Podiumsgespräch: Innovativ. Interdiszipinär. International. Warum braucht Wissenschaft die Künste?

In the organizer's words:

The ligeti zentrum invites you to the second breakfast and a panel discussion with the question: How do the arts and science meet - and what can they learn from each other? To kick off a colorful day program at the ligeti zentrum, guests from music, theater, research and politics will talk about the opportunities of interdisciplinary collaboration. You can expect exciting impulses, ideas, perspectives and program recommendations. The panel will also present highlights that you can experience at the ligeti zentrum open day.

On the podium

Christian Carstensen, Head of the Harburg District Office
Christian Carstensen trained as a banker and studied economics at the Hamburg University of Economics and Politics. Since 1998, he has worked in various positions at the Department of Urban Development and Housing, most recently as Head of the Presidential Department. Christian Carstensen has been Head of the Harburg District Office since August 2025.

Prof. Dr. Georg Hajdu, Director of ligeti zentrum
Prof. Dr. Georg Hajdu is a composer, multimedia artist, educator and researcher. He initially studied molecular biology and composition in Cologne, reflecting his lifelong interest in combining scientific and artistic disciplines. He later deepened his knowledge of computer music at the Center for New Music and Audio Technologies (CNMAT) and received his doctorate from the University of California at Berkeley in 1994. His compositional output includes instrumental, vocal and electronic works, and he also develops software tools for contemporary music practice. With these tools, he is committed to expanding the possibilities of music creation and performance through technology. Georg Hajdu has been Professor of Multimedia Composition at the HfMT Hamburg since 2002 and director of theligeti center, which will open in 2023.

Prof. Dr. Sabine Maasen, Professor of Science and Innovation Research at the University of Hamburg
Prof. Dr. Sabine Maasen studied sociology, psychology and linguistics at Bielefeld University from 1979 to 1987, where she also completed her doctorate and habilitation. Her professional stations include the Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Bielefeld (from 1988) and the Max Planck Institute for Psychology in Munich (from 1994). In 2001, she became Professor of Science Studies/Sociology of Science at the University of Basel and moved to the Technical University of Munich in 2013 as Director of the Munich Center for Technology (MCTS). Since the end of 2020, she has held a professorship of excellence for science and innovation research at the University of Hamburg, where she is responsible for establishing the Third Mission.She is also active in a variety of advisory roles, including on the German Council of Science and Humanities from 2017-2023.

Prof. Dr. Jan Philipp Sprick, President of the University of Music and Performing Arts Hamburg
Prof. Dr. Jan Philipp Sprick studied music theory, musicology, viola and history in Hamburg, Berlin and Harvard. He received his doctorate from Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin in 2010 and taught music theory at the Rostock University of Music and Theatre from 2006 to 2018, from 2013 as Professor of Music Theory. He was a board member of the Gesellschaft für Musiktheorie (GMTH) and co-editor of the society's journal (ZGMTH). Jan Philipp Sprick was appointed Professor of Music Theory at the HfMT Hamburg in the summer semester of 2018. From summer semester 2020, he was Vice President for Studies and Teaching and has been President of the university since 2022.

Margo Zālīte, theater director and sound artist / Sustainable Theater Lab ligeti zentrum
Margo Zālīte works as a curator and opera director nationally and internationally with a focus on social and environmental justice. She studied visual anthropology at the Free University of Berlin, opera directing in the master's program at the Hanns Eisler Academy of Music Berlin and is an alumna of the Akademie Musiktheater heute. Her experience in multidisciplinary projects and festivals in Latvia, Poland and Germany laid the foundation for her own stage interpretation. Margo Zālīte currently teaches music theater directing at the HfMT Hamburg and conducts research at the ligeti center in the Sustainable Theater Lab at the interface of AI and social justice in order to innovatively shape the future of artistic education.

The discussion will be moderated by Ulrike Henningsen.

Ulrike Henningsen, freelance journalist
In her childhood, records and cassettes with stories and music opened up a world of fantasy for Ulrike Hennigsen. As a teenager, she first followed political and social events on the radio, as it was the central information medium in her family. After graduating from high school, she studied music at the Hamburg University of Music and Drama and worked for many years as a freelance musician and music teacher. More than twenty years ago, she built up a second career as a journalist. Today Ulrike Henningsen works for various public broadcasters, explores the question of how music affects society in different formats, presents concert programs and introduces new albums. She has also been giving workshops as a media educator in various types of schools for several years.