80 years since Hiroshima and the responsibility of science – Lecture and Discussion.
When: Wednesday, October 29, 2025, 6:00 p.m.
Moderator: Regina Hagen (Darmstadt Peace Forum)
Organizers: Ev. Dekanat Darmstadt / Friedensforum Darmstadt / TU Darmstadt |
Where: TU Darmstadt, Room S101/A5, Karolinenplatz 5
Lectures and discussion with
- Prof. em. Dr. Franz Fujara (Magnetic Nuclear Resonance, Physics)
- Prof. Dr. Dr. Christian Reuter (Science and Technology for Peace and Security (PEASEC), Computer Science)
- Dr. Robin Mentel (Natural Science Peace Research, Physics)
We want to take the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 1945, as an opportunity to question the actions of the scientists involved in developing these bombs in the Manhattan Project: What individual responsibility did they bear for their actions? How much leeway did they have?
To this end, we will first take a look at some of the most important players at the time and recall their actions, thoughts, and feelings. We will see that their individual influence diminished as the project progressed and ultimately had to give way completely to pure military and power logic.
In the second part, we will discuss the current trend toward blurring the lines between civilian and military research. We will also address the responsibility of science from today's perspective, particularly from the perspective of physics and computer science.
An event in cooperation with the project “80 Years of Hiroshima – Remembering the Atomic Bombings” organized by the Protestant Deanery of Darmstadt together with the Darmstadt Peace Forum. From August to November 2025, a variety of events will address the various aspects of the atomic bomb: from its development and testing to the catastrophic effects of the bombings on Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and their inhabitants, to the nuclear shelters that were available to protect the population under downtown Darmstadt until the 1990s.
Further events of the Protestant deanery of Darmstadt (opens in new tab)
Egbert Kankeleit and the beginnings of IANUS
11 January 2024
IANUS refers to peace research in the natural sciences and engineering at TU Darmstadt. How was it possible to establish the IANUS idea of a value-based research, what experiences and conflicts were the basis for it
A major role in this was played by the nuclear physicist Egbert Kankeleit (1929-2022), from Darmstadt, who demonstrated in the 1980s that plutonium produced in civilian nuclear power plants could be used in nuclear weapons.
Franz Fujara – a solid-state physicist at TUD from 1999 and for many years until 2015 spokesman for IANUS – honours Egbert Kankeleit's work from a physical, political and ethical perspective. Furthermore Alexandra Kankeleit will talk about her parents' resistance against the Greek military regime (1967-1974). This event is also an opportunity to discuss the methods and ideas of IANUS in terms of their relevance for today's research.
The Academic Quarter
Starting from the winter semester 2012/13, members of the university meet to exchange information about challenges in everyday research work at the university. All employees, academic staff and students of TU Darmstadt are invited to participate.
Here you will find information about the Academic Quarter and podcasts .
IANUS Award 2024
Call for applications: IANUS Award 2024 for scientific and technical peace and security research.
Applications are possible until July 31st, 2024.
Further information can be found on the IANUS Award website.
