Looking over the shoulder of the future
What connects science, future issues, music and culture? The new “Tomorrow Labs” science festival in Magdeburg (in German). Sina Frankmölle from the Third Mission department talks about what's behind it, what guests can expect and which highlights from OVGU are included.
Photo: privat
What is the Tomorrow Labs Festival?
Under the motto “How do we want to live and work in the future?”, the festival offers a fascinating look into the future of science. Four so-called labs - Health, Society, Technology and Earth - invite visitors to discover and engage in dialog. Visitors can look forward to chilled music, interactive experiments, talks and stage shows, exciting exhibits, workshops and an after-show party while getting to know innovative research projects and universities, research institutions and companies.
When and where will the Tomorrow Labs Festival take place?
The Tomorrow Labs Festival will celebrate its premiere on June 8, 2024. From 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., teenagers and young adults in particular, but of course everyone else who wants to get to know exciting research from their city, are invited to the Port of Science. The institutions and companies located at the former commercial port will open their doors. The festival is free of charge.
You mentioned Labs. What exactly does this mean?
How do we want to live and work in the future? That is the central question of the festival. In order to provide answers to this question, it focuses on four key areas that will significantly shape our future: Health, Technology, Environment and Society.
Lab Health presents the latest developments in the healthcare sector, from advanced diagnostic procedures that enable earlier and more precise detection of diseases to the latest therapeutic approaches and customized treatment options.
The STIMULATE showmobile in front of Speicher B in the Port of Science (Photo: Andreas Lander)
The Society lab focuses in particular on the development of smart cities, the integration of artificial intelligence into everyday life and innovative educational concepts.
In the Technology Lab, everything revolves around topics such as robotics, mobility and cyber security. The lab shows how these technologies can be used in various industries and what impact they will have on our daily work and lives.
Lab Earth addresses how a sustainable future can be shaped and invites visitors to actively inform themselves and exchange ideas on topics such as sustainable urban planning and climate protection.
What highlights will OVGU be presenting in the labs?
For example, there will be a big hands-on activity on swarm intelligence, or guests can find out what the future of urban mobility looks like. In a wood construction workshop, furniture can be built for lingering. Visitors will learn how bioplastics are made from waste and what climate change has to do with mathematics. What can artificial intelligence do and how will we work with it tomorrow, or will we even need to work at all? Scientists from our university will also be exploring these two questions. In a workshop on loneliness, guests will be shown how we can be together instead of lonely.
Who organizes the festival?
Tomorrow Labs is a joint event organized by the state capital of Magdeburg and Magdeburg's scientific institutions. Around 20 players from science, business and administration are taking part in the new festival format. The patron is Prof. Dr. Armin Willingmann, Minister for Science, Energy, Climate Protection and the Environment of Saxony-Anhalt.
Thank you for the interview.