History
The International Science Festival – Geist Heidelberg was founded in 2011 by Jakob J. Köllhofer, the former director of the DAI Heidelberg. It was a matter close to his heart to “overcome the popular division between the two hemispheres of the brain and reconcile them in creativity” (Jakob Köllhofer).
Since then, the festival has been dedicated to addressing the pressing questions of our time each year, featuring a high-calibre line-up of speakers from around the world. Since 2025, it has been directed by Dr Lena Jöhnk, Director of the DAI.
