Anti-Semitism and antiscience attitudes Panel discussion in the old town hall of Braunschweig

Anti-Semitism has not only been a hot topic since the recent events in Israel and the Gaza Strip: the conspiracy narratives of the “Corona protests” have also shown how widespread anti-Semitic beliefs and attitudes are and that they often go hand in hand with anti-scientific attitudes. Bet Tfila – Research Centre for Jewish Architecture at Technische Universität Braunschweig and its partners want to address this issue in a public panel discussion on Thursday 18 January at 6.30 pm in the old town hall of the city of Braunschweig.

The panel discussion “Anti-Semitism and hostility towards science” will take place on 18 January in the old town hall of the city of Braunschweig. Photo credit: City of Braunschweig/ Daniela Nielsen

“We want to discuss the similarities, differences and overlaps between anti-science and anti-Semitism from different personal experiences and academic perspectives,” explains Professor Ulrike Fauerbach, director of the research centre. “And we want to ask how we as researchers and teachers in the academic world and how we as a society can counter this threat to freedom,” adds Dr Katrin Keßler, co-organiser of the evening. “We are currently seeing anti-Semitism and conspiracy theories as patterns of thought at universities.”

“We have been able to attract interesting discussion partners for what is sure to be a controversial and stimulating evening,” said Ulrich Knufinke, Academic Director of the Bet Tfila Research Centre. Moderated by Berlin journalist Shelly Kupferberg, the panel will include Felix Klein, the Federal Government Commissioner for Anti-Semitism, virologist Professor Melanie Brinkmann (Institute of Genetics at TU Braunschweig, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research), communication scientist Dr Friederike Hendriks (TU Braunschweig) and historian Dr Dirk Sadowski (Leibniz Institute for Educational Media/Georg Eckert Institute, Braunschweig).

The event is supported by TU Braunschweig, the City of Braunschweig, the Braunschweig association of higher education institutions (Braunschweigischer Hochschulbund), the Amadeo Antonio Foundation and the Association for the Promotion of Bet Tfila – Research Centre for Jewish Architecture. The panel discussion will be recorded as a podcast and made available on the website www.bet-tfila.org.

Panel discussion “Anti-Semitism and hostility towards science”

18 January, 18:30

Old town hall (Altstadtrathaus), Dornse, Altstadtmarkt 7, 38100 Braunschweig

Admission to the panel discussion is free, but registration is required by 17 January 2024 at info@bet-tfila.org.