Event Series: Sciene in Theatre

From quantum computing to the complex connection between gut microbes and the brain, top-tier research is leaving the laboratory and heading into the spotlight. A new event series created through a collaboration between five Clusters of Excellence at the University of Bonn and Theater Bonn invites the public to experience complex scientific concepts presented in an engaging, accessible, and entertaining way.

Bridging Research and the Community

The concept for this unique event series originated from Lamarr Associated Principal Investigator Prof. Dr. Matthias Schott from the Color-Meets-Flavor Cluster of Excellence and Prof. Dr. Christian Bayer from the ECONtribute Excellence Cluster. Designed to make the exceptional depth of Bonn’s research clusters accessible to a broad audience, the series fosters direct dialogue between the university and the public while demonstrating the societal relevance of modern science.

Other cities already have successful event formats where individual research fields showcase their work on stage. In Bonn, however, we have an extraordinary breadth of scientific expertise thanks to our many clusters of excellence. This gave rise to the idea of developing a joint format that brings the diversity of cutting-edge research at the University of Bonn to life for a broad audience.

Prof. Dr. Matthias Schott
Asscociate Principal Investigator
Physics

Quantum Computing Brought to Life Through Acrobatics

The series kicks off with a show led by Prof. Dr. Alexander Lenz from the Color-Meets-Flavor Cluster of Excellence and his team, who turn abstract mathematical foundations into an expressive performance by bringing quantum bits to life through acrobatic art, accompanied by live music and expert speakers. Subsequent events in the series explore diverse topics including the gut-brain axis in medicine, the economic theories behind optimal taxation, material physics driven by quantum mechanics, and cosmic magnetic fields dating back to the origin of the universe.

Overview of Dates and Topics

• Saturday, October 31, 2026, 7:30–9:30 p.m.: Quantum Computing (Prof. Dr. Alexander Lenz, Color-Meets-Flavor)
• Tuesday, December 1, 2026, 7:30–9:30 p.m.: Gut Meets Brain—How Microbes Control Our Nerves (Prof. Dr. Anne-Katrin Pröbstel, ImmunoSensation³)
• Tuesday, February 2, 2027, 7:30–9:30 p.m.: Efficiency, Equity, and Optimal Taxation (Prof. Dr. Felix Bierbrauer, ECONtribute)
• Tuesday, April 13, 2027, 7:30–9:30 p.m.: The Rhythm of Quanta (Prof. Dr. Corinna Kollath and Prof. Dr. Michael Köhl, ML4Q)
• Tuesday, May 11, 2027, 7:30–9:30 p.m.: Cosmic Magnetic Fields: An Echo from the First Seconds of the Universe (Prof. Dr. Jennifer Schober, Dynaverse)