The most precise scales in the world, Germany’s biggest solar power storage park, and Karlsruhe’s coolest fridge. An ultra high-speed computer, a chamber where you can generate clouds, and a simulator that shows what it feels like to drive an electric car. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) presented these and many other research facilities and projects at this year’s Open Day. 35,000 visitors experienced the whole bandwidth of research by attending 180 guided tours, experiments, popular scientific lectures, and exhibitions in more than 50 places of Campus North.
“I am delighted! The response to our Open Day by the citizens from in and around Karlsruhe was fantastic. I am very happy that we could give all these people insight into our research work at KIT – and demonstrate what makes science so fascinating,” Professor Holger Hanselka, President of KIT says. “I am particularly proud of the many KIT employees and students who set up such a great, varied program.”
Amazing large-scale science: neutrino scales named KATRIN (Photo: Laila Tkotz)
Visitors had the opportunity to discover the many facets of research at KIT in the fields of energy, mobility, information, materials and technologies, climate and environment, as well as particle physics by visiting spectacular research facilities, watching illustrative experiments and presentations, or taking guided tours: from the bioliq pilot plant that produces modern fuels based on biomass waste from agriculture or forestry to the KATRIN scales with a length of 70 m, which is supposed to find the lightest particle in the universe, from a tornado raging in a water glass to a high-speed camera that shows in ultra-slow motion how a mouse trap goes off, from “Holodeck”, where scientific experiments are analyzed, to toy dinosaurs – and much more – produced by a 3D printer. In the course of a research rallye, children and teens discovered hands-on science and technology at numerous experimental stations.
In addition, university student groups and many other facilities of KIT, as well as sponsors and partners, presented their broad range of activities. Not least, KIT presented itself as an attractive institution and employer, providing information on topics such as studies, education and training, and lifelong learning.
Hands-on experiments (Photo: Gabi Zachmann)
In the afternoon, KIT President Professor Holger Hanselka and Dr. Frank Mentrup, mayor of Karlsruhe, jointly opened the EFFEKTE science festival that will showcase further activities by the scientific institutions of Karlsruhe, inviting the public to join in and enjoy the event until July 2. The festival will also feature contributions from KIT.
"If we want to understand the world around us and improve the conditions of life for as many human beings as possible, we need the support of science. The Open Day proved this in an impressive way. The dialog between the free sciences and an informed society is essential for democracy,” said Dr. Frank Mentrup, mayor of the city of Karlsruhe.
Start of EFFEKTE: Holger Hanselka and Frank Mentrup at the opening of the science festival (Photo: Andreas Drollinger)
Unifest Karlsruhe 2017
Concurrently with the Open Day at Campus North, the KIT student body organized the traditional Unifest (university festival) featuring a comprehensive program with many opportunities to join in and a stage for cultural performances. In the evening, live music and DJs will entertain the public. For more information, please visit: www.unifest-karlsruhe.de.
Being “The Research University in the Helmholtz Association”, KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 10,000 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 22,800 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence.