Four Collaborative Research Centres with a strong historical orientation discussed and presented common interests and challenges at the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin on 16 October. The participating research alliances were the SFB 1285 "Invectivity. Constellations and Dynamics of Disparagement", SFB 948 "Heroes – Heroizations – Heroisms", SFB/TRR 138 "Dynamics of Security. Types of Securitization from a Historical Perspective" and SFB 1288 "Practices of Comparing".
All four deal with 'great' questions of human societies, both in the past and in the present. The historical perspective contributes to the reflection and overcoming of present and future problems. Two event formats were intended to convey this claim to the public in exemplary fashion. The members of the research associations also had the perfect opportunity to chat, network and exchange information on the specific situation in Collaborative Research Centres.

In the afternoon, there was a world café, where discussions were held at six thematic tables with interested guests and journalists. Four tables were allocated to the topics of the individual SFB, and there were two cross-section tables on the topics of knowledge transfer and interdisciplinarity.

During the public panel discussion in the evening, entitled "Thinking with History. Troubled Times of Reflection in the Humanities", the speakers of the SFB gave short keynote speeches, as did Julika Griem as Vice President of the German Research Foundation (DFG).
In addition to discussing individual projects and research questions, the afternoon and evening sessions also focused on the role and responsibility of Collaborative Research Centres, for example in science communication.

Photos: Maurice Weiss, Britta Hochkirchen