Free Rastatt lecture explores the dawn of modern natural science

A free public lecture on the history of natural science will take place in Rastatt on December 17, 2025. Dr. Uli Steiger, director of the town’s Historical Library, will lead the discussion, focusing on early modern scientific breakthroughs. The event also serves as a preview for an upcoming exhibition in June 2026.

The lecture begins at 6:00 PM in the library hall of the Ludwig-Wilhelm-Gymnasium. Attendees will explore key works from the 16th to 18th centuries, including Andreas Vesalius’s De humani corporis fabrica and Georg Agricola’s De re metallica libri XII. These texts helped shape fields like anatomy, mining, and medicine.

Dr. Steiger will examine how astronomy, alchemy, and medicine influenced early scientific thought. The talk also sets the stage for *The Invention of Nature*, a special exhibition opening the following June. That display will highlight Alexander von Humboldt’s vision of nature as a connected, living system. No tickets or prior booking are needed for the lecture. Those seeking more details can call 07222 972-840 (Monday to Wednesday) or visit the library’s website at www.historische-bibliothek-unsere-website.

The December lecture offers a chance to learn about the roots of modern science before the 2026 exhibition opens. Free and open to all, it will showcase rare texts and ideas that changed how people understood the natural world. Organisers encourage anyone interested in history or science to attend.