• © Retusche: Gabriel_Kienast / Wissenschaft im Dialog, CC BY-SA 4.0

    © Retusche: Gabriel_Kienast / Wissenschaft im Dialog, CC BY-SA 4.0

    21.04.2026

    The MS Wissenschaft sets sail: Discover the medicine of the future on board

Who says science always has to be communicated on dry land? The MS Wissenschaft is proving that it can just as well happen on a ship. This year, the tour sets off from the capital of science and research, Brain City Berlin. From 7 May 2026, the vessel will be docked in the city before heading, for the first time, to Poland, and then onwards through Germany and Austria. In total, the ship will call at around 35 cities large and small, presenting the theme of the 2026 Science Year: "Medicine of the Future". Entry is free.

How can artificial intelligence help detect bone fractures? Which cancer therapies protect our healthy cells? How can we use health data to treat each person individually? And what would a medicine look like that takes gender differences more seriously into account? These are among the questions explored on board the MS Wissenschaft. Researchers present their work in person, showing how they are shaping the medicine of the future. The exhibition examines medical research across three levels: from the smallest processes within cells, to the interplay between body, mind and new technologies, to the external influences of society and environment that shape our lives.

There are around 30 exhibits to discover on board. Visitors can get hands-on, testing medication on an artificial organ, measuring their own heartbeat with a camera, or stepping virtually into the operating theatre of the future. Three stations focus on the latest research into conditions such as dementia, diabetes and endometriosis. The exhibition is recommended for visitors aged twelve and above. The MS Wissenschaft also offers an events programme and workshops for school groups.

The MS Wissenschaft's route

The ship begins its journey in Brain City Berlin, travelling via Brandenburg to Poland for the first time, specifically to Szczecin (Stettin). From there, it will stop at many further locations across Germany before the tour concludes in Austria's capital, Vienna. The MS Wissenschaft has been touring Germany every year since 2002. Wissenschaft im Dialog (WiD) organises the exhibition with the support of the scientific organisations behind WiD, on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space. The exhibits come directly from current research and are developed and provided by institutes from the Fraunhofer Society, Helmholtz Association, Leibniz Association, Max Planck Society, DFG-funded projects, universities and other partners.

Come on board in Berlin from 7 to 10 May

Brain City Berlin is well placed when it comes to the 2026 Science Year, with strong research expertise in AI, cancer therapy and gender-specific medicine. The Charité is one of the largest university hospitals in Europe, conducting research through projects such as MOSAIC into individualised therapies for cancer types that predominantly affect women. AI-driven health research is also firmly established in Berlin, making the city the ideal starting point for the voyage. From 7 to 10 May, the ship can be visited at Schiffbauerdamm, between Bahnbrücke Friedrichstraße and Marschallbrücke. Ahoy!

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