idw – Informationsdienst Wissenschaft
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
On Wednesday, 28 May 2025, the Maria-Margaretha-Kirch building on the campus of the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP) in Potsdam-Babelsberg was officially inaugurated. With the new building, the AIP is expanding its scientific infrastructure with modern work, conference and meeting rooms.
The new building offers workspace for around 100 offices, meeting rooms, an exhibition area and a conference room with a capacity for 199 people. This is complemented by a catering concept with the newly opened ‘Astro Bistro’. The building was designed by Müller Reimann Architekten with sustainable and energy-efficient construction in mind. The wooden front, generous windows and offset construction fit perfectly into the heritage-protected surroundings of the historic Babelsberg Park. The Maria-Margaretha-Kirch bulding was officially opened in the presence of Dr Manja Schüle, Minister for Science, Research and Culture of the State of Brandenburg, and Thomas Müller, Managing Director of Müller Reimann Architekten.
Science Minister Dr Manja Schüle emphasized: “Locally rooted, internationally networked and cosmically orientated: This is how we know the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics. The building opened today strengthens the AIP as a place of cutting-edge research, international collaboration and dialogue with the general public. I am particularly pleased that the new building bears the name Maria Margaretha Kirch. With the first woman to discover a comet, this building is literally under a good star. Many thanks to everyone involved in the new building! I wish the AIP further exciting galactic discoveries, from which, wonderfully enough, a little stardust always falls on Brandenburg!”
‘With the Maria-Margaretha-Kirch building, we are opening a new chapter in the ongoing history of the AIP - a place where astronomy, excellent research development, scientific communication, diversity and sustainability come together,’ said Prof Dr Matthias Steinmetz, Scientific Director of the AIP.
‘We are delighted that this new building is not only functionally impressive, but also sets architectural and ecological standards - a place of dialogue, exchange and scientific inspiration,’ said Wolfram Rosenbach, Administrative Director of the AIP.
In the entrance area there are 25 original printing plates made of Solnhofen limestone slate from 1878 exhibited. The plates display around 33,000 craters on the earth-facing side of the moon based on original drawings by Johann Friedrich Julius Schmidt (1825-1884).
The building is named after the astronomer Maria Margaretha Kirch, who was the first woman to discover a comet in 1702. Together with her family, she worked at the Berlin Observatory, a predecessor institute of today's AIP, and made significant contributions to astronomical observations of her time.
http://www.aip.de/institute/locations/maria-margaretha-kirch-building
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