Herzberg50 traveling exhibit featured at Global Affairs Canada event for the 50th Anniversary of Germany-Canada STI Cooperation
Defining Moments Canada’s HERZBERG50 traveling exhibit, Enterprises of the Human Spirit: 50 Years of Scientific Excellence in Germany and Canada was featured at the Global Affairs Canada (GAC) closing event for the 50th Anniversary of Germany-Canada STI Cooperation on Thursday June 9th 2020.
The event, co-hosted by the National Research Council, was a celebration of 50 years of science and techonology cooperation between Canada and Germany. Speakers included the Honourable Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger, of the German federal Ministry of Education and Research, as well as Yvonne Jones, Canadian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Northern Affairs. Additionnally, experts and scientists participated remotely to discuss current projects and challenges in science and technology, and a few “success stories” of Canada-Germany cooperation were feature. Watch the recorded event in the youtube video below:
Although the event was focused on projects of science and technology since 1971 to today, Gerhard Herzberg was mentionned by nearly all speakers as a shining example of Canada/Germany cooperation. The final speaker of the even was Dr. Agnes Herzberg, professor emeritus of statistics at Queen University and daughter of Dr. Gerhard Herzberg. Dr. Agnes Herzberg spoke beautifully about her father and his legacy, and took the time to visit the exhibit. Also present were Dr. Walter Davidson and Mr. Paul Dufour, both collaborators with Defining Moments Canada on the Herzberg50 commemoration. Dr. Herzberg was able to gift the German Minister of Education a copy of the book she co-authored with Mr. Dufour, The Value of Science in Society and Culture: Selections from the Speeches, Essays and Articles of Gerhard Herzberg.
Enterprises of the Human Spirit: 50 Years of Scientific Excellence in Germany and Canada was created by Defining Moments Canada in partnership with the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany. The exhibit, which will tour across Canada over the next year, celebrates the work and life of Herzberg, a passionate and outspoken scientist who believed strongly in the value of basic research and international research collaboration. It also highlights Canada’s many important research collaborations that continue today with research partners in Germany.