You’ve probably walked up and down the runways at Tempelhofer Feld at least once or twice. But what about Berlin’s other abandoned airport, Tegel? West Berlin’s air hub has always been strictly off limits to the public, but that’s all about to change. Starting next Thursday (04.11.2021), you can go behind the scenes at the former airport with special walking tours as part of this year’s Berlin Science Week (01–10.11.2021). As well as getting a close-up view of the iconic Gmp-designed terminal, you’ll discover how the site is being transformed into a center for future urban tech. Innovation is what this ten-day hybrid festival is all about, with 200+ panel talks, workshops, performances and exhibitions – most of which are free to attend. The center of the action is the Museum für Naturkunde, which will be hosting the likes of Braindates(05–06.11), a kind of speed date which lets you dive into a topic that interests you by joining a like-minded participant for an hour-long chat.
This is Berlin, and so dance music also has its place in the program with The Dance Floor is a Political Space!, a panel discussion on 05.11 which explores how the city’s threatened dancefloors function as havens of social experimentation. Meanwhile, the Visualising Time and Space talk on 10.11 will see designer Anna Farkas discuss her Red Dot-winning circular calendar. There are also tech-filled digital tours, including Building Better Batteries, which shows you how these crucial power stores are made, and a sneak peak inside Bessy II – Berlin’s own mini-CERN particle accelerator. Finally, there’s a chance to get hands-on with a workshop at the Futurium where you can learn practical ways to reduce the amount of waste you produce (02.11). Oh, and while you’re there: take a look at the Futurium’s permanent exhibition for some more future-tech fun.
Text: Benji Haughton / Photos: Berlin Science Week
Berlin Science Week (01–10.11.2021) – attendance for most events is free of charge. For registration info check out individual events.
@berlinscienceweek
