In the week from 23 to 28 September, the 'Highlights of Physics' will come to Hannover with a top-class lecture programme, a big hands-on exhibition and an extensive children's programme. In over 30 lectures, researchers from all over Germany will shed light on the many facets of current science clearly and understandably and discuss topics of social relevance from a physical perspective. Particular highlights of the event include two musical evening lectures by Prof Harald Lesch and Communicator Award winner Prof Metin Tolan. Tickets are required for all lectures and shows and are available free of charge at highlights-physik.de/tickets.
The Physics Week, organised by the German Physical Society and Leibniz Universität Hannover, kicks off on 23 September: in the opening event, 'Sun, Moon and Stars', university professor and TV presenter Harald Lesch will embark on an exciting search for the origins of our solar system: How did its planets form? How did life on Earth come about? And how do we actually know all this so precisely? The music ensemble 'Quadro Nuevo' will accompany the "Theater am Aegi" lecture.
Watch the event trailer here.
Afterwards, during the week of events, visitors can enjoy many other activities on the Cumberland stage and in the large physics hall at Leibniz University Hannover. In exciting lectures in the mornings, especially for pupils from year nine upwards, researchers will report on how gravitational waves help to investigate the dark side of the universe, why maths is exciting to tear apart and how the world's most accurate clock works, among other things.
There are exciting live experiments in the 'Physics Arena'. At the same time, topics with high social relevance, such as the energy transition, are discussed from a physical perspective in the 'To the point' format. The 'Art and Culture' series examines the influence of science, one of humanity's most important cultural achievements, on topics such as music and sport. In the evenings, top-class scientists such as marine researcher Prof Antje Boetius will provide insights into their current research - explained in a way everyone can understand.
Download the programme flyer here.
On 28 September, the science festival comes to an extraordinary conclusion with 'James Bond in the sights of music': Prof. Metin Tolan, Communicator Award winner and President of the University of Göttingen takes a close look at technology and effects from the famous secret agent's series and examines whether they are compatible with the laws of physics in his entertaining lecture. The Hannover Medical Orchestra will play world-famous music from the James Bond films live during his appearance at the "Theater am Aegi".
Visitors need to reserve free tickets for all lectures and shows. Tickets are available from 15 August at 10 a.m. at highlights-physik.de/tickets. For the two evening events at the Theater am Aegi, a second contingent will be allocated at the beginning of September in addition to 15 August. In addition to the lecture programme, the 'Highlights of Physics' on Ernst-August-Platz will offer a big hands-on exhibition and an extensive programme for children and young people with a junior laboratory, children's shows, workshops and a school competition. Visitors can find further information on all the programmes online at highlights-physik.de.
Find out more in the video here.
Background information
The 'Highlights of Physics' were launched in 2001 by the German Physical Society (DPG) together with the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The science festival has attracted up to 60,000 visitors in recent years. It tours from city to city with changing themes. This year, local scientific management and support will be provided by the two Clusters of Excellence PhoenixD and QuantumFrontiers at Leibniz University Hannover. The Science Festival 2024 is organised by the DPG with funding from the Wilhelm and Else Heraeus Foundation in Hanau. The 'Highlights of Physics' are also supported by numerous other institutions such as ams OSRAM, the IdeenExpo Foundation, the Lower Saxony's state capital of Hannover, Laseroptik GmbH, NiedersachsenMetall and the NiedersachsenMetall Foundation, the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture and the VHV Foundation, with 'Mein EinkaufsBahnhof' as a cooperation partner . Other sponsors are the companies Hitachi, TÜV Nord and VGH.
The non-profit Wilhelm and Else Heraeus Foundation promotes research and education in the natural sciences, especially physics. The foundation organises international specialist conferences and seminars, supports school projects and extracurricular places of learning and is involved in the training and further education of teachers. This year, it sponsored the 811th WE-Heraeus seminar 'Photonics for Information Processing' organised by PhoenixD. The foundation, established in 1963 by the physicist and industrialist Dr Wilhelm Heinrich Heraeus and his wife Else Heraeus, works closely with the German Physical Society. Further information at: we-heraeus-stiftung.de
