The GDCh's Senior Chemistry Experts' Technology Tour in 2014 once again travelled to Darmstadt and the surrounding area. This tour was also organised together with the retired VAA members of the Wolfgang Industrial Park. This time, the newly opened Hessian State Museum in Darmstadt (HLMD) and the Society for Heavy Ion Research (GSI) north of Darmstadt were on the programme.

HLMD. The Hessian State Museum was completely renovated between 2007 and 2014, giving the architecture of Alfred Messel a fresh new lease of life. The presentation of the collections has been redesigned in terms of both structure and content. The HLMD offers us two guided tours: (1) general overview of the redesign of the building and the collections and (2) guided tour focussing on Art Nouveau (max. 25 people each).

GSI. The GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research in Darmstadt operates a large, globally unique accelerator facility for ions. Researchers from all over the world use the facility for experiments to gain new insights into the structure of matter and the development of the universe. They are also developing new applications in medicine and technology. Highlights include the various research facilities, radiotherapy and the new FAIR construction site.

Report: Nachr. Chem. 2015, 63, 84

SEC Technology tours are currently organised by Wolfgang Gerhartz, Tel 06251-938558. Suggestions for the organisation of future excursions are welcome.