Research. Discover. Take part. — Potsdam Days of Sciences 2021
Experience science – even in times of pandemic! Traveling through the universe? Explore research labs? Marvel at the inside of plants or create your own homepage? All this and much more is possible at this year’s virtual Potsdam Science Days from May 3 to 9, 2021. Under the motto “Research. Discover. Participate.”, more than 30 scientific institutions in Potsdam and Brandenburg from research and teaching as well as schools present themselves and invite visitors of all ages to gain exciting insights into their daily work on the www.ptdw.de knowledge platform.
For one week, young and old alike will experience a colourful and varied programme including exhibitions, podcasts and films as well as the “Ask a Scientist” format, in which researchers will answer questions to science live.
The Potsdam Science Days are an event format for the whole family. Numerous presentations such as virtual exhibitions, short videos, lectures or experiments, which can easily be carried out at home, show the multifaceted scientific diversity of Brandenburg: from the latest findings in gravitational physics to the agriculture of the future and polar atmospheric research.
As in previous years, the renowned research institutes of the Leibniz and Helmholtz Associations, as well as the Fraunhofer and Max Planck Societies, will also be represented. “Science – a top topic in the Mark for centuries. Berlin-Brandenburg has long been one of the recognized research regions in Europe, and Potsdam is the city in Germany with the highest density of scientists. Research, teaching and experimentation take place at numerous locations in the city. We want to present this diversity of basic and applied research again this year with the digital Potsdam Days of Sciences and Humanities and enable direct exchange between the public and researchers,” says Dr. Simone Leinkauf, Managing Director of the proWissen Potsdam association and sponsor of the event.
“Starting today, those who are thirsty for knowledge can ask their questions to science, which will then be answered live by the experts on May 8 and 9. Scientists explain their current research projects, talk to you about the challenges and opportunities of science, and show you how you can easily carry out scientific experiments with your children at home,” adds Leinkauf.
Researchers from a wide range of disciplines explain how you can make bio-plastic or a “chemical lava lamp” yourself with simple materials, what a vacuum actually is, whether you can feed on insects in a wholesome way, why a chameleon changes colour or how you can strengthen and mobilise your body despite the closure of fitness centres: From A for astrophysics to Z for contemporary history, everything is included.
For future students, a wealth of information is also available on the website. For example, the state’s universities offer virtual campus tours or present their subjects in short videos. In order not to spend a long time searching for offers on their favorite topics, visitors can quickly and easily filter for science clusters with the help of a search function. You can also search for offers especially for children, such as scientific experiments or explanatory videos (“How hot is the sun?”) or children’s lectures (“Of giants and dwarfs – records in the plant world”).
The full programme will be online from 3 May 2021.
03. – 09.05.2021
Potsdamer Tage der Wissenschaften
Admission: free
www.ptdw.de
The event is sponsored by the proWissen Potsdam association, which has found strong partners in the University of Potsdam, the Investment Bank of the State of Brandenburg, ProPotsdam GmbH, the Potsdam Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the Stadtwerke Potsdam as well as numerous scientific institutions and regional companies. Media partners are the Märkische Allgemeine Zeitung and Antenne Brandenburg.