Potsdam Day of Science

A Day When Science Takes Over the City

On May 9, 2026, the 13th edition of the Potsdam Day of Science will take place — one of the largest science festivals in Eastern Germany. From 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM, the Campus Golm of the University of Potsdam will transform into an open research landscape where parents, children, students, and the curious can interact directly with scientists. The event is organized by the proWissen Potsdam e.V. association, which serves as the platform for the Potsdam science region.

40 Institutions, 200 Program Items

Over 40 universities, Max Planck Institutes, Fraunhofer Institutes, the Helmholtz Centre, the Wildau University of Applied Sciences, high schools from the region, and other institutions will present around 200 program items. The spectrum ranges from astrophysics (live observations, live connections to telescopes) to BabyLAB (early childhood language development) to AI survival, climate research, mobility research, and energy transition workshops. Many offers are explicitly designed for children aged three and up.

Thematic Focus Areas 2026

The program is divided into seven thematic focus areas: Education & Skilled Workers, Health & Nutrition, Climate & Environment, Society, Democracy & Media, Energy, Economy & AI, Construction, Mobility & Technology, and Astrophysics & Natural Sciences. A particular strength of the day: the high density of hands-on experiments — not just lectures, but active engagement with research.

Campus Golm — A Top-Ranked Science Location

The Campus Golm of the University of Potsdam is located west of the city and is one of Brandenburg's largest university science locations. It is home to the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, the Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, and numerous non-university research institutions. Visitors to the science festival should combine the experience with a tour of the entire campus grounds — many laboratories and institutes open their doors, which is rarely possible otherwise.