Exciting workshops, impressive hands-on experiment shows and speed dating with researchers - at the SPIN2030 science festival in Dresden, visitors can experience a broad spectrum of science in Saxony. All floors of the Technical Collections in Dresden will be open on March 8 and 9, 2024. Admission is free.

"With our campaign 'SPIN2030. Science in Saxony' campaign, we are showcasing the breadth and capabilities of university and non-university research institutions throughout the Free State for the first time. The interest shown by our institutions in taking part in the science festival was huge. We want to get people excited about science and research, amaze them and also invite them to take part in discussions. Saxony as a land of science has now developed into a brand that we want to make even better known - both here in Saxony and far beyond. I am looking forward to two days dedicated to Saxon science and cordially invite you to come along," said Saxony's Science Minister Sebastian Gemkow.



The program of the HTWK Leipzig



Several research groups from HTWK Leipzig are also taking part in the first Saxony-wide "SPIN2030 Science Festival".  To the detailed program. 

The special exhibition area on the second floor houses the exhibits of the Geotechnics and FLEX research groups. Visitors of all ages can jump on an interactive sandpit at the geotechnical engineers' booth and learn more about soil compaction, because the central question here is: Which method is more effective for compacting soil, a giant leap or a series of small leaps? At the joint stand with the Laser Institute at Mittweida University of Applied Sciences, the FLEX research group will also be demonstrating how a newly developed 3D printing process can be used to build in a more resource-efficient way.

In addition to exhibits, there will also be a stand for the "Meet a Scientist" format: Dr. Konstantin Weise, who holds the deputy professorship for electrical engineering, will explain the role that electrical engineering plays in neuroscience and Florian Junker from the Institute of Concrete Construction will talk about how the risk of cracks in floor slabs can be avoided.

From the special exhibition area, guests can access the "Machwerk" on the first floor. Here, there are mainly robots to marvel at. The HTWK Robots, who became German runners-up with their Nao soccer team in 2023, show off their soccer skills and demonstrate what soccer and artificial intelligence can achieve.

Next door, a robot from the Sustainable Building research group will be building a clutch for a component made of carbon concrete - the building material of the future - live on site. An entire house has already been built from this material, which can also be viewed on site using VR glasses. However, carbon concrete can do much more: components made of carbon concrete can also light up or heat. A component that lights up is on site. Guests can find out for themselves how it lights up, as there is no light switch.



Science Night



There is another highlight on Friday evening: Science Night in the Emuanuel Goldberg Hall on the 5th floor. In addition to a live podcast recording, several science slams, a quiz and a demonstration on forensics, the HTWK Robots will be performing here. They will give another show from 17:45 to 18:15.



The entire program



A total of around 50 scientific institutions and associations are taking part in the first Saxony-wide science festival.

If you are specifically looking for the universities of applied sciences (HAW) in Saxony, you will find them near the HTWK Leipzig stand in the special exhibition area on the second floor. Here you will also find the stand of the  Saxony5 joint project , in which all five HAW are members.



published on 27.02.2024, by Dr. Franziska Böhl