Finding common ground: Berlin Science Week 2024

Brain City Berlin

From 1 to 10 November Brain City Berlin will once again be in the spotlight. The varied programme of the 9th Berlin Science Week includes more than 300 exciting events. In terms of content, the main focus is on interdisciplinary approaches to overcoming global challenges. The central festival hubs are the CAMPUS at the Museum für Naturkunde and the Science & Culture FORUM at Holzmarkt 25. An international audience of experts will meet again in 2024 at the Falling Walls Science Summit which will be held for the first time at Café Moskau from 7 to 9 November.

Finding common ground together is not always easy. This is because opinions, knowledge, experiences and mentalities are different. This also applies to science and society. Under the guiding theme of “Common Ground”, this year’s Berlin Science Week from 1 to 10 November aims to bring together researchers, artists, socio-political stakeholders and citizens to bridge polarisation and discuss ideas in an open exchange. The main question: “What is our common basis from which we can tackle global challenges?” This year’s festival places a special focus on interdisciplinary exchange, especially on possible connections between art and science.

The programme of Berlin Science Week 2024 is extensive and diverse: Those interested can attend over 300 events spread across the city: Exhibitions as well as lectures, workshops, discussions, film screenings, conferences and networking events. The two festival hubs at Holzmarkt 25 and the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin are the central locations of the Berlin Science Festival, which has grown into one of the world’s largest science events. New this year: Visitors can submit their ideas and suggestions online on the festival’s key question “What is our Common Ground?” and thus develop visions for the future together with others. The “Future Canvas” page will be live on berlinscienceweek.com from 1 to 10 November.

Programme highlights of the Berlin Science Week 2024

Berlin Science Week CAMPUS (1 to 2 November, Museum für Naturkunde Berlin)

The festival hub at the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin will highlight this year’s theme of Common Ground with exhibitions and over 30 events, including panel discussions, experimental workshops and Speakers’ Corners. One of the CAMPUS highlights is the panel “Common Sense, Common Science… Come on!” RWTH Aachen University will be talking to guests from science, literature, music and politics about shared visions for a better future and the role of science on 2 November from 19:00. The Berlin Science Week is also holding six events at the CAMPUS together with scientists from Switzerland as part of “Zürich meets Berlin”. Topics range from discussions on Artificial Intelligence and language development to interspecies communication, sustainable packaging and future-orientated cooking. The largely family-friendly CAMPUS programme begins at 12 noon on both days and lasts into the evening. Admission for both days is 5 Euro.

Science & Culture FORUM (3 to 10 November, Holzmarkt 25)

The Science & Culture FORUM focuses on possible interfaces between art and science. The events will take place on several stages at the same time. Two highlights of the FORUM are the first Art & Science Conference of the Berlin Science Week on 8 November and the Closing Party on 10 November. The Art & Science Conference will discuss how art and creativity can be integrated into scientific research and technological innovation. The Tiny Galleries will also be open from 3 November: Artists and scientists from all over the world present various fascinating projects in a very small space and ask themselves the question: “Can breaking the rules lead to scientific breakthroughs?”

Another highlight of the science festival is the Falling Walls Science Summit from 7 to 9 November, which will be held for the first time this year at Café Moskau in Karl-Marx-Allee. The 2024 summit will focus on topics such as Artificial Intelligence, renewable energies, quantum research and science diplomacy. On 9 November, the day of the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the “Falling Walls Breakthroughs of the Year” in the categories Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Engineering & Technology, Social Sciences & Humanities, Art & Science and Women's Impact will be presented and honoured at the summit.

Berlin Science Week is coordinated by the philanthropic Falling Walls Foundation. The Senate Administration for Science, Health and Care and Brain City Berlin are partners in the project.

Admission to most science festival events is free. For some events it is advisable to register early as there are only a limited number of places available on site. (vdo)