The unique cooperation project of an interdisciplinary research team – "Opening science: new ways of knowledge transfer using the example of the BROMACKER research project – has started in August 2020. The goal is to unite research and knowledge transfer in a way that gives the public insights into the early evolution of terrestrial vertebrates.
For the first time in more than a decade, systematic excavations and geological drilling are taking place at the Bromacker. The Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, the Stiftung Schloss Friedenstein Gotha, the Friedrich Schiller University Jena and the UNESCO Global Geopark Thuringia Inselsberg – Drei Gleichen are sharing their expertise within the cooperation project. The aim is to gain valuable insights into the paleobiology and ecology of early terrestrial vertebrates and their environment using the example of the globally unique Bromacker fossil site, a small quarry near the town of Tambach-Dietharz in the Thuringian Forest. In doing so, the researchers are pursuing geological, taxonomic, paleoecological, biomechanical and physiological questions in order to better understand the former living conditions at the Bromacker.
But not only that: parallel to the scientific knowledge gained, the public will be invited to participate in this integrative research project through innovative communication and mediation measures. This is achieved through a new, interdisciplinary transfer and communication approach: opening up and presenting real research processes, so that the public can already gain insights into the scientific process and the progressing findings during the course of the project. At the same time, innovative communication measures are tested and established with the involvement of the researchers. The simultaneous development and implementation of both fields of research (natural sciences and knowledge transfer) at eye level is a new and, if successful, exemplary approach. This research project, which is unique in Germany, is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) for a period of 5 years.
BROMACKER – further information:
- About the Bromacker excavation site
- Natural science research
- Innovative communication formats for everyone
BROMACKER – current exhibitions:
- "Saurier – Die Erfindung der Urzeit" in Stiftung Schloss Friedenstein Gotha
- BROMACKER lab in Stiftung Schloss Friedenstein Gotha