Essen Science Summer
A Festival Celebrating research
- 09.06.2026
Entertaining, diverse, fascinating – that’s what Essen’s Science Summer promises to be: from 18 to 28 June, it will bring together universities, businesses and the local community. For ten days, visitors can experience science and innovation up close – with exciting insights into research, development and ideas for the future. And it’s free of charge. The University of Duisburg-Essen is taking part with more than 30 talks, hands-on stands, lab tours and activities. Registration is required for some events. Programme highlights include the Market Square event on 20 June and the Science Slam on 26 June (all events in German only).
18 June, 5–7 pm, Science Evening at the FOM University Centre
The opening event of the Science Summer is dedicated to one of the most exciting questions of our time: Which core human skills will be important in the future – and how are technological developments changing education, higher education and the labour market? Two UDE researchers will also explain this from their perspective.
https://www.wissenschaftsstadt-essen.de/events/wissenschaftsabend
20 June, 1 pm–6 pm, Market Square event, Kettwiger Straße (near Lichtburg – Burgplatz)
https://www.wissenschaftsstadt-essen.de/events/marktplatz-event
At various information stands, the motto is: get involved, try things out, explore and learn. The topics:
• Your cells are speaking – are you listening?
• Democracy Check: What do young people think about democracy – what do the figures say?
• Understanding conflicts at school and addressing them in a relationship-focused way
• Understanding online misogyny
• From idea to reality – 3D printing makes it possible
• Invisible guests – tracking down viruses
• Seeking, speaking and finding languages in the Ruhr region
• Where does gender make a difference? Hands-on gender studies
• Working together for the medicine of tomorrow
• Future workshop: Nursing science | New approaches to healthcare
• FACT or FAKE – can you tell the difference?!
• Do we want to share? From the sewing machine to the whole city
• Experimenting with electricity – discovering energy through play
20 June, 2–5 pm, Focus Forums, Grillo Theatre
Forum 1 (2–3.30 pm)
Two talks focus on ‘Understanding emotional development – childhood between family and school’
https://www.wissenschaftsstadt-essen.de/events/seelische-entwicklung-verstehen-kindheit-zwischen-familie-und-schule
Forum 2 (3.30–5 pm)
Four talks address “Understanding health – How research and medicine shape our lives”.
https://www.wissenschaftsstadt-essen.de/events/gesundheit-verstehen-wie-forschung-und-medizin-unser-leben-praegen
22 June, 6–9 pm, College for Social Sciences and Humanities:
Book launch: The History of the Ruhr Region up to 1914
https://www.wissenschaftsstadt-essen.de/events/die-geschichte-des-ruhrgebiets-bis-1914
23 June, 2–4 pm, College for Social Sciences and Humanities
Lecture: Right-wing extremism as a hype? On the radicalisation of young people on social media
https://www.wissenschaftsstadt-essen.de/events/rechtsextremismus-als-hype-zur-radikalisierung-junger-menschen-in-den-sozialen-medien
22 June, 3–5 pm, hands-on activity at the UDE for parents and children
Build, test, improve: building bridges like the pros
https://www.wissenschaftsstadt-essen.de/events/bauen-testen-verbessern-bruecken-bauen-wie-die-profis
23 June, 4–6.30 pm: Laboratory tour at the UDE
AI meets HR processes – a practical look inside the laboratory
https://www.wissenschaftsstadt-essen.de/events/ki-trifft-personalprozesse-ein-praxisnaher-blick-ins-labor
22, 23 and 24 June, 4–5 pm each day: laboratory tour at the UDE
From idea to reality – 3D printing makes it possible
https://www.wissenschaftsstadt-essen.de/events/laborfuehrung-von-der-idee-in-die-realitaet-3d-druck-macht-s-moeglich
24 June, 5–8.30 pm, Haus der Technik
Essen Hormone Symposium 2026
https://www.wissenschaftsstadt-essen.de/events/essener-hormon-symposium-2026
24 June, 6.30 pm, Online (Zoom) & Gartensaal, Institute for Cultural Studies Essen (KWI), Goethestraße 31, 45128 Essen
Panel discussion "Productive division? Polarisation as a communicative challenge"
https://www.wissenschaftsstadt-essen.de/events/produktiv-spalten-polarisierung-als-kommunikative-herausforderung
25 June, 8 am–7.30 pm, UDE
University Open Day for prospective students with admissions advice, scholarship advice and laboratory tours
https://www.uni-due.de/2026-06-05-hochschultag-an-der-ude
25 June, 4.15–5.45 pm, Mathematics at UDE
Hands-on activity: Discover mathematics as a ‘maths detective’
https://www.wissenschaftsstadt-essen.de/events/als-mathe-spuernase-mathematik-entdecken
26 June, from 1.30 pm, Essen Campus
Workshop: Transformation Talks 4.0 x Be-MoVe: New synergies for urban transformation
https://www.wissenschaftsstadt-essen.de/events/transformation-talks-4-0-x-be-move-mindshift-ruhr-kunst-wissenschaft-stadt-neue-synergien-fuer-urbanen-wandel
26 June, 4.15–5.45 pm, Weststadttürme
Lecture: Writing and publishing books – how does it actually work?
https://www.wissenschaftsstadt-essen.de/events/buecher-schreiben-und-veroeffentlichen-wie-geht-das-eigentlich
26 June, 7–9.30 pm, Science Slam, Weststadthalle Essen
Five UDE slammers will compete against each other, attempting to explain their research in the most exciting, entertaining, funny and accessible way possible. Each has just 10 minutes to do so.
https://www.wissenschaftsstadt-essen.de/events/science-slam
Further information:
https://www.wissenschaftsstadt-essen.de/essener-wissenschaftssommer
https://www.wissenschaftsstadt-essen.de/essener-wissenschaftssommer#Programm