Water is life, but it can also be destructive. The exhibition ‘On Water. WasserWissen in Berlin’ showcases current research projects on the topic of water by the Berlin University Alliance (BUA), a consortium of Berlin’s leading universities.

During the tour, visitors will gain an overview of the diverse range of water research in Berlin.

What does it sound like when a tree drinks? How are people around the world coping with increasing drought? What does a puddle researcher do? And how do you study water on Mars?

The exhibition ‘On Water’ at the Humboldt Laboratory showcases research projects by Berlin scientists on the topic of water. In a 60-minute tour that takes them from the sea to an artificial iceberg to the stars, children and families learn about the diversity of scientific research on the wet element and the water-related challenges in times of climate crisis.

Jellyfish, whales, penguins and boxfish: many fascinating animals live on, in and under water. Some of them are featured in the science exhibition ‘On Water’. In a creative workshop, children aged 6 and above – accompanied by their parents or another adult – can recreate a selection of aquatic creatures (with the help of instructions) and contribute their own design ideas. Discarded materials from the Humboldt Forum are used. Exciting and funny, but also sustainable animals are created, which can be taken home at the end.

The workshop was designed by the artist Vitor Garcia de Almeida.

Participation is free of charge and registration is not required.

What does it sound like when a tree drinks? How can water be extracted from the air in extreme drought conditions? And what instruments do water researchers actually use? The exhibition ‘On Water’ presents a wide range of Berlin-based research projects on water.

The 120-minute inclusive audio and tactile tour conveys the exhibition content in a multi-sensory way.

Why do rivers need rights? What was a wave pool swing used for? And why is Lusatia so important for Berlin’s water supply?

The exhibition ‘On Water’ presents a variety of Berlin-based research projects on water. In the 90-minute inclusive tour, the exhibition content is conveyed in German Sign Language (DGS).

Many scientists in Berlin are conducting research on water. Some researchers are interested in aquatic animals. Some are searching for water in space. Others are investigating how glaciers are melting due to global warming.

The exhibition ‘On Water’ presents a wide range of research projects related to water. The guided tour in simple language provides information on what is being researched and why.

Once a month since 2021, the Humboldt Lab has been hosting artistic freedom to shake up the scientific point of view. Equipped with a microphone and amplifier, two slam poets stroll through the exhibition “On Water. WasserWissen in Berlin” to recite texts. Between a digitally animated jellyfish dome, a fifteen-metre-wide cinematic water experience, the 200-year-old relief of the Swiss Alps and a glass of water as if from Mars, visitors are taken on a “verballistic flight” through the science exhibition.

The changing artist duos of #Logoskop transform images from microscopes and periscopes around the world into a poetic show. They offer a deliberately subjective, heretical, humorous look at the exhibits.

If science is queen in the Humboldt Lab, then the #Logoskop is her court jester. With surprise, provocation and anarchic wordplay, the exhibition “On Water” will be both explored and taken for a ride.

The #Logoskop is curated and moderated by Bas Böttcher, the first German poetry slam champion.

further Information

What is puddle research? Why does a river need rights? What happens when water becomes scarce – or disappears completely? And what can we learn from water reservoirs in the Himalayas? In the new Humboldt Lab series “Meet the scientist”, scientific researchers present their work. Visitors are offered insights into current scientific projects of different disciplines and are welcome to talk to researchers on an eye-to-eye level.

The series takes place in the Humboldt Lab during normal opening hours. Researchers will give short introductions to their projects and are then open to visitors’ questions. Some of them will speak freely, others will work on research installations or talk about specific objects in the exhibition. All visitors of the exhibition “On Water. WasserWissen in Berlin” are welcome to participate. Admission is free of charge.

 further information

Water is omnipresent yet enigmatic: familiar and unpredictable at the same time, it invites us to make new discoveries. The ‘On Water’ series explores the themes of the exhibition ‘On Water. WasserWissen in Berlin’ in greater depth by bringing together researchers, artists and members of the urban community in conversation. Together, they explore water from different perspectives and provide a platform for the dynamics of this element – from puddles in the city to water in space, from water in the air to coral reefs as aquatic habitats. Like water itself, which transcends boundaries, the exchange between disciplines and worlds of experience is also fluid.

The events take place within the exhibition, in formats such as discussions, lectures and workshops, and invite visitors to participate actively. Admission is free.

What does it sound like when a tree drinks? How are people around the world coping with increasing drought? What does a puddle researcher do? And how do you study water on Mars? The exhibition ‘On Water’ at the Humboldt Lab showcases research projects by Berlin scientists on the topic of water. In a 60-minute tour that takes them from the sea to an artificial iceberg to the stars, students learn about the diversity of scientific research on the wet element, water as a medium for migration and mobility, and water-related challenges in times of the climate crisis.

Is a river just water? Or a living being with needs? To accompany the exhibition On Water. WasserWissen in Berlin, pupils can discover the River Spree using their own bodies and imagination in this playful workshop. Following a short introductory tour of the exhibition, pupils will experience, through movement, role-play and short theatrical scenes, how water feels, what animals in and around the river need, and what happens when people do not look after our waters properly. By adopting non-human perspectives, the River Spree is perceived as an entity that needs to be protected.

Can a river have rights? And if so, who decides? As part of the exhibition On Water. WasserWissen in Berlin, school pupils can explore the challenges facing rivers in the age of climate change, using the River Spree as an example. Following a brief introductory tour of the exhibition, the pupils take on the roles of social or non-human actors themselves and attempt to represent different perspectives on water. Through theatrical methods, role-play and a staged court hearing, social power dynamics, responsibility and conflicts of interest are brought to life and playfully visualised within the space.

Water is life, but it can also be destructive. The exhibition ‘On Water. WasserWissen in Berlin’ showcases current research projects on the topic of water by the Berlin University Alliance (BUA), a consortium of Berlin’s leading universities.

During the tour, visitors will gain an overview of the diverse range of water research in Berlin.