HELAU

Yesterday, our group proudly joined the famous Mainz Carnival  – and what a day it was!

Scientists marching in a carnival parade? Sounds crazy, right? Well, that’s exactly what we did — and we did it in style!

After weeks of preparation, the big moment finally arrived: Rosenmontag was here! As the sun rose, we gathered at the starting point, the air buzzing with excitement. The energy was contagious — this wasn’t just any Monday; this was Carnival Monday!

While putting the final touches on our parade wagons, a colorful, joyful crowd of scientists began to form — group leaders, postdocs, doctoral students, master students, and scientific staff, all united by one goal: to bring some serious fun to the streets of Mainz. Everyone had gone all out, decorating their lab coats and styling their wigs. Our theme? Crazy scientists, straight out of ‘Back to the Future,’ Doc Brown-style!

As the parade rolled on, the atmosphere was electric. Thousands lined the streets, cheering and waving as we passed by. The air was filled with the sound of traditional carnival shouts — “Helau!” we cried, and the crowd roared it back in perfect synchrony. Music played, candy rained down, and the joyful call-and-response echoed through the city, connecting paraders and spectators in pure celebration.

It was an unforgettable experience, and with over 600,000 spectators, we couldn’t have asked for a better stage to show the world just how fun and creative science can be!

A heartfelt thank you goes to all our members who participated, prepared, and made this incredible day possible — your creativity, dedication, and infectious enthusiasm turned this into a celebration we’ll remember for years to come. You made science shine in the heart of Mainz!

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to SynGen for their generous support of the event.

In case you missed it, you can find the recording on ARD here, starting at 45:50 https://lnkd.in/eJ8HJaV5