Educational program Messel
Colorful biodiversity – the “Messel” ecosystem through the ages
The Messel Pit near Darmstadt is one of the most important fossil sites in the world and a central focus of research at Senckenberg. In 2025 it celebrates a triple anniversary! 30 years as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, 50 years of systematic excavations (by Senckenberg) and the first fossil discovery 150 years ago. This anniversary offers a unique opportunity for communication and exchange between research and society.
The unique fossil finds from the pit allow us to reconstruct a 47-million-year-old ecosystem including flora and fauna: an extraordinary glimpse into the past that tells us a lot about the variability and change of ecosystems and can even provide models for the future with regard to future developments in high-CO2 climate conditions. A journey through time, made possible by the commitment of citizens and protection through the designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well as scientific research by research institutions such as Senckenberg.
With a comprehensive educational program as part of an anniversary exhibition we would like to make the significance of this special fossil site more visible. What exactly are scientists researching there and how? Why is a 47-million-year-old ecosystem interesting at all? What does it have to do with us today? We want to explore these and other questions in the accompanying and supplementary educational program, especially with schoolchildren and families, and allow a broad public to participate in the multifaceted Senckenberg research.
Our public education and outreach events as part of the Messel anniversary as well as many other exciting events can be found in our general events calendar (this page is only available in German).
We look forward to seeing you!
Contact:
Dr. Andrea Weidt
andrea.weidt@senckenberg.de
The educational and outreach activities for the Messel anniversary exhibition are supported by the BNP Paribas Foundation Germany.
