For the first time, a climate-time machine was presented which interested guests could use to travel thousands of years back into the past in order to experience a meteorite impact. Right next to it, scientists showed how data about climate history is recovered from dripstones. Also new was the film "A Brief History of CO2 Emissions" developed by PIK in cooperation with the FH Potsdam.
The always very popular lectures in the big cupola dealt, among other things, with the questions of how climate change and conflicts are connected, what really led to the extinction of the dinosaurs and why any hesitation in climate policies drives up the costs. IT-professionals also showed the high-performance computer of the institute to interested visitors, the actual heating of PIK's new research facility.
For children there were several highlights - they were able to stimulate the Gulf Stream in an experiment about currents, learned the difference between weather and climate in the so called “weather kitchen” and had the opportunity to accompany researchers on a trip to the South Pole. Together with the other institutes on the historic Telegrafenberg, a special hiking map was designed and every kid who visited at least five stations received a research diploma and a little price.
Since 2001 the Long Night of Sciences annually takes place in Berlin and Potsdam. It is mostly organized and financed by the participating scientific institutions.
