Large crowds on Laserday and a full program in spring
Experience science up close at the European XFEL
Hands-on science is a crowd-puller in the Hamburg metropolitan region. This was demonstrated by the huge crowds at Laserday, the first big science action day around the Lighthouse Science Experience Center. The event in the new European XFEL building attracted more than 1,200 visitors.
Families, science enthusiasts and curious visitors of all ages flocked to the campus in Schenefeld to visit the world's largest X-ray research laser, the European XFEL. The European XFEL extends 3.4 kilometers underground from DESY in Science City Hamburg Bahrenfeld to the metropolitan region.
A day full of discoveries
The Lighthouse team impressed with a varied program. There were attractive experiences for every interest group. The guided tours of the underground experimental hall were particularly popular, with the tour guides tirelessly providing insights into the work of the international research teams. Researchers use the X-ray laser to make the smallest structures such as atoms and molecules visible and even film them in motion.
Visitors listened to scientific lectures in the Lighthouse auditorium. Dr. Maximilian Lederer (Senior Scientist at European XFEL) and Dr. Toma Toncian (Head of the HIBEF project at the European XFEL at the Helmholtz Dresden-Rossendorf) provided fascinating impressions and facts about the history of laser technology.
Those who wanted to experiment for themselves could try out various hands-on experiments with laser light in the Xcool Lab physics school laboratory. The interactive exhibition on the first floor, which clearly explains how the X-ray laser works, was also very popular - there were always queues here.
© European XFEL
Enthusiasm for research and culture
"We are very pleased about the enormous interest in science and what we have to offer at the Lighthouse - it was a positive surprise," says Bernd Ebeling from the Lighthouse team. The Laserday was the perfect way to get a wide audience excited about the many events at the Science Experience Center in the spring.
In addition to the popular tours through the exhibition and the experimental hall, the Lighthouse also offers special programs for school classes. Teachers can book supervised experiment days in theXcool Lab for physics and molecular biology. On Science Saturdays, which take place once a month, there are exciting experiments and interactive guided tours for children from primary school age. Literature, music and cultural events will be held regularly in the auditorium in future.
The final preparations for the next events are already underway. Prof. Dr. Thomas Feurer, Chairman of the European XFEL Management Board, will give a presentation on March 6 insights into the "Physics of Skiing" and on March 8 there will again be tours of the experimental hall.
On March 27 the opening of the fluoro art exhibition "Parallel Universes" by Hamburg artist Felix Stöver invites you to experience the Lighthouse with other senses. Outlook: For the June 28 the big open day on campus is planned as the summer highlight. There will once again be an exciting program for families and experts.
February 10, 2025
