The fascination of science!

SPIN2030: A Festival Celebrating Science

The SPIN2030 science festival, organized by the Saxon State Ministry of Science, Culture, and Tourism at the Technische Sammlung in Dresden, was a resounding success. On March 8 and 9, 8,000 visitors of all ages were inspired by the scientific excellence and diversity “made in Saxony.” The interactive experiences and the tangible interest in science were a particular source of joy for everyone involved—including the representatives from our HSZG at SPIN2030.

At the opening ceremony with Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer and Minister of Science Sebastian Gemkow, our Vice President for Education and International Affairs, Prof. Dr. Sophia Keil delivered a passionate plea for science and education in Saxony and Upper Lusatia: “It fills me with great pride to be here as a representative of Upper Lusatia and of science in rural areas. At our universities, we are dedicated to educating the decision-makers of tomorrow. At Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, we fulfill this responsibility through the use of innovative teaching and learning methods and with extraordinary dedication. Our approach directly integrates the findings from our practice-oriented research into our teaching. In this way, we ensure that our students receive an education based on the latest scientific advancements and are optimally prepared for the challenges of the future.”

As one of three selected female researchers from Saxony, she presented her current research projects. Her research group, SCO-TTi, exemplifies innovative approaches to Industry 4.0 and human-centered work of the future in production and logistics.

Highlights for the youngest science fans

At the HSZG booth, the LIMO mobile open-source robots—which offered a playful introduction to programming—sparked great interest among children. The combination of augmented reality and LEGO® was equally fascinating. Daniel Fiß’s presentation, as well as the exhibit by SCO-TTi featuring Fabian Lindner and Kazimierz Przybysz, proved to be consistent crowd-draws at the HSZG booth.

The legendary “wipe table” by Andre Seeliger and Thomas Schäfer provided interactive insights into the test facilities at the Zittau Power Plant Laboratory and even led to some heartwarming encounters. For example, when an alumna showed her grandson the building where she had studied, and during the digital “air hockey” game, which brought hearty laughter from the children at the HSZG booth.

“You’re really doing something very meaningful there. You can be very proud of your work!” praised an elderly lady at the exhibit “Producing with What Nature Provides” by the LaNDER3 Natural Fiber Research Center. Jens Maiwald, who had previously explained the research on natural-fiber-reinforced plastics to her, smiled—an expression frequently seen at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences booth during the SPIN2030 Science Festival.

Professional Exchange and “Aha!” Moments

The fair also provided a space for in-depth technical discussions. Andre Seeliger, for example, appreciated the quality of the conversations he had, which exceeded his expectations. One visitor expressed her surprise at the diverse range of offerings—a testament to the successful presentation and communication of scientific topics.

At the exhibit “How Does a Heat Pump Work?”, Martin Herling and Mareike Schneider explained the operating principle, which led to “aha” moments for many visitors. High-quality discussions also took place in the workshops “Civil Society, Civic Engagement, and Social Innovations” with Prof. Raj Kollmorgen, Prorector for Research, and Leonie Liemich, as well as “The Energy Transition for Your Home” with , Prof. Matthias Kunick, and Mareike Schneider.

The challenge of making science understandable even to non-specialists was successfully met, in part, through “graphic recording” during the “Meet a Scientist” session. Prof. Dr. Kornhuber explained his research on the transformation of the energy supply, supported by vivid visualizations.

Media attention for HSZG

The presentations and exhibits were not only well received by visitors to the trade fair, but also attracted media attention, which culminated in live reports by MDR with Matthias Kinne and a visit by the ARD Mittagsmagazin to the ^Lander3 natural fiber research center in Zittau. The ARD report was broadcast live from Lander3-Halle nationwide. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank Maria Schäfer and Anett Kupka, who played a key role in the filming.