Day 1: Science 'in touch' with society

The opening day of the festival center at the House of World Cultures (HKW) is dedicated to the role of science in society and explores how research finds its way to the public — whether as a framework or policy, as a breakthrough innovation or as a public campaign. On this day, Berlin's world-class science ecosystem and international partners such as CERN, TU9 and the Fraunhofer Society come together to talk about how science emerges from the laboratory — through knowledge transfer, science communication and career paths in science.

Here you can take part in a conversation about what it takes for Germany to turn cutting-edge research into marketable products; learn from experts in science journalism using case studies how disinformation and conspiracy theories spread; and hear from researchers what a career in science really looks like, including the unconventional phrases that no one warns you about.

For everyone who works in or at the interface with science, whether in a laboratory, at a university, in a transfer office or as a student, this day offers insights into the current debates that are shaping their field and industry. For festival visitors who are interested in science, the day offers a glimpse behind the scenes: how science works, adapts and who has a say in where it develops next.