Christmas Lecture
As Christmas approaches, one lecture hall is traditionally filled to the last seat: The Christmas lecture of the Chemistry Didactics and Science Communication working group creates a very special Advent magic every year.
Can Christmas be "sustainable"? Chemistry versus physics - who is better at Christmas? What do you need for self-luminous Christmas tree baubles, a gold synthesis or the express delivery of Christmas parcels? And how can legendary scenes from Loriot's classic "Christmas at Hoppenstedt's" be interpreted chemically? Since 2015, Prof. Dr. Marco Beeken and his dedicated team have been delighting all curious guests with a spectacular mix of chemical experiments, humor and Christmas spirit!
The Christmas Lecture 2025
In 2025, the motto was:
"The Christmas catalyst: when chemistry accelerates the festive season".
A catalyst lowers the activation energy, accelerates chemical reactions and remains unchanged itself - a fascinating principle that Prof. Beeken and his team humorously transferred to the Christmas season. Because hand on heart: a small "catalyst" can sometimes also be helpful during the celebration of love - be it in the success of the festive menu, the decorating of the tree or the family peace after the third plate of cookies.
When science, society and satire react with each other, the result is the unique mixture that has characterized the Osnabrück Christmas Lectures for years: entertaining, surprising - and guaranteed to provoke a reaction.