Fresh ideas and creative solutions for sustainable architecture, smart mobility, clever urban planning, and fair coexistence: The third KIT Science Week, which will take place from October 14 to 19, 2025, is themed "City of the Future" and combines a top-level scientific congress with manifold event formats for the broad public. International high-profile researchers and people eager to learn will meet to discuss how we want to live in the future. This year again, InnovationFestival @karlsruhe.digital will take part and show how digital innovations from Karlsruhe are shaping society: from AI applications and automation to virtual learning worlds and interactive urban spaces.
"Our research always needs an outside perspective," says Professor Jan S. Hesthaven, President of KIT. "Therefore, I'm very happy that, during the KIT Science Week, our researchers not only communicate their results to the public, but also put them up for discussion." The event throws light on the city of the future in all its facets - and at the same time incorporates the perspective of the people living in it.
"With this format, we want to build bridges between society and science and show the available options for action in the face of current and future challenges," emphasizes Professor Thomas Hirth, KIT's Vice President Transfer and International Affairs, who is in charge of organizing the KIT Science Week. For one week, international scientists will be meeting citizens, families, schoolchildren, trainees as well as prospective students, KIT students, decision-makers from politics and business, and creative artists in Karlsruhe. "Our experts will report on their research, contextualize facts and figures, provide orientation, and take the feedback from the people back to science as new impetus," says Hirth.
Scientifically Sound and Dialogue-oriented: A Program Featuring Varied Event Formats
KIT Science Week is a combination of specialist forums with first-rate participants and on-site or online events of different sizes addressing the most diverse target groups of society. Interested people may ask questions, join in the discussion, and gain exciting insights into the world of research.
Various stations will encourage the visitors to have a try at urban planning, to experience an open-air escape game, or to fabricate battery cells, fine dust measuring devices, or a recycled seat. New forms of dwelling and concepts for a sustainable life are also on the agenda, complemented by a "Science on the Rocks" guided tour of the Karlsruhe pub landscape organized by the Science Office of the Economic Development Department of the City of Karlsruhe. Moreover, the ARTE film night will feature documentary videos about the challenges and opportunities of the city of tomorrow - from societal transformation to new life models.
More than half of the events are specifically geared to children, adolescents, families, and school classes.
These Are Some of the Highlights:
Official Opening with Keynote Speech
Tuesday, October 14, 2025, 19:30 hrs, KIT Audimax, Straße am Forum 1, 76131 Karlsruhe
The week starts with an opening speech held by Sabine Knierbein, Professor for Urban Culture and Public Space at the TU Vienna. In the KIT Audimax, she will speak about public spaces as an opportunity for societal transformation and the reason why co-design and participation play a central role here. The subsequent panel discussion and accompanying exhibition (open from 18:00 hrs) will provide the visitors with new ideas for accessible, lively, and future-oriented cities.
Scientific Conference: "Urban Transformation"
Wednesday, October 15, 2025 to Friday, October 17, 2025
International scientists will share their research results with students and citizens and discuss the future of urban space. In a public "Keynote in Dialogue" event, the researchers invite the citizens on Wednesday, October 15, at 18:30 hrs to a lively exchange of views on the "City of the Future".
Science on the Rocks - Wissenschaft im Dialog (event in German)
Wednesday, October 15, 2025, starting 18:00 hrs in the Karlsruhe Oststadt district
Science on the Rocks links science and urban culture: In three bars of the Karlsruhe Oststadt district, scientists and businesspersons will contribute new ideas on AI, nutrition, mobility, and architecture. Organized by the Science Office of the Economic Development Department of the City of Karlsruhe, the format will provide space for dialogue, questions, and networking in an open atmosphere, initiating a direct exchange of knowledge and views between research, practice, and urban society.
Locations and Times:
- Gazebo, 18:00 - 19:00 hrs, Georg-Friedrich-Straße 34, 76131 Karlsruhe
- Maschinenhaus, 19:30 - 20:30 hrs, Alter Schlachthof 1, 76131 Karlsruhe
- Gottesauer Eck, 21:00 - 22:00 hrs, Wolfartsweierer Straße 1, 76131 Karlsruhe
Autonomous Driving Put to Test: "13 Questions - A culture of debate on the playing field"
Thursday, October 16, 2025, 19:00 - 21:00 hrs in the TOLLHAUS cultural center, Alter Schlachthof 35, 76131 Karlsruhe
Autonomous driving in local transport: Is it the solution to overcrowded buses, a lack of drivers, and poor air quality - or are we overestimating its benefits? Strong opinions clash in the interactive "13 Questions" debate format. Presenter Salwa Houmsi will host the evening.
InnovationFestival @karlsruhe.digital: A Burst of Digital Innovations. Made in Karlsruhe.
Friday, October 17, 2025, 14:00 - 19:00 hrs in the ZKM Media Theater and via Live Stream
The InnovationFestival of the karlsruhe.digital initiative will bring topics related to the digital future of TechnologieRegion Karlsruhe to the big stage. Startups, enterprises, culture centers, and universities will present kickoff speeches highlighting projects, technologies, and their applications. They will provide answers to questions dealing with digital sovereignty, artificial intelligence in the city of the future, and the way to shape mobility, energy supply, and urban infrastructure in a sustainable way.
Lecture: "Nachhaltigkeit ist mehr - Städte in Zeiten des Klimawandels" (in German)
Friday, October 17, 2025, 17:00 - 18:30 hrs, KIT Audimax, Straße am Forum 1, 76131 Karlsruhe
In his lecture, Christian Ude, former Mayor of the city of Munich, will ask the critical question why climate change only played a minor role in the last Bundestag election. His contribution calls for an intense dialogue in favor of more sustainability and climate protection. Admission is free, previous registration is not required.
Dialogue with citizens: "Turbulenzen global, mitgestalten lokal" (event in German)
Saturday, October 18, 2025, 14:00 -bis 18:00 hrs, TRIANGEL Transfer | Kultur | Raum, Kaiserstraße 93, 76133 Karlsruhe
In a brainstorming session, citizens and researchers will jointly reflect on what Karlsruhe needs to be worth living in - also in the future. This calls for experience and ideas, as urban development requires participation. A dialogue for all who want to have their say and participate in shaping the future. Previous registration is required.
Nerds at Work - Hot-off-the-press Science News from the MAITHINK X-Science Editorial Team
Saturday, October 18, 2025, 20:00 - 22:30 hrs, Kulturzentrum TOLLHAUS, Alter Schlachthof 35, 76131 Karlsruhe
Scientists Dr. Jens Foell and Dr. Christian Scharun will publicly record their "Nerds at Work" podcast starting at 20:00 hrs. They will present hard facts and absurd studies from the world of science on stage, spiced with a good deal of humor. Previous registration is required.
More information about the KIT Science Week 2025
Access to the Program Flyer (only in German)
Being "The Research University in the Helmholtz Association", KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 10,000 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 22,800 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence.
