Focus on the City of the Future: KIT Science Week Enthralls with Diversity

How do we want to live in the future? This question was at the heart of the third KIT Science Week, held from October 14 to 19, 2025, in Karlsruhe. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) invited citizens, children and young people, school classes, researchers, and decision-makers to come together to discuss the city of the future. With more than 100 events, the week offered a wide range of topics – from sustainable mobility and digitalization to social justice.

“It was an inspiring week,” said Professor Jan S. Hesthaven, President of KIT. “KIT Science Week shows how important the dialogue between science and society is. Knowledge thrives when it is shared and when new paths are discovered through exchange. That is precisely one of the main goals of Science Week, and this past week has clearly demonstrated its significance.”

Diverse Formats for All Age Groups

KIT Science Week was specifically designed for a diverse audience. More than half of the offerings were tailored to children, young people, and families. Workshops, hands-on activities, and science slams were quickly fully booked. New formats such as “13 Questions – A Culture of Debate on the Playing Field” also received enthusiastic responses.

“This year’s Science Week was particularly multifaceted,” said Professor Thomas Hirth, Vice President Transfer and International Affairs at KIT. “In addition to technological aspects of architecture and urban planning, ecological, economic, and social questions in the context of the city of the future were especially emphasized.”