Seminar: Markus Reichstein

Should science strive to be predictive? This seminar tries to explore the idea that the ability to predict is the ultimate measure of scientific validity and relevance. In the first part of the talk, we will reflect on the role of prediction in science: its implications for trust, its boundaries and potential misunderstandings, and its capacity to distinguish empirical rigor from esoteric speculation and "theories".

The second part of the seminar focuses on selected research examples from biogeochemistry. These illustrate how predictive science not only advances understanding but also transforms into practical tools, such as early warning systems for environmental risks. By bridging the theoretical and the practical, this talk aims to spark discussion on whether — and how —prediction can serve as the "acid test" for science.