An inspiring place for science
The people of Görlitz may not have fully registered CASUS yet. Or perhaps they're simply remaining calm, as is often the case with Hollywood celebrities who like to emphasize how refreshingly laid-back the people of Görlitz are when famous actors stroll through the streets undisturbed. In any case, the CASUS research institute has been located in the heart of Görlitz's old town for several months now, will one day play a significant role in understanding global change, and seems to be settling in well on the banks of the Neisse River.
This impression is shared not only by our interviewees, Weronika Mazur and Michael Bussmann. She, originally from neighboring Zgorzelec, heads the international office of the "Center for Advanced Systems Understanding," as the CASUS institute summarizes its broad scope. He, from Bielefeld (which, as he emphasizes with a laugh, actually exists), is the founding officer responsible for the scientific development. We meet the two of them, accompanied by the friendly public relations officer, Luise Träger, in one of the beautifully renovated houses on Görlitz's Lower Market Square.
Dr. Mr. Bussmann, have you been outside today?
Yes. Of course. We all love taking a few steps into the wonderful Lower Market Square, watching the activity in the cafés, and enjoying the many admiring tourists. Most of the research institutions where I've worked in my career are located far outside city centers, for reasons of cost and capacity. When you look out the window there, you see research and administrative buildings, mostly pragmatically constructed, sometimes futuristic, but only very rarely historical. Here in Görlitz, on the other hand, you can practically touch the history. I really like that.
Ms. Mazur, isn't it difficult to attract internationally minded scientists to the comparatively small city of Görlitz? With the goal of growing to 100 employees by 2023, you're facing a significant challenge.
We're confident that we'll succeed. Basically, we leverage the unique character of the German-Polish twin city to attract new talent. That's truly something special and has its own appeal. From a greater distance, if you look at us from India or the USA, we form the perfect midpoint between Dresden and Wroclaw. For global citizens, the distances to the surrounding airports like Prague, Berlin, and Leipzig are also quite ordinary. Where they sit in traffic jams for hours in New York, surrounded by concrete giants, here they cruise unimpeded through a breathtaking landscape.
Don't people from the metropolises miss the vibrant urban life here?
Weronika Mazur: The relative peace and quiet is perceived more as an advantage, as a lack of distractions. Many are genuinely enthusiastic about the walkability in Görlitz/Zgorzelec. The compatibility of work and family life thanks to the excellent childcare options is also an advantage that doesn't exist in many other countries. To attract the best people these days, you have to offer more than just interesting work. The atmosphere is becoming increasingly important. And the region certainly has a lot to offer in that regard.
Michael Bussmann (laughs): And besides, we're nerds, not dancing bears. No, seriously, we don't lack anything here; we feel at home. International networking is largely digital these days. We were already quite adept at holding video conferences before the pandemic. Where the giant screen we gather in front of is located is no longer relevant.
Beyond the jobs being created, can Görlitz, can the region, benefit from the CASUS relocation?
Weronika Mazur: We certainly hope so. We also see ourselves as a local institution. We would be delighted if we could bring a bit of enthusiasm for languages, for internationality, and for openness to other cultures to the city. The reverse is already true, at least. Our new colleagues from other countries are signing up for German courses, are curious to get to know the German-Polish twin city, and are exploring on their own.
Michael Bussmann: Science needs an inspiring place. Görlitz is that for us.
At the CASUS research institute, data-intensive computer models are being developed that make it possible to investigate the effects of global change in their complex interactions. Casus will provide forecasts for entire ecosystems for the next 50 to 100 years.
Interview: Axel Krüger
Image/Video: Paul Glaser
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