Experiencing Science: From Research to Community
This summer and fall, Helmholtz Munich will participate in three major community events in Munich: the FORSCHA, the OBEN OHNE Festival, and the Maus Türöffner-Tag. These engagements highlight Helmholtz Munich’s commitment to fostering public interest in science, supporting education, and strengthening cultural initiatives.
FORSCHA
The FORSCHA, also known as the Munich Science and Technology Festival, will take place from June 28 to 30, 2024, at the Deutsches Museum Verkehrszentrum on Theresienhöhe in Munich. As part of the Munich Science Days, the festival offers a variety of interactive stations and expert lectures aimed at making science and technology accessible to visitors of all ages. Topics such as artificial intelligence, digitalization, and health will be in focus. Visitors can interact directly with researchers and experience the latest scientific developments firsthand.
At the Helmholtz Munich booth, visitors can test their knowledge about healthy nutrition and exercise. In an interactive game, attendees will learn the basics of the autoimmune disease type 1 diabetes and explore early prevention options. Additionally, they will be shown how innovative imaging and sensor technology can help in the early detection of diseases and improve therapies.
OBEN OHNE Festival
The OBEN OHNE Open Air, organized by the Kreisjugendring München-Stadt and München-Land, is a non-profit festival for young people aged 12 and older, held outdoors. This event on Munich’s Königsplatz is designed for both seasoned festival-goers and newcomers and will take place on July 20, 2024.
In the Future Park, festival partners present their offerings and career opportunities. Helmholtz Munich will also provide insights to festival-goers, with a particular focus on the new health portal for adolescents, clever.gesund. Since November 2023, Helmholtz Munich has been offering scientifically verified and neutral health information for young people at www.clever-gesund-info.de.
Maus Türöffner-Tag
On Maus Türöffner-Tag, an event organized by the popular German children’s show “Die Sendung mit der Maus”, Helmholtz Munich will open its doors to curious children and their families. Participants will have the unique opportunity to explore laboratories, meet scientists, and gain insights into the health research conducted at the institute. This initiative aims to make science and scientific work more tangible.
On October 3, 2024, Helmholtz Munich will open the doors of the Helmholtz Diabetes Center, giving children and their parents a glimpse into the daily life of scientists. At various interactive stations, researchers will demonstrate how basic research on diabetes and other common diseases works, how research teams are working on prevention and new therapies, and what is already known about certain common diseases. Additionally, children and parents will receive tips on preventing various common diseases.
Promoting Science and Education
“We are thrilled to be part of these community events,” says Ulrike Koller, Head of Science Communication at Helmholtz Munich. “Our goal is to make science accessible and enjoyable for everyone, from young children to adults. By participating in FORSCHA, Maus Türöffner-Tag, and the OBEN OHNE Festival, we hope to inspire curiosity and demonstrate the importance of scientific research in our daily lives.”