MPP at Lake Ammersee: This June, the annual meeting of the Marianne-Plehn-Program took place in Herrsching on Lake Ammersee. The diverse agenda included workshops, a lecture on artificial intelligence, a science slam, and a visit to Andechs Monastery with a guided brewery tour.
Hmjam. The annual meeting is a highlight in the MPP calendar. In 2025, it took place from June 13th to 15th at the idyllically located House of Bavarian Agriculture in Herrsching on Lake Ammersee. 23 participants took this opportunity to network and exchange ideas.
The official agenda began with an introduction by the organizer, Dr. Anne-Sophie Käsbauer. Right from the start, a relaxed feedback round revealed the participants’ expectations for the weekend. Terms like “networking,” “exchange,” “inspiration,” and “input” were mentioned frequently. And the most commonly shared expectation – “fun” – was certainly not to be missed over the course of the weekend. Afterwards, Frauke Preißinger, the Head of the Office of the Elite Network of Bavaria, welcomed the participants and answered questions about the program, which is one of five funding programs within the network that supports outstanding young academic talents.
A central part of the annual meeting consisted of three workshops. Silke Herbst taught participants how to use their voice effectively when communicating and presenting. The “Hmjam” at the beginning of this text is a speaking exercise introduced in her session. Professor Dr. Christian Strobel, in his workshop on resilience, offered insights into the cognitive and emotional dimensions of resilience and mental well-being. He placed particular emphasis on intensive small group work. Dr. Anne Schreiter explained how to approach the own career path strategically and how to navigate the various challenges that come with it.
The educational program was complemented by additional highlights. On Friday evening, Professor Dr. Annette Hautli-Janisz gave a lecture on where and how artificial intelligence already goes beyond human capabilitiees. Who knows – perhaps this text was even written with the help of AI? On Saturday, under sunny skies, we visited Andechs Monastery. There, we were guided through the brewery via a VR tour, followed by a beer tasting. The MPP favorite, by a narrow margin, was the Andechser Bockbier.
On Saturday evening, the MPP Science Slam took place. We learned about the connection between dowsing rods and crystal structures (Manuel Zahn), the enduring German Reich and misguided Reichsbürger (Simon Püschel), and flattened hedgehogs in quantum physics (Raluca Boltje; all three from the University of Augsburg). On Sunday at midday, there was a discussion with two MPP alumnae followed by the closing session.
Filled with impressions, insights, and experiences, we now return to everyday life. We also made new contacts and found ideas through the interdisciplinary exchange with outstanding early-career re-searchers. During meal breaks, in the garden, as well as at and in Lake Ammersee, conversations ranged from professional to personal topics. Issues that concern many of us included working condi-tions and career prospects in academia, as well as the broader political situation. It is precisely this ex-change that defines the MPP as a strong network.
All there‘s left is to thank Dr. Käsbauer and Ms. Gesell for the fantastic organization on behalf of the Studienstiftung. The House of Bavarian Agriculture impressed with its picturesque location, well-equipped facilities, and abundant catering. Many thanks for a successful event!
Text: Simon Püschel, Luis Hott (both Marianne-Plehn-Program)
