Science Days 2025

Else Kröner-Fresenius Center for Optogenetic Therapies

Successfully Represented at the Science Days 2025 in Europa-Park

The Science Days of this year took place from October 23 to 25, 2025 at Europa-Park in Rust. The Confertainment Center in Europa-Park presented itself as a world of experiences. The Science Days took visitors on a journey through the world of mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology.

More than 90 exhibitors presented themselves with a diverse program. Among them was the Else Kröner-Fresenius Center for Optogenetic Therapies at the information stand of the Bernstein Center.

Nina Rothenberg and Marcel Schmidt, both doctoral students of the doctoral college for medical students at the University Medical Center Göttingen, explained the Göttingen research work to both small and large visitors in an accessible way. How does our hearing work? The structure and anatomy of the human ear could be explained in a very clear way using the ear model. How does the sound ultimately reach the hearing center of the brain? What are electrical signals and how are they transmitted? Because it is only through the transmission of nerve impulses via the auditory nerve to the brain that noises can be recognized, so that the actual hearing only takes place in the brain.

Anyone who wanted to learn a little more could dedicate themselves to the audiovisual art video Klanglicht – sound of light, a few meters away. What does it sound like when someone hears again for the first time after years of profound hearing loss or deafness? How does it feel when new technologies make the world of sound clearer and more differentiated than ever before? The specially composed piece of music begins with an explosion of initially fragmented sounds, rhythms and distorted passages of speech, which symbolizes the regaining of hearing through an electrical cochlear implant (eCI). The aim is to bring research into the optogenetic restoration of hearing – a novel therapy that uses the light sensitivity of cells to restore lost functions – closer to a broad public in an emotional and aesthetic way.

The Science Days were able to celebrate their 25th anniversary this year. We are pleased that we were able to be there for this anniversary and look forward to seeing you again.

Last but not least, we thank Nina and Marcel for their outstanding commitment, which led to this eventful and successful event!