL Annual Report and Science in School, they published Translations last year.

The book explores the meaning of modern “molecular medicine”, using the science campus of Berlin-Buch as a model. The campus is home to the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, the Leibnitz Institute for Molecular Pharmacology, and clinics of the Charité University Hospital Berlin. “The best way to understand a whole is to observe a small part in great detail and show how it is related to everything else. The campus in Berlin-Buch is a microcosm of what is going on in experimental and clinical research laboratories all over the world,” writes Russ. “One difference is the close proximity of basic and clinical researchers, which gives a unique flavor to some of the stories. And at the same time the experiences reveal the difficulties of bringing together two scientific cultures that operate very differently.”

The book begins with a long taxi ride during which Russ captures the scientific history of Berlin; in the 19th century the city played a central role in the birth of modern biology and medicine. With a focus on the works of 25 scientists in Berlin-Buch, the book offers a window onto a unique moment in the history of science where all fields are rapidly coming together in new ways, and a glimpse of what it is likely to produce in the future.

“Anyone who sees the book will recognise it as a logical extension of the type of work we began at EMBL,” Russ says. “We’re still experimenting with new ways to communicate science to the public. In addition to its science, Berlin-Buch has a unique history, a beautiful natural setting and architecture, and a great appreciation for art. One reason for the big format of the book is to wrap all of these aspects of the campus into stories that show what’s happening in modern biomedical research.”

The book is currently available in English and will soon be available in German. Anyone interested can request a free copy by writing to:
Wissenschaftlicher Vorstand
MDC
Robert-Rössle Str. 10,
13125 Berlin-Buch
translations@mdc-berlin.de