Retrospective
InNoWest at the Potsdamer Tag der Wissenschaften 2026
On the 9th of May 2026, InNoWest was represented at the 13th Potsdam Science Day on the Golm campus of the University of Potsdam - with interactive stations on the topics of digitalisation, conversion and participation that invited visitors of all ages to join in.
More than 40 universities, schools and research institutions from all over Brandenburg used Saturday to bring research from the laboratory directly to the people. It was certainly well attended: the tents and stands were very busy all afternoon. Our stand between the FHP Mobil and the TH Wildau stand became a focal point for curious guests of all ages starting at 12 pm.
The water basin was particularly busy: Visitors to the digitalisation team were able to place a small toy town under water. A distance sensor continuously measured the rising water level and transmitted the values live to a monitor - all without touching the water. Lively discussions ensued about measurement technology, climate impacts and the question of how sensors can help people react more quickly to environmental changes. If you were interested in data, you could find an interactive map at the MOSIDI stand on which Brandenburg could be explored with real open data - from temperature trends to age structures in cities and districts. Our AI chatbot was not fuelled with InNoWest knowledge on this day, but with FragFinn and knowledge from Wikipedia - broken down into child-friendly language.
Team Participation 's Lego Serious Game was all about: "Measure your digital sustainability balance!" Building blocks were used to construct towers for CO₂ consumption, water consumption or working conditions for the manufacture of digital products such as smartphones. The subsequent discussion about the scope for action in everyday digital life showed how much each and every one of us can contribute to sustainability.
Using a model of an EW 58 - a serial GDR detached house on a scale of 1:10 - visitors were able to try out various modernisation measures for themselves with Team Umbau. A digital twin showed in real time how insulation or new windows affect energy consumption and costs. Abstract figures from modernisation reports suddenly became tangible.
Those who found their way to the neighbouring building were also able to attend two presentations: At 1.00 pm, the focus was on the energy-efficient refurbishment of Wilhelminian-style buildings - how can decorative façades be preserved and heating costs reduced at the same time? At 3.00 pm, the future of EW 58 took centre stage: how can these buildings be made fit for the coming decades?
The Potsdam Science Day once again demonstrated what InNoWest stands for: Research that is rooted in the region and invites people to become part of it themselves. We look forward to the next time.
