What will Universität Hamburg be doing?Space telescopes, elementary particles, and dinosaurs: The knowledge event of the year

13 June 2019, by Hendrik Tieke, Jacinta Homans

Photo: UHH/Menz

Exciting glimpses into science and scholarship: Over 70 experts from Universität Hamburg invite the public to ask questions and take part in the “summer of knowledge” event.

Photo: congressa

The annual “Night of Knowledge” and “Day of Knowledge” will be combined this year to create the “summer of knowledge.”

To celebrate Universität Hamburg’s 100th anniversary, the city is hosting a “summer of knowledge” at Ratshausmarkt, in front of Hamburg’s City Hall, from 20 to 23 June. Other Hamburg universities and research institutions, as well as over 70 researchers from Universität Hamburg, will be joining the festivities.

The Ministry of Science, Research and Equalities is hosting the “summer of knowledge” festivities (in German: "Sommer des Wissens") . For 4 days, Rathausmarkt, the square in front of Hamburg’s centrally located City Hall, will become a campus with a stage and futuristic igloo-like exhibition tents. Universität Hamburg will be offering on-site talks, experiments, and workshops. All Hamburg residents and members of the University are invited to attend! The festival is free.

Universität Hamburg will be hosting 80 activities

“Important birthdays are celebrated with friends: Approximately 40 universities and academic institutions will celebrate the ‘summer of knowledge’ for Universität Hamburg’s 100th anniversary at Rathausmark,” said the University’s president, Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Dieter Lenzen. “I am looking forward to the exciting program and would like to thank the Ministry of Science, Research and Equalities for organizing this special event—and, of course, everyone taking part!”

Over 70 experts from Universität Hamburg will be presenting their research. In total, Universität Hamburg will be hosting roughly 80 activities throughout the 4 days, making it one of the event’s major contributors.

Elementary particles and hidden biological weapons

Universität Hamburg is offering a rich, exciting program: weather balloons will be launched into the skies, research objects with fascinating backgrounds will be presented, and scientists will explain how elementary particles were discovered and science helped uncover secret biological weapons.

There will be 4 large centers with special themes:

Center 1: Workshop for the future

In the workshop for the future, we will spend 4 days looking at the most pressing questions of our time. We will be hosting discussions and performing experiments related to the environment, mobility, politics, and society. For example, visitors will be able to monitor the weather live in a mobile weather observatory provided by Universität Hamburg’s Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability (CEN).

Center 2: Hi-tech lab

In the hi-tech lab, scientists will be presenting the most recent developments in the natural sciences and technology. For example, visitors can make their own films using super time-lapse technology using a high-speed camera provided by the Cluster of Excellence Center for Ultrafast Imaging (CUI).

Center 3: Cultural pavilion

In the cultural pavilion, visitors can explore cultural studies and the humanities and gain insights into art, music, theater, design, and architecture. The staff of the Center for the Study of Manuscripts will explain how research is making it possible to once again render destroyed or illegible manuscripts visible.

Center 4: Health center

The health center will provide a glimpse into medical research being conducted in Hamburg. For example, visitors can take part in a quiz on the German health system hosted by the Hamburg Center for Health Economics (HCHE) or create their own medical wax models.

Program activities for children and school classes

Many of the activities are suitable for or cater specifically to children. For example, younger visitors can analyze the bones of a real marine dinosaur, discover stars and planets, or use a climate model to simulate what happens when a forest is cleared or a factory is shut down.

Universität Hamburg is also offering a special program for school classes: for example, school students can learn about trips with the research vessel Vulkan, talk to experts about why there are wars, or test their knowledge of the universe.