Long Night of the Science 2024

In June, the Lange Nacht der Wissenschaften took place once again, and the Netzwerk Naturwissen was part of it! At the User Lab on site, we asked ourselves: What sounds and tones do we miss today that we used to know? How does the world sound when certain animal species have disappeared? And how do we envision the world we want to live in? What does the loss of past sounds and the silence of the future feel like?

The answers? Quite varied! One participant reflected: "I can't even remember. The city is too loud for me. I enjoy my time in the countryside. And I miss the croaking of frogs because it reminds me of my childhood." This response touches on the significance of place and time — important dimensions when discussing species extinction.

Another person noted that they miss the howling of wolves and the buzzing of bees, diving straight into the pressing environmental and political questions of our time. Nature sounds evoke a deep sense of longing. Is addressing this longing a sign of our times, perhaps even a response to it? “When I miss certain sounds, I just google them,” wrote another visitor, offering a modern approach to an age-old feeling of nostalgia. For more information about the format, visit Netzwerk Naturwissen on Tour.