Jens Reich
Encyclopedia
Jens Georg Reich is a German scientist and a member of the German Ethics Council. He has become famous as a civil rights campaigner in the last decade of the GDR times.
. He studied medicine and molecular biology
at Berlin’s Humboldt University and began his professional career as a junior doctor in his hometown. After further study in biochemistry, he turned to research work. In 1964, Jens Reich obtained his doctorate with the dissertation “Arterial Vascular Sounds“ and from 1968 onwards worked at the Central Institute of Molecular Biology of the Academy of Sciences in Berlin-Buch. In 1976 he completed the dissertation “Time and Motion in the Metabolism of Living Cells“ for his second doctorate.
As early as 1970 he co-founded a private “Friday Circle“, a group of about 30 opposition-minded citizens who met to discuss the GDR system. In the 80s the State Security Ministry spied on the group and kept records of their meetings. Soon after his appointment to the post of the head of the department at the Central Institute of Molecular Biology, Jens Reich lost this post. He was further sanctioned for his oppositional attitude with a ban on travel to Western countries.
In September 1989 Jens Reich was one of the authors and signatories of the appeal “Aufbruch 89 – Neues Forum“ – “Fresh Start 89 – New Forum“, leading to the founding of the New Forum. On 4 November 1989, Jens Reich, along with Friedrich Schorlemmer
, Christa Wolf
, Ulrich Mühe
and other well-known figures in the GDR, was one of the speakers at the Alexanderplatz demonstration
in East Berlin, the largest demonstrations held at that time.
His daughter is the physics professor Stephanie Reich.
Life and work
Jens Reich grew up in HalberstadtHalberstadt
Halberstadt is a town in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt and the capital of the district of Harz. It is located on the German Half-Timbered House Road and the Magdeburg–Thale railway....
. He studied medicine and molecular biology
Molecular biology
Molecular biology is the branch of biology that deals with the molecular basis of biological activity. This field overlaps with other areas of biology and chemistry, particularly genetics and biochemistry...
at Berlin’s Humboldt University and began his professional career as a junior doctor in his hometown. After further study in biochemistry, he turned to research work. In 1964, Jens Reich obtained his doctorate with the dissertation “Arterial Vascular Sounds“ and from 1968 onwards worked at the Central Institute of Molecular Biology of the Academy of Sciences in Berlin-Buch. In 1976 he completed the dissertation “Time and Motion in the Metabolism of Living Cells“ for his second doctorate.
As early as 1970 he co-founded a private “Friday Circle“, a group of about 30 opposition-minded citizens who met to discuss the GDR system. In the 80s the State Security Ministry spied on the group and kept records of their meetings. Soon after his appointment to the post of the head of the department at the Central Institute of Molecular Biology, Jens Reich lost this post. He was further sanctioned for his oppositional attitude with a ban on travel to Western countries.
In September 1989 Jens Reich was one of the authors and signatories of the appeal “Aufbruch 89 – Neues Forum“ – “Fresh Start 89 – New Forum“, leading to the founding of the New Forum. On 4 November 1989, Jens Reich, along with Friedrich Schorlemmer
Friedrich Schorlemmer
Friedrich Schorlemmer , is a German Protestant theologian. He was a prominent member of the civil rights movement in the German Democratic Republic and has continued to take part in politics after German reunification in 1990....
, Christa Wolf
Christa Wolf
Christa Wolf was a German literary critic, novelist, and essayist. She is one of the best-known writers to have emerged from the former East Germany.-Biography:...
, Ulrich Mühe
Ulrich Mühe
Friedrich Hans Ulrich Mühe was a German film, television and theatre actor. He played the role of Hauptmann Gerd Wiesler in the Oscar-winning film Das Leben der Anderen , for which he received the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role, Gold, at Germany's most prestigious film...
and other well-known figures in the GDR, was one of the speakers at the Alexanderplatz demonstration
Alexanderplatz demonstration
The Alexanderplatz demonstration was a demonstration for political reforms and against the government of the German Democratic Republic on Alexanderplatz in East Berlin on 4 November 1989...
in East Berlin, the largest demonstrations held at that time.
His daughter is the physics professor Stephanie Reich.
Books
- 2005 Reich, Jens Teufelsfragen. Ethische Konflikte in der Biomedizin. 2-CD-Set. supposé, Köln
- 2003 Reich, Jens Es wird ein Mensch gemacht. Möglichkeiten und Grenzen der Gentechnik, Rowohlt Berlin
- 1992 Reich J. G., Abschied von den Lebenslügen, Rowohlt-Verlag, Berlin
- 1991 Reich J. G., Rückkehr nach Europa, Carl-Hanser-Verlag, München-Wien
- 1981, Reich J. G., Sel’kov E. E., Energy Metabolism of the Cell, A Theoretical Treatise, Academic Press, London & New York