From the very beginning, the atmosphere was lively and welcoming. During the reception in the Upper Foyer of the historic Redoutensaal, guests enjoyed coffee and refreshments while reconnecting with familiar faces and meeting new members of the Max Weber community. The official opening in the baroque ballroom was accompanied by a musical performance by Tamay Can Coban from the Technical University of Munich. Scholarship holders from Erlangen then welcomed the guests and introduced the afternoon program, which they had prepared with great dedication and enthusiasm.
The Annual Theme “Imagination” in the Opening Remarks
In his welcome address, Daniel Fix from the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts reflected on this year’s MWP theme, “Imagination”, and highlighted the many opportunities offered by the Elite Network of Bavaria. Dr. Anke Dörner, Director of the Max Weber Program, also warmly welcomed the participants. In an engaging presentation featuring interesting facts about Erlangen and an introduction to the program’s new mission statement, she emphasized the importance of community, exchange, and interdisciplinary networking within the Max Weber Program.
Exploring Artificial Intelligence from a Global Perspective
One of the highlights of the morning was the keynote lecture by Prof. Dr. Anna Kruspe from Munich University of Applied Sciences, entitled “Jazz from China? Towards a Global AI.” The lecture was moderated by Dr. Matthias Weiland. In her talk, the AI expert explored how cultural diversity is represented in artificial intelligence and the challenges that arise in this context. She illustrated how many AI systems are primarily trained on English-language and Western-centric datasets, which can lead to cultural and gender-related biases. Informative and entertaining in equal measure, the lecture sparked great interest and was followed by a lively discussion with numerous questions and comments from the audience.
A Relaxed Afternoon: City Tours, Pub Quiz, Card Games, and More
The communal lunch provided the perfect setting for further conversations and networking in a relaxed atmosphere. In the afternoon, participants could choose from a wide variety of activities organized by scholarship holders from Erlangen and Nuremberg. The program ranged from guided city tours and excursions into nature to social and cultural activities. Participants could, for example, visit the Albrecht Dürer House in Nuremberg or explore one of the beer cellars associated with the city’s famous Bergkirchweih festival. Those looking for a more informal setting could round off the day with a pub quiz, a visit to the Schlossgarten, or a traditional Schafkopf card tournament.
Text: Julia Manlik / Max Weber Program
