Open Academy Davos 2008

'TUBERCULOSIS: NEW OLD DISESASE'

9-16 August 2008

In August 2008, the "Open Academy Davos" for university students took place for the very first time. "Tuberculosis: new old disease ": a topic not only tightly intertwined with the history of Davos as a sanitarium, but also highly topical and multi-faceted. The subject matter was looked at from many different angles including socio-political and cultural-historical ones, with the following central questions:

• Does poverty lead to disease?
• Do migration and diverging social background bring a comeback to tuberculosis in Europe?
• What do Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and Thomas Mann have to do with tuberculosis?

The detailed programme of Open Academy Davos 2008 can be downloaded here.

The following review (written by K. Kretzschmar, co-organizer) and the comments of partipants show: the first Open Academy Davos was a complete success!

Saturday, 9.8.2008, Arrival
In the course of this afternoon, the 16 participants arrived and moved into their rooms. Afterwards, everyone assembled in the SAMD canteen for a welcome aperitif, followed by an introduction of the organising team. After dinner, everyone re-convened for an introductory seminar, where the organising team presented the concept of the Open Academy and gave an overview of the coming days.

Sunday, 10.8.2008
The Sunday set the scene for the topic “Tuberculosis”, also with regards to Davos as a long-standing sanitarium for tuberculosis patients. In the morning, Dr. med. Ulrike Schauseil-Zipf and Dr. med. Otto Brändli gave an overview of current medical aspects of tuberculosis. After lunch, Klaus Bergamin led a field trip about the development of Davos to become a sanitarium. This included a visit to the “Jakobshorn” mountain top.

In the evening, Dr. med. Peter Braun presented the old and new clinical pictures of tuberculosis.

Monday, 11.8.2008
The topic of the day was epidemiology. After breakfast, Dr. med. Otto Schoch and Dr. med. Georg Plum presented tuberculosis epidemiology past and present and talked about aspects of risk populations and countries. Participating students gave further short presentations about the topic.

The afternoon was free for self-study or own arrangements, and was used by many for a tour of town, again led by Klaus Bergamin. After dinner, Dr. med. Josias Mattli reflected upon his experiences he had gained by his work supporting hospitals in Russia. He was accompanied by a Russian doctor, who talked about her operating experience tackling tuberculosis in Russia.

Tuesday, 12.8.2008
On Tuesday, we asked the question whether poverty leads to disease. We mainly discussed the social aspects of disease using the example of tuberculosis. Prof. Dr. Thomas Abel talked about “Scopes for health promotion and cultural capital: a somewhat different perspective on social inequality” and students gave short presentations.

Subsequently, the afternoon was available for individual arrangements of the participants. Many visited the touring exhibition “Varian Fry: Berlin - Marseille - New York“ in the Davos Congress Centre, about Varyan Fry’s successful efforts to help 2000 political refugees escape Nazi-controlled Vichy in France.

In the evening Prof. Dr. Reto Cameri gave an introduction into the immunological basics of allergies which, widely disregarded, are becoming more and more frequent, also in developing countries.

Wednesday, 13.8.2008
The topic Tuberculosis & Society led to a discussion of today’s globalisation. Dr. med. Hans Wolff presented his work in a medical drop-in-centre in Geneva, Switzerland for so-called „sans papiers“, people without passports, and the relationship between illegal immigration and health. Participating students gave short presentations about the topic.

After lunch, the participants had time at their disposal. Many of them visited the former sanatorium “Schatzalp”, made famous by Thomas Manns novel “Der Zauberberg” (The Magic Mountain) – today it is used as a hotel. In the evening, the participants watched the film adaptation of the novel.

Thursday, 14.8.2008
The future of tuberculosis was discussed today. First with an introductory presentation by Stefan Kohler, PhD, about “fighting infectious diseases and measurements of results by international organisations and non-governmental organisation” and then by Prof. Dr. Gerd Pluschke about “Potentials and Limitations of Vaccines – current approaches and strategies for vaccine development for tuberculosis”. Students also presented the results of their own work.

In the afternoon, the participants visited the Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (Eidgenössisches Institut für Schnee- und Lawinenforschung) in Davos by joining a tour led by Dr. Charles Fierz.

In the evening, a visit was made to the Kirchner Museum, Davos. Barbara Ryf-Wehrli gave a tour of one of the most important collections of pieces of art of this German expressionist as well as a special exhibition with pieces of art by Walter Gramatté.

Friday, 15.8.2008
On this final day before departure, tuberculosis and the fine arts were the topic. Unfortunately our lecturer became ill at short notice and thus the stage was at the student’s disposal for presentations by themselves. The afternoon was used for preparing the final touchdown presentations. These were held in the evening, enframed by musical interludes of the participants. Invitations had been sent out to the public through the regional press. Following a successful event, everyone gathered for a friendly get-together and an official farewell.

Saturday, 16.8.2008After a short night with many new impressions, the participants departed on the morning of 16.8.2008.

Below are a few comments from students, who attended the Open Academy Davos 2008:

“My experience was wonderful and all expectations were exceeded. Many thanks for this academy, I would love to support this idea in future. Ingenious week and I hope the concepts lives on!”

“A successful event, which hopefully demonstrates constancy and will take place in many years to come.”

“With its amazing atmosphere and scenery, the interesting subject and the energetic participants, the OAD has created a great motivation to participate and get engaged. Again immediately (after some sleep).”

“The academy was an inspiring and intellectually demanding event which I have never experienced at such quality level in the past. I look forward to the next academies.”

“Thanks to the great scenery and the top-class lecturers, which were always available for further queries and also during the evenings, this was a great chance to upvalue our social capital. Very, very nice. See you again next time.”

“A worthwile and appealing implementation of the original idea of an OA has succeeded here in Davos.”