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ICEBREAKER PARTY
An icebreaker party will be held in the evening of Sunday August 31st, starting at 18.00. More details will be published on this website.

CONFERENCE PARTY
The Conference Party (conference dinner) in the evening of 2.9.2008 takes place in the old Ironworks of Hattingen (Henrichshütte) set up in 1854, perhaps the most famous steelwork in the region. The costs (€ 50,-) cover transportation, a guided tour in the Ironworks before dinner, a rich vegetarian/non-vegetarian buffet, drinks (wine, beer), coffee/tea and live (dance) music of Wolf Codera's Session Possible.
SOCIAL PROGRAM
We offer two attractive day trips that highlight cultural and historic aspects of the region. For all accompanying persons one day trip is included in the registration price. Please indicate your choice on the registration form. During the meeting we will be happy to provide you with additional information on exhibitions, opera houses/ concert halls or sports events that are easily reached by public transport.

Day trip 1 - Monday September 1 - Ruhr Valley Tour
This trip will focus on several historical and cultural highlights of the Ruhr Valley. The trip starts close to university campus with a visit to the Cisterician Monastery in Bochum-Stiepel. The monastery was founded in 1988 and is an offshoot of the Heiligenkreuz Abbey in Austria. Next on program is the oldest building in the city of Bochum, the Stiepel Village Church, which dates back to the year 1008. It was originally built as a hall church, but was replaced between 1130 and 1170 by a Romanesque basilica. In the 15th century the church was extended further. Particular features of interest are the extensive ceiling and wall paintings as well as the beautiful historic cemetery. The next stop takes us across the river to Blankenstein Castle, which was built in the 13 th century and was one of the principal residences of the Counts von der Mark. Its idyllic location high above the river Ruhr makes it a popular place to visit. A climb to the top of the 30 m high tower gives an impressive panoramic view of the Ruhr valley with the old village of Stiepel and Lake Kemnade. After lunch we will take a self-guided tour through the historic centre of Hattingen.
Day trip 2 - Tuesday September 2 - Bochum City Centre
This trip wil take you to Bochum City Centre, where we will visit the Deutsches Bergbau-museum (German mining museum). "Glück auf!" - and down we go to the demonstration mine: The world's largest mining museum offers a rare insight into the internal workings of a mine. Descend into the mine an experience a fascinating underground world. Another museum of interest is the Bochum Art Museum at the city's public park . It was opened in 1960 as a municipal art gallery in the splendid Marckhoff-Rosenstein villa which is one of the city's architectural treasures. After so much indoor culture, you will enjoy Bochum's public park. It is the oldest of its kind in the entire Ruhr region, delighting visitors with a landscape designed in the classical English garden style. Enjoy a relaxing stroll past modern sculptures, imposing fountains and rare trees in this 31 hectare park.