On 23 April 2025, the Bensberg Earthquake Station at the University of Cologne celebrated 70 years of continuous data recording. The working group invited students and colleagues from the Institute of Geology and Mineralogy and the Institute of Geophysics and Meteorology. As the station is located about 20 kilometres away from the university in Bensberg, part of the town of Bergisch Gladbach in the east of Cologne, many of the guests were visiting the wonderfully familiar house for the first time. They thoroughly enjoyed the guided tour of the ground floor and basement, where earthquake waves are recorded, where all previous recordings from the 70 years are kept and where research is carried out with the help of data from numerous other seismometers. In addition to the continuously recorded seismogram, visitors were also able to admire seismographs and equipment used in the past. Despite the rain showers, we then celebrated together in the surrounding garden with a delicious barbecue, music and lots of old photos and memories.

Photos: Katja Sperveslage