Open-Air Exhibition Showcases Research “Made in Brandenburg”

24.08.2026

Since 21 August 2026, an open-air exhibition in the heart of Potsdam has been showcasing eleven research projects from Brandenburg. The exhibition is organized by proWissen Potsdam, an association of science organizations, and is mounted on a construction fence bordering the Bildungsforum media and education centre. The Research Institute for Sustainability at GFZ (RIFS) is participating with a contribution from its Systemic Risks research group.

RIFS research group leader Pia-Johanna Schweizer explains her team's work at the open-air exhibition.

“In an era of growing scientific scepticism, it is crucial that we take every opportunity to highlight the impact of research and foster public dialogue,” stated State Secretary Tobias Dünow from the Brandenburg Ministry of Science, Research, and Culture during the opening. He noted that discussion is an inherent part of the scientific process, as research is an ongoing process and findings are rarely final.

The exhibition covers a variety of research, spanning fields from astrophysics and film dramaturgy to the future of mobility. Pia-Johanna Schweizer, a research group leader at RIFS, discussed her work on the risks posed by climate change and natural hazards. Her team analyses the causes and dynamics of these risks, explores proactive mitigation strategies, and develops methods to reduce vulnerability and promote societal resilience. To illustrate these themes, the RIFS exhibition panels present a series of photographs and short texts on flood protection and atmospheric CO₂ removal.

Reviving a successful concept: the "science in the centre" initiative

The exhibition marks the return of a concept pioneered by proWissen in 2019, which showcased twenty scientific projects at this same location. This initiative has been revived to once again highlight research from across the region through a dedicated exhibition.

Each project is presented across three thematic panels: What we do, Who we are, and Where we research. To extend the exhibition’s reach, all of the texts are presented in German and English, and QR codes enable visitors to access more in-depth information directly.

The 2026 exhibition features eleven projects from eight institutions in Brandenburg:

How do we prepare for crises? – Research Institute for Sustainability at GFZ (RIFS)
A look at the stars: What is written in the stars? – Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP)
Why are memorials needed? – Lindenstraße Memorial Foundation
How can politics sustainably secure prosperity? – Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)
How does water connect us? – University of Potsdam, Water Hub
Does light give tiny metals superpowers? – University of Potsdam, SFB 1636
Plant adaptation as a superpower – University of Potsdam, SFB 1644
How will we live, work, and learn tomorrow? – Wildau University of Applied Sciences
How will we move around in the future? – Wildau University of Applied Sciences
How are Potsdam’s palace parks doing? – Prussian Palaces and Gardens Foundation
What impact do films have on our society? – Film University Babelsberg

The exhibition will remain on display until the end of 2027.

Eindrücke von der Ausstellungseröffnung

State Secretary Tobias Dünow (Brandenburg Ministry of Science, Research, and Culture) in conversation with Simone Leinkauf ( Managing Director, proWissen Potsdam).