What do you do when curious teenagers want to know how you can hear with light? You pack up your cochlear implant model and head to the IdeenExpo in Hannover!
Together with the MBExC – Cluster of Excellence Multiscale Bioimaging and the CRC 1690, the EKFZ set up a booth there from June 20-28, 2026. Between young researchers, curious students, and equally interested teachers, some fascinating conversations about hearing and medicine took place.
The IdeenExpo is considered Europe’s largest youth fair for technology and science and the leading platform for STEM career orientation – science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Every two years, the Hannover exhibition grounds transform into a massive hands-on experience zone, and admission is even free.
Star of the show at our booth: our cochlear implant model. It didn’t just draw looks, but also plenty of questions – how exactly does this work, hearing with light? Which led students to also check out the screen presentations with more in-depth explanations. And it wasn’t just the students who got involved, quite a few teachers from secondary classes showed interest in incorporating this information into their lessons. All in all, it was a great week full of curious minds and inspiring conversations!
