We are living in times of social polarisation. Anti-democratic tendencies, rejection of scientific expertise and hostility towards scientists are on the rise. Many people are asking themselves: What can I actually do? And what responsibility do scientific institutions bear? We want to discuss these questions together with experts from the fields of science and science communication, as well as HZB’s scientific director.

📅 28 September 2026, 1.00–3.00 pm

📍 In person: BESSY Lecture Theatre, Helmholtz Centre Berlin, Albert-Einstein-Straße 15, 12489 Berlin

💻 Alternatively, online participation is also possible. Registered participants will receive the login details by email in good time before the event.

An event organised by HZB with the support of BR50 and IGAFA

Every second or third week on Friday, we welcome a chat with a cup of coffee and a cookie outside the control room. Come meet the user coordination team, relax with your beamline scientist, inspire and be inspired by our accelerator scientists, recharge your caffeine levels for the final stretch of the week.

Every second or third week on Friday, we welcome a chat with a cup of coffee and a cookie outside the control room. Come meet the user coordination team, relax with your beamline scientist, inspire and be inspired by our accelerator scientists, recharge your caffeine levels for the final stretch of the week.

Von der Steinzeit bis ins Plastik- und Silizium-Zeitalter - und dann? Gemeinsam erfinden wir neue Materialien für eine bessere Zukunft.

Wie wir leben, hängt davon ab, welche Materialien uns zur Verfügung stehen. Unter der Frage "Was könnten wir in Zukunft gebrauchen und wozu?" präsentieren das HZB und die Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung mit verschiedene Materialien - und entwickeln mit Euch zusammen neue Ideen (Eintritt frei, keine Anmeldung erforderlich, barrierefrei nicht zugänglich, max. 15 Personen).

Von der Steinzeit bis ins Plastik- und Silizium-Zeitalter - und dann? Gemeinsam erfinden wir neue Materialien für eine bessere Zukunft.

Wie wir leben, hängt davon ab, welche Materialien uns zur Verfügung stehen. Unter der Frage "Was könnten wir in Zukunft gebrauchen und wozu?" präsentieren das HZB und die Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung mit verschiedene Materialien - und entwickeln mit Euch zusammen neue Ideen (Eintritt frei, keine Anmeldung erforderlich, barrierefrei nicht zugänglich, max. 15 Personen).

Von der Steinzeit bis ins Plastik- und Silizium-Zeitalter - und dann? Gemeinsam erfinden wir neue Materialien für eine bessere Zukunft.

Wie wir leben, hängt davon ab, welche Materialien uns zur Verfügung stehen. Unter der Frage "Was könnten wir in Zukunft gebrauchen und wozu?" präsentieren das HZB und die Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung mit verschiedene Materialien - und entwickeln mit Euch zusammen neue Ideen (Eintritt frei, keine Anmeldung erforderlich, barrierefrei zugänglich, max. 15 Personen).

Ever wondered what the future of clean energy research look like? Meet our researchers and discover their work up close.

In this interactive session, you will get the chance to talk directly with researchers and learn how they use science, technology, and artificial intelligence to find better ways of producing cleaner energy and developing new materials.

What does a scientist’s day look like? What challenges do researchers face? How do new discoveries happen? Bring your questions and explore the stories, ideas, and experiments behind the research! (Free entry, Wheelchair accessible)

The year is 2050. The future of clean energy depends on a laboratory that has suddenly gone silent. Can you bring it back to life?

Step into the role of an emergency research team and enter a futuristic artificial intelligence-powered laboratory where scientists are developing the next generation of sustainable fuels. 

Your mission? Restart the Self-Driving Laboratory (SDL)—a smart research facility that uses automation and artificial intelligence to design and run experiments that accelerate the discovery of better catalysts.

Solve scienece-based challenges within 60 minutes. (Wheelchair accessible, Registration required (see online), Registrations open until 23 October, subject to availability, minimum age for participation 8 years old - if younger, please contact the organizer via e-mail, one person should register on behalf of a group by indicating the total number of participants in the registration form (min participants per slot 4, max 8), Please arrive 15 minutes before the start of the activity. Further instructions upon registration)

Some ideas are too early for a pitch, too open for a clear transfer pathway — and too promising to leave unexplored. So, if you have an idea connected to your research or expertise but are not yet sure where it could lead. Then Campus Club – idea2action might be for you.

idea2action is a free three-month programme for researchers who want to give an early idea the time, structure and fresh perspectives it needs to move forward.

Across three interactive co-working days in Adlershof, you will shape your idea, explore its potential, exchange with peers and experts, build useful connections and work towards a realistic next step.

No finished concept. No business plan. No predefined destination.

You bring the idea and drive its development.

Programme dates: 11 November 2026 · 9 December 2026 · 20 January 2027

We are pleased to open the call for applications for Campus Club – idea2action: A Greenhouse for Curious Minds.

Application deadline: 2 October 2026 Language: English Participation: Free of charge Applications: Individually or in teams of up to 3

Every second or third week on Friday, we welcome a chat with a cup of coffee and a cookie outside the control room. Come meet the user coordination team, relax with your beamline scientist, inspire and be inspired by our accelerator scientists, recharge your caffeine levels for the final stretch of the week.