Memories of Prof. Dr. Karl M. Menten
A number of Video Postcards to honour the former director of the Millimeter and Submillimeter Astronomy Research Department at MPIfR Bonn
A set of four video postcards was created to honour Prof. Dr. Karl M. Menten, former director at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy and head of its Millimeter and Submillimeter research department. Each postcard is a snapshot of knowledge and impressions, delivering a distinct message through a combination of diverse media and perspectives.
The postcards were presented for the first time at the conference “Charting the Cosmos: From Cosmic Stellar Nurseries to Evolved Stars Using High-Powered Telescopes”, held from 18 to 22 August 2025 in Ingelheim am Rhein, in the dear memory of Prof. Menten.
Video Postcards are a new format of multidisciplinary documentary combining scientific, emotional, and historical content. A set of four postcards was created to honour Prof. Dr. Karl M. Menten, the former director at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy (MPIfR) and head of its Millimeter and Submillimeter Astronomy research department. Each postcard is a snapshot of knowledge and impressions, delivering a distinct message through a combination of diverse media and perspectives.
“The postcards were inspired by Prof. Menten’s passion for science; his artistic personality - with the love for music, comics, movies, and wine; his dedication to his employees and commitment to a flat hierarchy; and his contribution to science - changing the course of astronomy toward uncharted and unexplored frontiers”, says Dr. Veselina Kalinova from MPIfR, a postdoctoral researcher in the group of Professor Menten, who initiated and edited the postcards.
The postcards were presented at the conference “Charting the Cosmos: From Cosmic Stellar Nurseries to Evolved Stars Using High-Powered Telescopes”, held from 18 to 22 August 2025 in Ingelheim am Rhein, in his dear memory.
The scientific organisers of the conference- Prof. Dr. Arshia Jacob, Prof. Dr. Tomasz Kamiński, and Dr. Friedrich Wyrowski - welcomed the initiative by Dr. Kalinova and the other colleagues (Prof. Keiichi Kodaira, Dr. Rainer Mauersberger, Dr. Veena Vadamatton, Dr. Arnaud Belloche, MSc. Camilla Di Giusto, Dr. Rosie Chen, Dr. Norbert Junkes, Dr. Sudeep Neupane, MSc. Anahat Cheema, Dr. Sandra Brünken, Dr. Dario Colombo, Dr. Carsten König, Dr. Holger Müller, Menten family), who participated in the recording process in Bonn or sent their personal videos/messages from a distance.
The audience at the conference warmly received the presentation of the video postcards at the end of each scientific day. The four 10-minute postcards provide a concise overview of the diversity of scientific topics that Prof. Menten was developing in his department and show how special he was as a scientist, mentor, and colleague.
“The Video Postcards highlight both the scientific and personal contributions and impact that Prof. Menten had on various group members at different career stages”, says Prof. Dr. Arshia Jacob, one of the organisers of the conference and a former doctoral student of Prof. Menten.
Prof. Menten’s legacy will be long remembered, and he will be deeply missed.