CSD – MPI Takes Part in the Parade

July 30, 2026
2026

On July 25, the Max Planck Institutes for Solid State Research (MPI FKF) and Intelligent Systems (MPI IS) took part in the Christopher Street Day (CSD) parade in Stuttgart.

Christopher Street Day is a peaceful demonstration in support of LGBTQ+ rights, promoting inclusivity, equality, and acceptance. It is a celebration of diversity and a reminder that discrimination and hatred based on gender, race, or sexuality have no place in our society.
On July 25, around 50 employees from MPI FKF and MPI IS gathered at 13:30 near the S-Bahn station at Schwabstraße in Stuttgart-West to take part in the parade, scheduled to begin at 14:00.

Large group posing with colorful pride flags, banners emphasizing bisexuality, love, and diversity in science, assembled on a street in front of a building.
Person with rainbow face paint wearing headphones and a rainbow flag at the Christopher Street Day parade.

The main slogan of the Max Planck squad was "Everybody needs science. Science needs everybody." It was accompanied by many other powerful messages throughout the march, including "Equal rights for others do not mean fewer rights for you" and "Love is love." If you still wonder whether diversity is essential for a society, consider that "Selbst die Kartoffel hat Migrationshintergrund" ("Even the potato has a migration background"), as was written on one of the signs we carried in the parade, a reminder that diversity has always been part of our history.

The parade went over a 2 kilometers route from Rotebühlplatz through Eberhardstraße, Marktstraße and Münzstraße. The MPI employees paraded through these main arteries of the city meeting the celebrating cheers of the people standing on the sides of the parade. The march then ended in Karlsplatz, where the celebrations went on with live concerts, public speeches, and cultural events.

We would like to thank everyone who contributed to organizing this year's participation, as well as both MPI FKF and MPI IS for their support. In particular, we would like to thank Martina Paetsch (MPI FKF) and Rut Martínez Miras (MPI IS) for their dedication and hard work in making the participation of the Max Planck Institutes in the CSD parade possible and the Equal Opportunity Office of MPI IS for the financial support for the T-Shirts and the registration.

A brief reflection

Science thrives on diversity, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas. Creating an inclusive and welcoming work environment not only reflects on a more equal society—it also strengthens scientific research. Diverse teams bring together different perspectives, foster creativity, and encourage innovation. They create workplaces where ideas can flow freely and where everyone has the opportunity to contribute. In contrast, environments that lack diversity are often more prone to toxic group dynamics and fewer opportunities for fresh perspectives.
We have said it before, and we will keep saying it: Everybody needs science. Science needs everybody

 

Three participants at a Pride parade pose together, holding a sign with colorful test tubes and the message "Celebrate diversity in science," with a rainbow flag on a truck in the background.
Two smiling people wearing matching T-shirts stand in front of a colorful pride parade float with rainbow stripes, surrounded by other participants and decorations.
Group of people at a public event, one holding a sign saying "My experiments are not straightforward."
Group of young people sitting on the street during a pride event, some wrapped in rainbow flags.
Two women stand together smiling, wearing shirts with science graphics; one holds a drink and a sign saying "Even potatoes have a migration background" in German.

All pictures are courtesy of Vani Sundaram 

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