The Long Night of Science will take place again in Berlin on June 28, 2025. From 5 p.m. to midnight, numerous scientific and science-related institutions in Berlin will open their doors to the public. The ECDF will once again take part this year and present various projects related to digitalization research. Tickets and further information can be found //here. The venue is barrier-free. 

Projects:

Velvet Values – AI and the weaving experience

Velvet Values is a project which merges heritage hand-weaving velvet techniques with digitization methods and conductive fibers to create new velvet sensor cloth. By replacing velvet’s traditional silk and tracking the experience of the weaver throughout the weaving process, these stroked sensors respond to human interaction. In doing so, they communicate the slow, tactile, intimate knowledge intertwined into their creation. Suitable for ages 10 and up.

Future Security Lab – Hands-On Security Research

What does the future of security look like? Climate change, surveillance, resilient cities: The Future Security Lab at the ECDF presents current security research projects in a clear and innovative way. Interactive scenarios invite visitors to participate. The project "Future Security Lab of the Forschungsforum Öffentliche Sicherheit" of Freie Universität Berlin is funded by the BMBF. Suitable for ages 5 and up.

Health-X – The Digital Future of MY Health Data

Who actually owns my health data? The Health-X dataLOFT project has developed concrete solutions for the use of data in the healthcare sector. A data wallet app not only provides citizens with an overview, but also enables them to make informed decisions about how their health data is used based on the latest technologies. Specific examples are used to bring the "European Health Data Space" (EHDS) to life, which will apply in all 27 EU member states from 2026 and will determine the digital future of our healthcare system.

Errors to Protect You – Open Source GenAI for Private but Useful Data

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a convenience functionality that protects your personal data? A simple method to protect your privacy is to add errors to your data. The Cognitive Algorithms Lab studies GenAI methods that add random changes to your personal information which protect your personal data but keep some relevant statistics of the data intact – so that the data can, for example, be easily shared for speeding up AI development. We demonstrate our work with two examples that anonymize health care data in tables and in free text. Both methods can be used in web forms or text fields.

Quantum Escape Challenge – Free Yourself from the Escape Room With Quantum Technologies

Quantum technologies promise an exciting future. We take you to a world where secure communication, solutions to previously unsolvable computing problems, and super accurate measurements are a reality. In our Escape Room, you can explore the lab together, find hidden clues, and solve exciting puzzles. Will you manage to activate the quantum computer? No idea what a quantum computer is? No problem! Come by for 30-40 minutes and become a real quantum expert in a group of 3-4 people.

Application Samples for Mechanically Recycled Electronic Textiles

The study focuses on the mechanical recycling of electrically conductive textiles. In this process, the textile surfaces are broken down to the fiber level and processed into nonwovens. Starting from highly conductive textiles, the recycling process produces textile surfaces with medium and lower conductivity, for which various applications are developed, such as conductive tracks and sensors. The study promotes the reuse of valuable resources and was carried out as part of the STELEC project, funded by the Horizon Europe Pathfinder program. Suitable for ages 10 and up.

SimRa – More Safety in Cycling With the Help of Your Smartphone

The number of cyclists killed in accidents in Berlin remains high. The SimRa (Safety in Cycling) research project aims to make bicycle use safer. With the help of a smartphone app, data on near misses can be easily collected and categorized. The data collected in the project will be evaluated together with partners such as urban and regional planning, in order to achieve sustainable changes. At LNDW, visitors can try out the app on site, register as a tester, and use a model to identify particularly affected areas. Suitable for ages 6 and up.

Smart Home? Smart Water! AI- and Edge-Based Water Use Insights at Your Fingertips!

Ever wondered how you can automatically find out how much water your shower or dishwasher actually uses, leveraging real-time data and AI? Our cutting-edge, hands-on water testing facility brings smart water monitoring to life! Using AI and real-time edge computing, we break down household water use, providing an automated and privacy-compliant solution. This system works on-site to classify water activities! Join us to see how technology is making water conservation effortless, supporting communities to save water while keeping control of their data. Ages 10 and up. 

Fall Prevention Based on AI in Nursing Care

Falling during a hospital stay is a major risk for certain patient groups. The KIP-SDM research project at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and cooperating Berlin universities uses artificial intelligence to detect fall risks at an early stage. Patient data is used to identify patterns in order to make predictions. This fall algorithm is currently being tested in care settings and compared with conventional fall prevention methods. In addition, an innovative data infrastructure is being developed that stores health data securely and decentrally in order to make it usable for AI-supported research.

Bio-Inspired Robotic Vision

How do robots orient themselves when everything is in motion? Animals can do this very well – with a highly sensitive visual apparatus. Novel event cameras use sensor technology borrowed from the animal world. Instead of registering entire images, they only register changes in light, in each pixel individually, with millisecond precision. But registering changes does not mean recognizing movement. And that's exactly what technical systems need – from autonomous driving to production lines. We research methods and algorithms to help machines learn to see motion. Suitable for ages 12 and up.

Information Management – Making Research Findings Openly Accessible and Reusable

Information Management explores the role of digital research and information infrastructures in science in the context of digital transformation. The group at the Institute of Library and Information Science (IBI) at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin is investigating how research results can be organized and made openly accessible and reused in the long term – in the sense of open science. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore research in the context of open knowledge practices with the help of an animated research puzzle. Suitable for ages 10 and up.

Digital Health in the Circular Economy (DiCE)

The DiCE project focuses on extending the lifespan of digital healthcare devices by promoting a circular economy approach: circular design, advanced refurbishment, remanufacturing, and recycling technologies. DiCE tests solutions to maximize the recovery of components and raw materials, transitioning from the linear "take-make-waste " model to a sustainable, circular one. By fostering behavioral change and developing circular infrastructure, DiCE aims to reduce e-waste and support the sustainable use of raw materials. Suitable for ages 10 and up.