Unusual prize: alpaca droppings for "Sendung mit der Maus"
An unusual trophy has been added to the 100 or so awards for the "Sendung mit der Maus" program and its team of creators. Armin Maiwald, the focal point of many factual stories, and the WDR "Maus" team received the "Heinz Oberhummer Award for Science Communication" in the form of a jar full of alpaca droppings on Monday in Vienna. The prize, which also includes prize money of 20,000 euros, was awarded for scientific achievements that "first make people laugh, then make them think", according to the citation. The German ambassador to Austria, Vito Cecere, described the show, which has been running since 1971, as one of the last "campfires" on television for the family.
Even after around 2,500 episodes, nobody is thinking of ending the show, which still has an audience of millions, the editors said. "The questions we ask are changing. It's less about how something is made and more about what we can do with it and what it was like a few decades ago," said "Maus" editor Heike Sistig. For 83-year-old Maiwald, the Mouse has one major advantage as a long-running TV hit: "It's ageless because it doesn't speak."
The award, which has been presented since 2016, commemorates the Austrian physicist Heinz Oberhummer. Among other things, he tried to present science in an entertaining way with the science cabaret Science Busters, which he co-founded. Oberhummer was a fan of alpacas from South America. After the award ceremony in a small circle, a big gala was planned for Tuesday evening in Vienna.
The "Sendung mit der Maus" team's unique award, a jar of alpaca droppings, has brought attention to their show on various media platforms. The unusual trophy, a tribute to Heinz Oberhummer's love for alpacas, further highlights the TV program's distinctive approach to science communication.
Source: www.dpa.com
