Forensic scientist Mark Benecke inspires at the Heizhausfest in Chemnitz!

Forensic scientist Mark Benecke inspires at the Heizhausfest in Chemnitz!

What is the famous forensic scientist Mark Benecke doing in Chemnitz? The Cologne scientist, who is not only known as a criminal biologist, but also as a member of the satirical party Die PARTEI, was recently a guest at the Heizhausfest at the Eisenbahn venue. Every year this festival attracts thousands of visitors, and in 2025 Benecke was one of the highlights of the event. He gave exciting lectures on maggots and related topics, which were very popular with his audience and provided many interesting insights. Free Press reports.

Mark Benecke, born on August 26, 1970 in Rosenheim, has made a name for himself as a criminal biologist and specialist in forensic entomology. He completed his studies in biology at the University of Cologne summa cum laude and received his doctorate on genetic fingerprints. He also worked at renowned institutions such as the FBI Academy in the USA and is often called upon as an expert witness in violent crimes. The scientist is also active as an author and columnist and has published several popular science books that achieved high positions on the Spiegel bestseller list. Wikipedia informs.

A candidate for mayor

Benecke is not only active in science, but also in politics. As the candidate of the party Die PARTEI for the mayoral election on September 14th, he has already caused quite a stir. True to his motto of not wanting to campaign, he presents himself in an amusing way: On Christopher Street Day in Cologne, he handed out fake fiftys with the words on the back saying: “Nobody plans to buy votes.” He posed on the bills with a critical eyebrow raised - a humorous statement that underlines his unconventional style. The PARTEI has interesting information about this.

In the election campaign, Benecke relies on creative ideas and dares to be provocative. Among other things, he calls for “Kölsch action areas” instead of playgrounds and a clear view of Cologne Cathedral from the entire planet Earth. These proposals are just part of his program to strive for a more tolerant world. Marion Sollbach, a Cologne SPD politician, describes him as “rebellious” when she was at school, which shouldn’t be surprising when you look at his funny political messages.

The connection between science and humor

Benecke is not only a man of serious science, but also combines this with a special sense of humor. On social media, he presents himself as “Mayor Marky” and uses the platform to spread mostly non-messages, giving the anti-election campaign a breath of fresh air. At the CSD, he captivates the audience with lavishly dressed members of his party and ensures that the political stage also offers space for other messages.

Now it remains to be seen how the election campaign will develop and whether Benecke can convince Cologne voters with his unconventional approach. With a good hand, he could potentially bring a breath of fresh air to the town hall.