Press Portal

Open Humboldt Festival: Society Meets Science

With the Open Humboldt Festival, the Humboldt-Universität unites science with art.
Menschen sitzen auf einer grünen Wiese vor einem alten Gebäude auf dem Campus Nord

Campus Nord of Humboldt-Universität, where the Open Humboldt
Festival takes place. Photo: Falk Weiß

Theatre, dance, concerts and exhibitions, discussions and excursions – from 16th–29th August 2021, the Humboldt-Universität invites you to the Open Humboldt Festival at the Campus Nord in Berlin Mitte. 

The festival unties science with art and opens them up to a wide audience. Admission is free, and most events will be held in the open air.

Hermann von Helmholtz and Rudolf Virchow – Research on behalf of society

This year, the Humboldt-Universität celebrates the 200th birthday of two scientists who combined research with a social mission and wanted to have an impact on society – Hermann von Helmholtz and Rudolf Virchow. The pioneering acoustic experiments of Hermann von Helmholtz will be presented in concerts. An exhibition will engage with the socio-political ideas of the doctor Rudolf Virchow.

Migration in motion – How tango spread around the world

To mark the 100th birthday of Astor Piazzolla, the festival will also show how tango spread around the world and what culture has to do with migration – by means of a dance gala, a film screening, panel discussions and, of course, milongas.

Kosmos Lectures, Theatre of the Anthropocene and Black Voices

The extensive programme is supplemented by Kosmos Lectures, a Future Forum on sustainability, performances and workshops by the Theatre of the Anthropocene, excursions and lectures, and a reading and conversation with the writers Emilia Roig and Katharina Warda.

Entry to all events is free. Most will be held in the open air. Registration is required.

Dates (selection)

Thursday, 12/08/2021 – Sunday, 29/08/2021, 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Exhibition: Rudolf Virchow in the Trichinae Temple

Tieranatomisches Theater (Veterinary Anatomy Theatre)
Campus Nord,
Access via Philippstr. 13, 10115 Berlin

Monday, 16/08/2021, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Black Voices: Emilia Roig and Katharina Warda

Open-Air Stage, Campus Nord,
Access via Philippstr. 13, 10115 Berlin

Thursday, 19/08/2021, 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
KOSMOS Lecture: Large Hadron Collider Expedition – Journey into the Unknown

With Prof. Dr Cigdem Issever

Open-Air Stage, Campus Nord,
Access via Philippstr. 13, 10115 Berlin

Thursday, 19/08/2021, 8:00 p.m.
Friday, 20/08/2021, 8:00 p.m.
Theatre of the Anthropocene: Critters

Open-Air Stage, Campus Nord
Access via Philippstr. 13, 10115 Berlin

Tuesday 24/08/2021, 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, 26/08/2021, 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Workshop: The Theatre of the Anthropocene

Humboldt Satellite, Campus Nord
Access via Philippstr. 13, 10115 Berlin

Saturday, 21/08/2021, 1:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Future Forum – Shaping a Sustainable Environment

Campus Nord
Access via Philippstr. 13, 10115 Berlin

PIAZZOLLA 2021: Migration in Motion – How Tango Spread around the World

Tuesday, 24/08/2021, 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Musical lecture, International Tango Gala and milonga

Wednesday, 25/08/2021, 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Workshops, dance courses and milonga

Open-Air Stage, Campus Nord
Access via Philippstr. 13, 10115 Berlin

Thursday, 26/08/2021, 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
KOSMOS Lecture: Alexander von Humboldt and “Modern Slavery”. Slavery as Capitalism and the Global History of Labour

With Prof. Dr Michael Zeuske

Open-Air Stage, Campus Nord
Access via Philippstr. 13, 10115 Berlin

Further Information

To view all dates of the Open Humboldt Festival and to register

Website Open Humboldt (in german)

Contact

Boris Nitzsche
Deputy Press Spokesperson of the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

Phone: 030 2093-12720
boris.nitzsche@hu-berlin.de