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Science you can touch: Soapbox Science in Düsseldorf inspires!
The sixth “Soapbox Science Rheinland” event will take place in Düsseldorf on June 28, 2025, supporting women and non-binary researchers.
Science you can touch: Soapbox Science in Düsseldorf inspires!
On June 28, 2025, the sixth “Soapbox Science Rhineland” event will take place on Düsseldorf’s Rhine promenade. The event, which this year takes place in the extraordinary setting of the Old Port, is a magnet for those curious during this time. From 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., citizens can meet twelve scientists from different disciplines and find out more about their research.
The organizers, which include the CEPLAS, ML4Q and CECAD clusters of excellence at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) and the University of Cologne, aim to increase the visibility of women and non-binary researchers and to question existing stereotypes in science. The event is part of a global format that began in London in 2011 and is now held in 15 countries and 57 cities, including Germany.
Format and target group
The event is based on the London “Speaker’s Corner” concept. It offers a platform to present research results without technical aids and in understandable language. This is intended to ensure that a broad audience that normally has no contact with scientific topics is included in the exchange. A central aspect of the event is the interaction between the scientists and the audience.
The two HHU representatives, Jana Peter and Ganiyat Temitope Akinade, will present their latest findings on various topics. Peter deals with the types of photosynthesis and their influence on plant growth. Akinade, on the other hand, will explain the problems associated with a fungal disease of maize and possible protective measures.
Commitment to equal opportunities
The commitment of CEPLAS, which has taken over the main organization for Soapbox Science Rheinland since 2020, goes beyond simply holding the event. It aims to promote women and non-binary people in science and give visibility to their work. In addition, a dialogue in public spaces is made possible in order to make science accessible to everyone and to increase interest in scientific topics.
This innovative concept breaks common stereotypes and creates space for a broader discussion about the role of women scientists. The free contributions are in both German and English and invite everyone interested to get to know science in a relaxed atmosphere.
Declared as part of this initiative hhu.de in detail the objectives and organization of the event, during ceplas.eu provides valuable insights into the promotion of women in science and weakevements.com provides additional context about the impact of such events.