TH Wildau wows the crowd at the 5th Brandenburg Science Slam – science with wit and diversity

How can research, engineering and everyday life be communicated in a way that is both understandable and entertaining in just a few minutes? At the 5th Brandenburg Science Slam, organised by the University Outreach Hubs of Brandenburg’s universities, five researchers from TH Wildau demonstrated just how lively science communication can be – covering topics ranging from cycling and automation to microelectronics and artificial intelligence.

For several years now, the Brandenburg Science Slam has been bringing scientific topics to places where they are rarely the centre of attention: cinemas, museums and cultural centres throughout Brandenburg. Within ten minutes, scientists present their research in a way that is not only understandable but also entertaining and creative. At the end, the audience decides who wins.

In 2026, TH Wildau had four representatives at four venues, once again demonstrating the wide range of topics covered by its research.

Cycling: between everyday life and the future

Christian Rudolph kicked things off at the Weltspiegel cinema in Finsterwalde. Offering a vivid insight into cycling, he asked why cyclists in many places are still faced with uncomfortable road conditions such as cobblestones – and how research can help make cycling safer, more comfortable and more sustainable. The focus was on linking mobility research with concrete everyday experiences.

Automation Technology on a dishwasher scale

In Luckenwalde, Simon Wilbers presented an approach to Automation Technology that was both down-to-earth and humorous. Using the example of loading a dishwasher, he demonstrated just how complex seemingly simple optimisation problems can be. The ‘dishwasher Tetris’ analogy highlighted the challenges that arise in the development of intelligent systems – and where the limits of automation lie. His presentation went down very well with the audience and saw him rise close to the top of the applause rankings.

Electromobility in public transport

At the Science Slam in Velten, Stefan Kupper demonstrated how trolleybuses can be operated more efficiently and in a more climate-friendly manner through targeted ‘rewiring’. His talk focused on issues of infrastructure planning and the optimisation of electric transport systems in local public transport. In doing so, he bridged the gap between transport technology and sustainable mobility.

Fibre-reinforced composites research and vertical farming

In Fürstenwalde, TH Wildau was represented by two presentations. Mike Frahm introduced the audience to the world of fibre-reinforced composites and clearly explained what sets these modern materials apart and why they play a central role in many technical applications. At the same time, he provided insights into his research on vertical farming (vertical agriculture). Using the small plant ‘Manfred’ as an example, he demonstrated how plant production can function in controlled, urban systems and what potential this form of agriculture holds for the future.

This also offered a personal glimpse into his career path: before pursuing a career in science, he worked, amongst other things, as a bus driver – an example of how scientific career paths are diverse and do not always follow a straight line.

Closing with a live experiment

The highlight of the evening in Fürstenwalde was Christian Dreyer’s performance. In his ‘live experiment show’, he transformed the stage into a hands-on laboratory and, quite literally, created some smoking effects.

Through a series of small experiments, he made chemical and physical processes tangible – including phenomena such as nitrocellulose and volume contraction. In this way, he impressively demonstrated how complex concepts in materials science can be conveyed in a way that is both understandable and striking through simple demonstrations.

Strong presence of TH Wildau

With five very diverse contributions, TH Wildau was well represented at the 5th Brandenburg Science Slam. The topics ranged from mobility and optimising everyday life, through artificial intelligence and electric mobility, to fibre composite research, vertical farming and experimental materials physics.

In doing so, the university underlines the importance of modern science communication: research should not only take place in the laboratory or in specialist publications, but should also be brought to society in a way that is understandable, accessible and with a touch of humour.