On Friday, September 25, 2026, downtown Bochum will be transformed for the first time into a place where people can actively engage with science: With “Geistesblitz Bochum – The Knowledge Festival Around the House of Knowledge,” UniverCity Bochum e.V., together with over 30 partners from the worlds of science, the city, and civil society, invites you to experience research right where people come together: in the heart of downtown Bochum.
On Friday, September 25, 2026, downtown Bochum will be transformed for the first time into a place where people can actively engage with science: With “Geistesblitz Bochum – The Knowledge Festival Around the House of Knowledge,” UniverCity Bochum e.V., together with over 30 partners from the worlds of science, the city, and civil society, invites you to experience research right where people come together: in the heart of downtown Bochum.
From 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., visitors can enjoy free talks, exhibitions, experiments, hands-on activities, and more at various locations throughout downtown Bochum. CERES is also participating in the first edition of the knowledge festival. With the theme “Diversity Meets Sustainability,” CERES will be represented at Geistesblitz with a “climate confession booth.” In addition, Dr. Patrick Felix Krüger will give a lecture titled “In the Fast Lane to Salvation? Mobility and Movement in the Doctrine and Practice of South Asian Religions.” The festival invites visitors to discover the diversity of Bochum’s intellectual landscape.
Across five thematic worlds, visitors can explore questions that shape our society and daily lives from different perspectives:
From Yesterday Toward Tomorrow
Diversity Meets Sustainability
Overcoming Loneliness and Boundaries
AI, but Social!
STEM for the Future
The “Geistesblitz” Knowledge Festival is aimed at both families with children and adults, regardless of whether they have studied themselves or are simply curious about current research. All events are free of charge and can be attended without registration. The city center itself becomes a space for exploration: The program is spread across several locations that are just a few minutes’ walk from one another.
