"Ex­ped­i­tion Sci­ence": Ex­cit­ing jour­ney in­to the world of re­search

With the Science Festival "Expedition Wissenschaft", Paderborn's city centre will once again be transformed into an exciting ideas and participation laboratory from 15 to 17 September. Experiment stations, workshops, walks, science talks, exhibits, escape rooms and much more invite you to participate, marvel and discover.

Whether physics, history or biology, music, art or computer science, archaeology or mechanical engineering - thanks to a large number of participating institutions and a wide range of topics, there is something for everyone at "Expedition Science". In addition to more than 50 different free offers, most of which can be visited without registration, this year for the first time spectacular science shows will provide lots of knowledge, fun and excitement.

Trying things out is expressly encouraged - for example in the "craft booth" on Rathausplatz, where the Heinz Nixdorf MuseumsForum invites visitors on all three days of the event. At numerous experimentation and quiz stations, workshops and discovery islands at Paderborn University, visitors can immerse themselves in a wide variety of disciplines and topics: from 3D printing or water tests in the Pader to film sciences, optical phenomena or game theory at your fingertips, all the way to Organ 4.0.

In addition, many interesting questions will awaken the spirit of research throughout the city centre: How do you actually make environmentally friendly nail varnish and what bubbles in the shower? What can we learn from bees and what secrets are hidden in Paderborn's churches? Visitors can also go on discovery tours, for example on a graffiti walk to mysterious characters, a torch expedition in the treasure chamber of the Diözesanmuseum, a quantum walk through the Paderquell area or on a language journey in the children's library.

With various offerings on artificial intelligence, this year's "Expedition Wissenschaft" will once again take up a topic that is the subject of much public discussion. For example, visitors can try their hand at creative writing with ChatGPT with Sarah Lau and August Klar, escape an artificial intelligence in the Escape Room or get to know understandable assistance systems at an experiment station. At the Science Brunch in the Mühlecafé, experts from various disciplines will talk about current developments and issues as well as their own experiences with AI in a cosy atmosphere.

Exciting science talks - on the topic of holography, for example - also invite you to listen and join in the discussion. Visitors can watch spectacular experiments on the stage on Rathausplatz: In addition to the sensational science shows of the chemistry department of  Paderborn university, the "Physikanten", who have already built impressive experiments for "Galileo", "Frag doch mal die Maus" or "Wer weiß denn sowas XXL", will inspire with an interactive stage show. The "Forschperspektive" ensemble serves up biology in a different way and takes a close look at digestion. It's not just for looking - taking part is also the order of the day here. The Science Slam with Karsten Strack proves that science is not only about gaining knowledge, but can also be a lot of fun: a top-class line-up and dynamic performances provide the best entertainment.

With the support of Paderborn university and the Heinz Nixdorf MuseumsForum, Paderborn city marketing is organising "Expedition Science" for the second time. Together with Paderborn's science and research institutions, schools, museums and cultural institutions, associations and people from Paderborn's city society, it has once again been possible to develop an exciting and varied programme for children, young people and adults.

All information about the festival is also available at www.paderborn.de/expedition-wissenschaft and during the event at the Expedition Base Camp on Paderborn's Town Hall Square. For individual programme items, prior online registration is required. A corresponding note can be found in the programme description.