Entertainment

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  Secretary General of the Stifterverband

  Volker Meyer-Guckel

  Volker Meyer-Guckel (born 1960) studied English studies, chemistry, and philosophy in Kiel, Belfast, and New York and earned his doctorate in 1992. From 1989 to 1992, he worked as a research associate at the University of Kiel. Between 1993 and 1997, he was employed by the German National Academic Foundation (Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes). From 1997 to 1999, he worked in the planning staff of Federal President Roman Herzog, where he initiated the German Future Prize (Deutscher Zukunftspreis) as part of the Ruck Initiative. Volker Meyer-Guckel joined the Stifterverband in 1999, held various positions there, and from 2005 served as Deputy Secretary General and member of the management board. Since 2022, he has been Secretary General and Chairman of the Executive Board of the Stifterverband. As a tireless bridge-builder and communicator between business, science, and politics, he has launched numerous initiatives to promote talent, research, and innovation in Germany, most recently the partner initiative Zukunftsmission Bildung (Future Mission Education). He is an expert in knowledge transfer, science communication, innovation management, and foundations. As a member of numerous committees in scientific organizations and foundations, he is a sought-after advisor on future issues, including in the political arena. Volker Meyer-Guckel lives in Berlin, is married, and has two adult daughters.

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  Virologist & Entrepreneur

  Helga Rübsamen-Schaeff

  The chemist with a doctorate initially led the Georg-Speyer-Haus Chemotherapeutic Research Institute in Frankfurt, developing it into a successful academic institution for medical basic research from 1987 to 1993, focusing on HIV and oncology. In 1994, she joined Bayer as Head of Virus Research and became Head of Infectious Disease Research in 2001. In 2006, Rübsamen-Schaeff founded the biopharmaceutical company AiCuris, which she managed as CEO until 2015. The first drug resulting from her research, Prevymis™, has been successfully on the market since 2017. Prof. Rübsamen-Schaeff currently serves on the supervisory board of AiCuris AG and is also a member of the supervisory board of 4SC. She is a member of the Leopoldina Academy of Sciences and acatech, the German Academy of Science and Engineering. Additionally, she frequently appears as a guest on various talk shows discussing scientific topics. Her awards include the German Future Prize, the Innovation Award of North Rhine-Westphalia, honorary membership of the Society of German Chemists, and the Federal Cross of Merit 1st Class.

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  Futurologist

  Reinhold Popp

  Univ.-Prof. Dr. Reinhold Popp is a professor of human and social sciences specializing in futures and innovation research at the Sigmund Freud Private University in Vienna, as well as a visiting scholar at the Institute Futur at the Free University of Berlin. He collaborates with key institutions for prospective research and science communication, such as the World Futures Studies Federation, Futurium Berlin, and the Foundation for Future Studies in Hamburg. He advises political and economic stakeholders and regularly appears as an interviewee for print, radio, and television media. Professor Popp is the author and editor of numerous scientific publications, including several standard works in foresight research. In 2013, he co-founded and serves as co-editor of the international open-access journal European Journal of Futures Research (SpringerOpen – part of SpringerNature). His analyses and forecasts are based on scientifically grounded studies, crafting plausible visions of the future that avoid both destructive doomsday scenarios and uncritical, overly optimistic outlooks.

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  Political Scientist

  Anna Christmann

  Dr. Anna Christmann is a prominent voice for innovation in Germany and Europe. From 2022 until May 2025, she served as Coordinator of the German Federal Government for Aerospace as well as Commissioner for Startups and the Digital Economy at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. Between 2017 and 2025, she was a Member of the German Bundestag representing the Stuttgart II constituency and served on the Committee for Research. During her time in parliament and government, she specialized in artificial intelligence, the promotion of key technologies, technology transfer, and startups within various Bundestag commissions and United Nations bodies. Born in 1983 in Hanover, Anna Christmann studied political science, mathematics, and economics at the University of Heidelberg and earned her doctorate in 2011 from the University of Bern on direct democracy. After a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Zurich, she worked at the Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts of Baden-Württemberg as a scientific advisor and chief of staff to the minister, where she engaged deeply with the state’s digitalization strategy. Since then, technology issues have remained central to her work.

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More Artists & Experts on this cruise

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  Doctor

  Dr. Anne Fleck

  Dr. Anne Fleck, specialist in internal medicine and rheumatology, also known as “Doc Fleck,” is an internationally renowned expert in preventive and nutritional medicine. She is considered a pioneer of integrative medicine, combining modern research with traditional healing methods to create an innovative approach. The multiple award-winning bestselling author and sought-after speaker, in addition to her practice in Hamburg, offers guidance and advice through television appearances, seminars, and her podcast, “Dr. Anne Fleck: Health and Nutrition.” Her podcast was nominated for the “Newcomer Award of the Best German Podcasts” in June 2022.

  As an author, she was awarded every year from 2016 to 2021 in the literary competition at the Frankfurt Book Fair in the “Health” category, including for her book “SLIM and Healthy with the Doc Fleck Method.” In 2021, she published the bestsellers: “ENERGY! The Healthy Way Out of the Fatigue Labyrinth” and “ENERGY! in 5 Minutes” (an interactive book), which have been translated into several languages. Since May 2022, Anne Fleck has been a health expert for RTL Germany. In her weekly “Doc Fleck Consultation,” she shares modern strategies and tips for maintaining health with a broad audience.

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  Breakdance

  DDC

  Founded in 1999, DDC is one of the most renowned breakdance crews in the German-speaking world. Combining breakdance with modern artistry, they have won numerous awards. The crew has toured worldwide, performed at major festivals, and produced over 300 shows, including "Breakin' Mozart." DDC is known for gala shows, TV appearances, and large live events. In 2013, they founded their own company and also provide talent development at the DDC Factory. Since 2023, their tour program "Breakin' Circus" has been on the road.

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  Classical Music

  Bawandi Trio

  The Bawandi Trio brings together three renowned musicians – Mario Häring (piano), Alexandre Castro-Balbi (cello), and Patrick Hollich (clarinet) – united by a shared vision: the rediscovery and reinterpretation of forgotten treasures of Romantic chamber music. For their first collaborative project, the ensemble focused on the works of Robert Kahn and Vincent d’Indy – two composers who were highly regarded during their lifetimes but faded into the background over time. While Kahn, a Jewish musician, was forced into exile, d’Indy shaped the French music scene as César Franck's successor at the Société Nationale de Musique. Despite their differing biographies, both share a musical depth that deserves to be heard from a new perspective. With their sensitive, dynamically flowing interpretations, the Bawandi Trio has quickly made a name for itself. Their concerts and recordings are praised for their tonal flexibility, chamber music refinement, and precise expressiveness. In 2024, the trio was nominated for the International Classical Music Awards for their outstanding contributions to chamber music.

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  Indie Pop

  Lùisa

  The Hamburg-based songwriter, singer, and music producer lùisa creates a compelling sound that blends dream pop with influences from folk, disco, and ethereal '80s rock. With her distinctive, deep voice and catchy, atmospheric arrangements, lùisa crafts multifaceted and captivating songs that explore themes such as female empowerment and finding one’s own voice, while also delving into deeper subjects like grief and loss. Her most recent and third album, New Woman, received acclaim beyond Germany's borders and brought her energetic live performances to stages across Europe — including festivals like Iceland Airwaves — and as a support act for Grammy-nominated artist Arlo Parks. lùisa is also part of the international Keychange network, which advocates for intersectional feminism in the music industry. Recently, lùisa was awarded the Female Producer Prize for her work as a producer and was invited by Alanis Morissette to join her on tour as a support act. New music by lùisa is set to be released in 2025, with her new self-produced album scheduled for 2026.

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