Max Planck Institutes and Experts

Historical spaces can be reconstructed only as conveyed by their representations in various media. In addition to selected case studies reconstructing pre-modern spaces in southern Italy and Naples, a project at the Bibliotheca Hertziana particularly addresses historical spatial constructions themselves. Investigating the interplay of several media that construct space, the project traces the historical process through which the spaces were collectively perceived and defined. The aim is to develop a dynamic model of space that situates art historical objects in a more nuanced manner.

The Max Planck Research Group “Epistemes of Modern Acoustics” initiates a consideration of sound in its dual function as an object of scientific investigation and as an epistemic tool. Acoustic strategies of knowledge production are another of the research group’s interests: What historical knowledge could be acquired or represented only acoustically? When and how were acoustic apparatuses, instruments, and machines deployed as alternative means of research?

Many doctors do not understand health statistics sufficiently, thus lacking basic knowledge and facts to perform crucial tasks such as properly discussing potential treatment plans with their patients. The current system of training health professionals unfortunately does not aim at rectifying this deficit. An evaluation study has proven the effectiveness of fact boxes, as developed by the Harding Center, in imparting knowledge to patients as a basis for informed decisions. Patients, doctors, and the health care system as a whole benefit from understanding the data provided by fact boxes.

Privacy is improved, but also endangered today by new technologies which make it easier to learn everything about the online activities of others but also to commit infringements. Cross-border data exchanges and data protection raise practical questions on the applicable law and the competent court in cross-border disputes. The Max Planck Institute Luxembourg leads a project on the protection of privacy in private international and procedural law. Researchers try to elaborate a resolution on the protection of privacy which shall support lawmakers in finding a consensus to regulate this field.

The hypothesis that our native language influences our perception of the world has fascinated scientists for decades. Using neuroscientific methods, researchers at the MPI for psycholinguistics are investigating to what extent and under what conditions this hypothesis can be confirmed, by means of within- and across-language comparisons. It could be shown that the language system is automatically involved in the perception of both simple as well as more complex scenes (depicting objects or motion events). These effects occur very rapidly and thus operate almost unconsciously.