Bayer celebrates 150th anniversary

The State Premier said the fact that Bayer has preserved its regional roots also creates an obligation for the state. "We want you to be able to continue growing and prospering here," said Kraft. "North Rhine-Westphalia and Bayer represent not just a fleeting liaison but a firm and resilient alliance."

Opitz: Fostering young people's interest in research

"Research is a tremendous adventure, a voyage of discovery into mysterious, quite different worlds. That's the message we have to get across if we want to arouse enthusiasm for research," said Dr. Christiane Opitz from the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg, who received the Bayer Early Excellence in Science Award in 2012 for her work in tumor research. She said schools and universities generally teach facts and convey established truths, even the results of experiments often being obvious from the start.

"This can engender a false sense of certainty and give us the feeling that most things are already known and understood," she explained - despite the many questions to which there are no definitive answers. "It must therefore be the job of schools to impart not only knowledge itself but also an appreciation of its boundaries," Opitz concluded.

TV moderator Judith Rakers guided the audience through the celebration. Rounding out the event were music played by the Bayer Philharmonic Orchestra, short films and an artistic and multimedia stage performance based on the corporate mission "Bayer: Science For A Better Life."

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