Program

We look forward to welcoming you to the 16th International Science Festival – Geist Heidelberg and to the lively conversations it will inspire. From October through the end of November 2026, this year’s festival explores the theme “Beyond Borders.”

At Geist Heidelberg 2026, science becomes a space for dialogue—bridging disciplines, opening up new perspectives, and inviting us to look beyond familiar boundaries and see the world in new ways.

Browse through our online brochure and secure your tickets.

Content

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Indignity01.11.2026

Lea Ypi

In her new work, *Indignity* (2025), Lea Ypi delves into her family’s past and weaves personal memories into the major …

Narcissism—A Hallmark of Our ...02.11.2026

Vera King & Thomas Fuchs

The term “narcissism” is everywhere. But what does it describe: a mental disorder, a societal ideal, or a consequence of …

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Where is the line ...03.11.2026

Martin Korte

When does the brain begin to age—and what does that really mean? Drawing on current research, Martin Korte shows that …

Beyond Borders – Shaping ...04.11.2026

Florence Gaub

Florence Gaub is one of Europe’s most prominent futurists. She analyzes how our vision of the future shapes our actions …

When Research Crosses Boundaries08.11.2026

Jutta Allmendinger, Christiane Schwieren, and Sophia Hohmann

Science thrives on pushing boundaries—intellectual, technological, and social. But where hierarchies, dependencies, and institutional power structures shape everyday life, personal …

Free admission

Hi, how are you ...10.11.2026

Christoph Koch

Artificial intelligence is changing not only the way we work, but increasingly our relationships as well. What does it mean …

Salvation Through Rapid Evolution11.11.2026

Bernhard Kegel

What are the chances of survival for species in a world of radically altered environmental conditions? And what role does …

Postponed to November 23.

Quantum Computers—From the Lab ...12.11.2026

Heike Riel

Quantum computers are considered a key technology of the future. They do not follow the rules of classical logic, but …

Lines of Flight13.11.2026

Ramesh Srinivasan

The pandemic, the climate crisis, geopolitical conflicts, and digital upheavals are shaping a world in which digital connectivity not only …

Between Control and Collaboration14.11.2026

Raphael Arar

AI has long since ceased to merely support our work; instead, it is increasingly shaping decisions in politics, business, and …

Do We Have the ...15.11.2026

Eva Illouz

This lecture focuses on an emotion that remains particularly controversial in Germany: guilt. In her talk, Eva Illouz examines the …

Sold Out & New Venue

Giulia Enders, Franziska Jehle, ...16.11.2026

Giulia Enders & Guests: Mucus

All of the body’s major internal surfaces are covered in mucus! But why? The mouth and nose, lungs, digestive organs, …

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Shifts in Boundaries Today18.11.2026

Svenja Flaßpöhler & Peter Sloterdijk

From today’s perspective, the years 2017 through 2020 appear as a break with the past—as a turning point before the …

Beyond the Horizon20.11.2026

Johannes Krause

Accepting boundaries has never been a trait of modern humans. Starting from Africa, Homo sapiens settled the world, encountered Neanderthals …

Telling the Story of ...21.11.2026

Ulli Lust & Johannes Krause

How do early traces become a history of humankind? Comic artist Ulli Lust and archaeogeneticist Johannes Krause bring two extraordinary …

Quantum Computers—From the Lab ...23.11.2026

Heike Riel

Quantum computers are considered a key technology of the future. They do not follow the rules of classical logic, but …

Understanding: How Language Creates ...26.11.2026

Science Bar – the new discussion format

How do scientific discoveries come about? Why do some ideas change society—while others do not? And what questions are researchers …

Free admission

The Astronomy of the ...27.11.2026

Florian Freistetter

The Rauhnächte are considered a mysterious time full of myths, rituals, and legends. Yet their origins lie not in esotericism, …

Geist Heidelberg Finale

How the Ocean Connects28.11.2026

Antje Boetius

The ocean connects continents and climate systems, habitats, and societies. Marine scientist Antje Boetius highlights the central role the oceans …

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Past events

Worldquake21.05.2026

Martin Kobler

The UN, NATO and the EU – organizations that helped to secure peace after the Second World War – are …

No longer Cassandra?15.09.2026

Gilles Brassard

Quantum computers promise groundbreaking advances – but they also threaten the cryptographic systems that attempt to protect our digital world. …

In Search of Memory18.10.2026

Hannah Monyer

What happens when a taste or scent suddenly summons an entire past? In In Search of Lost Time, Marcel Proust …

Life in the Universe: ...24.10.2026

Didier Queloz

The discovery of an extraordinary diversity of exoplanets has fundamentally changed our understanding of how planetary systems form and evolve. …

Radio Silence25.10.2026

Ulrike Draesner

Ulrike Draesner sets out to bear witness to the beauty and fragility of the Arctic and to explore our relationship …

Goliath's Curse27.10.2026

Luke Kemp

Why do societies collapse? Can history help us better understand the greatest challenges of our time? Cambridge researcher Luke Kemp …

Germany's Dark Beginnings28.10.2026

Harald Meller & Kai Michel

At a time when politics is once again being shaped by notions of origin, nation, and supposedly ancient identities, it …

Longevity29.10.2026

Thomas Schulz & Mirco J. Friedrich

Living a healthy life longer and slowing down the aging process: What sounded like science fiction just a short time …

Dr. Algorithm – How ...30.10.2026

Science Bar – the new discussion format

How do scientific findings emerge? Why do some ideas change society—while others do not? And what questions are researchers exploring …

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