Brain City Berlin 2024: our Top 10

Whether it’s about freedom, time or knowledge transfer – the Brain City Berlin calendar of events in 2024 will once again include many exciting topics and events. Some of these events are already established, such as the Berlin Science Week or the Long Night of Science. But they are just as surprising as new, smaller formats. We introduce you to our favourites!

1. “Zeit” (Time) – Salon Sophie Charlotte 2024 (20 January 2024 )
   What is time and how did it come about? Does “time” even exist? And how does it shape our lives, our everyday routine, our actions? At the start of the new year, questions regarding time are probably on many of our minds. The Berlin-Brandenburg Akademie der Wissenschaften is trying to find answers to these questions - with an evening in the tradition of Berlin salon culture. From 18:00 to midnight on 20 January, the topic of time will be examined in a variety of ways in discussions, readings, exhibitions and performances. The focus of the event is on contemporary diagnoses and analyses of the present, but also historical approaches. Members of the academy and researchers will discuss in the academy building on Gendarmenmarkt with guests from science, business, politics, journalism, literature, music and fine arts. Admission is free. Registration is not necessary. Our recommendation: don’t waste any time and go there!
    

2. 110 years of the Unter den Linden State Library (16 March 2024)
   The Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin (Berlin State Library) rises strikingly on the magnificent Unter den Linden boulevard. The building, located directly next to the main building of the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, is a repository of knowledge as it houses one of the most important libraries in the world. In 2024, the “Bibliothekspalast” will celebrate its 110th anniversary, because in March 1914 the building was opened as the “Royal Library Unter den Linden”, which was then the largest library building in the world. The Stabi celebrates its birthday on 16 March with an open day. This event is a must for scientists, bookworms and history buffs!
    

3. DMEA Connecting Digital Health (9 to 11 April 2024)
   What moves Healthcare IT today and tomorrow? As Europe’s largest event in the field of health IT, DMEA Connecting Digital Health brings together all facets of digital healthcare in one place: the Berlin exhibition halls. In 2023, more than 16,000 people from over 50 countries visited the DMEA, and more than 700 exhibitors and 300 national and international speakers came together at the event. Additionally, every year, the DMEA Newcomer Award honours the best bachelor and master theses on the subject of “digitisation in healthcare”. Graduates can apply until 31 January 2024.
    

4. German Biotech Days (16 to 17 April 2024)
   The German Biotechnology Days (DBT) are the national forum for the biotechnology industry. After Stuttgart, Hamburg and Wiesbaden, Berlin is the venue this year. For two days, entrepreneurs from the industry will exchange ideas with scientists and experts from politics, funding institutions and administration at the bbc Congress Center at Alexanderplatz. In terms of content, the DBT sheds light on the diverse fields of application and the potential of biotechnology – from health research to the bioeconomy. Good to know: The Bionnale is cancelled this year due to the German Biotechnology Days, but will be held again as usual in Berlin from 2025.
    

5. MS Wissenschaft on tour (from May 2024)
   In 2024 the Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany will be 75 years old and the fall of the Berlin Wall will turn 35 . Two historical milestones for the development of a free democracy. The exhibition ship “MS Wissenschaft” is therefore taking the theme of “Freedom” on board this year. From various scientific perspectives, questions such as: What does freedom mean in 2024? What conditions are necessary to make it possible? Or: What interpretations of freedom were and are there?  The exhibition ship has been touring Germany every year since 2002. It has been operating on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research since 2012. In 2023, a total of 103,000 science-interested visitors went on board in 33 cities. The MS Wissenschaft traditionally starts its six-month tour in Berlin at the beginning of May. 
    

6. Long Night of Science (22 June 2024)
   Around 30,000 night owls visited the Long Night of Science (LNDW) in 2023 in summery temperatures. Once again this year, the more than 60 participating science and research institutions in Berlin and Potsdam are expected to be very busy. There is so much to discover: More than 2,000 readings, lectures, workshops, performances and experiments provide insights into the diversity of science and technology, education and research, people and society, medicine and health, art and culture in Berlin as a centre of science. The Long Night of Science also addresses important issues of our time – such as climate change, nutrition and digitalisation. Brain City Berlin will be there again as a partner in 2024.
    

7. Wisskomm Connected (11 and 12 September 2024)
   Communicating complex topics to the public in an exciting and understandable way is still a challenge for many scientific institutions, universities, colleges and research-based companies. With the Wisskomm Connected conference, the Science Communication Transfer Unit would like to intensify the exchange between research and practice in science communication as a joint project of the Berlin-Brandenburg Akademie der Wissenschaftenschaften (BBAW) and Wissenschaft im Dialog (Science in Dialogue - WiD). Not least to stimulate new ideas and projects. Practitioners and researchers in science communication have until 15 January 2024 to submit proposals for short presentations, workshops or discussion panels. (German only)
    

8. World Health Summit (13 to 15 October 2024)
   Experts from science, politics, business and civil society discuss inspiring ideas and solutions for improving global healthcare at the annual World Health Summit in Berlin. The conference is one of the most important strategic platforms on global health. The participants make recommendations for policy action and formulate demands in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The World Health Summit was founded in 2009 to mark the 300th anniversary of the Charité. Goal of the summit: To improve global health through open dialogue and collaboration while preserving scientific independence. This year, more than 3,000 participants and over 300 speakers from around 100 countries are expected to attend the World Health Summit - online and on site at the JW Marriott Hotel in Berlin-Tiergarten.
    

9. TransferWeek (25. bis 29. November 2024)
   “Science x Business” was the motto of TransferWeek Berlin-Brandenburg 2023. The five-day event was launched last year for the first time with a full-day kick-off conference. On the other days, the event brought together scientists with representatives from business and politics on site and in digital sessions in Brain City Berlin to provide inspiration for joint innovations.  In 2024, the Transfer Week, organised by Berlin Partner for Business and Technology with the support of the Berlin Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the Berlin-Brandenburg Economic Development Corporation and the Berlin Chamber of Skilled Crafts, once again promises to provide a broad insight into transfer activities in the capital region.  
    

10. Berlin Science Week (1. bis 10. November 2024)
    Every year in November, the who’s who of the scientific world meets in the Brain City. At numerous locations in the city, over 180 scientific organisations from home and abroad present the results of cutting-edge research. In panels, talks, workshops, science slams, exhibitions, performances and live streams, the ten-day international science festival will show that Berlin is one of the world’s leading, creative and extremely vibrant science locations. A centre of the festival is the CAMPUS at the Museum of Natural History, Berlin. The Falling Walls Conference Berlin is traditionally linked to the Berlin Science Week. Here, groundbreaking scientific findings are presented and discussed that could help to meet the Grand Challenges of our time successfully. (vdo)