Monday, April 16, 2012

April 8th-15th Post 1: Bayer and Neanderthal


Last week, we went to the visit Bayer and the Neanderthal museum. Bayer was really cool. We learned that they make much more than just Asprin! They also are a huge manufacturer in the fields of nutrition, healthcare and high-technology materials (polymers). Our tour guide told us all about the history of Bayer and how the company has grown since is beginning of making dyes. They had a really cool 3-D demonstration for us where they showed us how some of the chemicals react on the molecular level. They also had some really neat fitness applications for some of their products. I also learned that factory workers make a pretty decent living, some bringing in about 50,000-60,000 euros per year. Albeit, their taxes are much higher here in Europe, but a factory job like that in America would be paid much less. High school teachers aren't even paid that much. All in all, it was a good experience.


Here's Dr. Wasser at the site of where the first Neanderthal fossils were found! The Neanderthal museum was really neat. It went through a chronological history of man and our evolution, including all the branches of our family tree. Truly an anthropologist's Disney Land - Brittany would've really enjoyed it (she studies Anthropology at A&M). What I found really interesting is that they had an exhibit with all the man-made additions to the human body: prosthetic limbs, breast implants, artificial joints, cochlear implants and more. It was a really neat history lesson of humanity. Our guide spoke English really well and Kristin even bought us all ice cream!

It was a fun day, I'll have to admit. So fun that I didn't do any homework, textbook reading, studying or blog posts when I got home. Yikes! Definitely going to be playing catch up this week.

Until next time..

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